Page 30 of Grace of Spades

"Oh. Where?" Andras asks.

"We were just discussing that."

"Oh! Grace, I forgot to tell you. We got a hold of your ID from your old house." He throws at me.

"They kept it?" I ask, shocked.

"It seems so. Officer Torrez took me over there yesterday." He says looking pale. I know what he found. Filth. I can still smell the hellhole I grew up in.

"Oh. Well, I guess I can get rid of my fake one then." I smile.

"A fake ID?" Grandpa asks. I think they'll get a laugh out of it. So I fish it out of my pocket and hand it over. He booms out a laugh before passing it to grandma. She cackles loudly and passes it along. Everyone is laughing in no time.

The obnoxious-looking photo of me with the name Toni Soprano on the card is comedy gold. Ray's buddy, Craig, did it for me. We all had a laugh making it.

"Why Toni Soprano?" Andras asks.

"There may have been alcohol involved," I admit.

"Did she tell you she fights at Rudy's too?" Grandpa asks proudly.

"No. Why are you fighting?" He asks with a worried frown.

"A girl's gotta eat." I shrug. "I have a fight Friday too...and a tattoo appointment."

"A tattoo?" Diane chokes.

"It will be my third." I smile.

"You are quite surprising." Diane smiles. You have no idea!

"What's your other tattoo?" Christian asks. "I've seen the crow. What else?"

"It's kind of sentimental. I don't like showing it off." I explain. He nods with a small smile.

"Where do you go? I wanted another one soon." He smiles.

"My buddy, Gabe, down at Monaco Tattoos. What do you have?" I ask. I know I shouldn't have but I need to know! For science!

"I have a bunch." He evades. I nod understanding he doesn't want to show them all off at the dinner table. I just really wanted him to take his shirt off. Bad Grace!

"So, how's Rudy doing these days?" Grandpa asks.

"Crazy. Someone opened a pizza joint down the road from the gym and now he's addicted to their chicken wings. He should be due for another intervention pretty soon." I chuckle.

"Yeah, that sounds like him." He nods. "I want to see you fight so bad."

"Oh! Hold on! I'll ask Ray to send a video. He usually films my fights." I explain sending him a text.

"Who's Ray? A boyfriend?" Andras asks.

"No. He's my best friend." I snort. We finish our dinner with idle chit-chat until Ray sends me the video. I pass it to grandpa and watch as they all huddle around the screen to watch. I didn't think Christian would want to see that. I'm nervous he's going to recognize me.

Grandpa lets out a low whistle.

"Girlie, you are vicious." He says proudly.

"I take back what I said earlier. You are the strong female influence in your life. I'm proud of you." Grandma beams making my face heat.