Page 24 of Savage Empire

Rayna

It’s me. I’m so glad I caught you, I was hoping the new number wouldn’t make you immediately block me.

S

I’ve been biting my nails to bits waiting to hear from you! Are you and Yordan okay?

Since no one is looking over her shoulder, she can use our real names, there’s no one to snoop through her phone bill. This is her burner phone, after all. The one that Elio provided her.

She deletes her messages religiously, and hides the small device while using the one her parents gave her in everyday situations.

Rayna

We’re okay! We’re in Outfit territory. Federico is dead, Apollo Moretti has made us into his next charity case and I’ve seen Elio. But forget about all of this mess, how are you?

S

Forget about all of this? Are you NUTS? Bitch, that’s crazy. You’re living a movie. Elio should have told me! I’m going to smack him.

Figuratively smack him, she means. She’s not allowed to leave Chicago, and he can’t be caught in the area. He’s never physically around her unless he’s worried for her safety. Meaning she needs to check in with him religiously or he’ll take the risk. Hence why he’s the Moretti who I trust the most. The two of them could hardly be called friends, and yet he takes care of her better than anyone else ever has.

Rayna

It all happened really fast. Apollo caught Federico pushing me around and took it upon himself to step in. He put us up in this apartment…it’s unreal. He gave us new phones and gave Yordan a credit card to buy us clothes and stuff. Even after I screamed at him.

Rayna

…more than once.

S

You screamed at the Moretti heir? GOD I LOVE YOU. Did he flip?

Rayna

Surprisingly no. He just kind of blinked at me like he didn’t believe what was happening.

Rayna

And now he wants me to spend his money and he says he’ll be pissed if we don’t spend enough. Who the fuck does that?

S

He probably didn’t believe it! You fucking yelled at the future Capo, you beautiful, reckless idiot.

S

I’ll also be pissed if you don’t spend enough. Swipe that card extra for me, PLEASE. Trust me, he can afford it.

I laugh, shaking my head.

“See, look at you already feeling better,” Yordan boasts.

“She thinks we should spend all of Apollo’s money.”

He huffs out a laugh. “Of course she does.”

Rayna