Page 96 of Vicious Behaviors

With that, Luciano sidesteps around Sister Margaretta and rushes toward Frankie, just as she bolts into his arms. He catches her with ease, swinging her around and kissing her face as if he hadn’t seen his girlfriend in years.

“Ah, young love,” Sister Agnes coos beside me. However, my eyes drift from the couple to Annamaria, who’s leaning against the far wall, grinning widely at her phone while her fingers fly across the keypad.

“Do you need any help packing up?” Sister Agnes asks.

It takes me a second to register the question. “No, I’ve got this. Thanks again for all the support you gave me in convincing Mother Superior to keep me on.”

“Don’t mention it,” she says with a warm smile, then turns to leave.

While Lucky is still busy doting kisses on his girlfriend, I stride over to Annamaria.

“Hi, Anna. Small world, isn’t it? Of all the schools in Chicago, I had no idea I’d be teaching a class at yours.”

I’m lying through my teeth, not that she seems to catch on. She’s too busy shoving her phone into her pocket before giving me her full attention.

“Oh. Hey, Izzie,” she replies, her voice a little too bright. “Yep. It really is a small world. You were great, though. Everyone loved the class.”

“Did you enjoy it?”

“To be honest, any kind of violence really isn’t my thing.” She shrugs. “But Frankie insisted. My sister, Stella, too.”

“Well, I’m glad you came anyway.” I offer her a genuine smile.

“Yeah, me too. I actually had fun at school for a change.”

My brows pull together at the sadness hidden in that offhand comment, but before I can say anything, Lucky and Frankie appear beside us.

“Anna, we should go,” Lucky says, his eyes scanning me from head to toe.

“I thought you couldn’t take me home after class. Isn’t that why Tony and Paulie had to tag along with me this morning?” Anna asks, sounding surprised by her brother’s change of heart.

“Can’t a guy change his mind? Now, come on. Frankie wants to show you her new digs. Let’s bounce already,” he says, his chestnut gaze looking at me suspiciously.

“Ah, okay. Nice seeing you again, Izzie.”

“You too, Anna. Bye, Frankie. You girls did well this morning.”

“Thanks, Izzie.” Frankie smiles widely.

Anna and Frankie wave their goodbyes as the bodyguards follow closely behind them. Still, the way Lucky keeps looking at me over his shoulder unsettles me.

Did Marcello say something to him? And if he did, what exactly did he say to make his brother stare at me as if I were radioactive?

I mentally pin that question to the ever-growing list of things I want to ask Marcello, but can’t. Not if we want to keep pretending this bubble we’ve built for ourselves is real.

I pack up the mats and gather my things, satisfied to at least get my foot in the door at Sacred Heart. Not only do I feel good about teaching these girls some basic survival skills, but something tells me this place might be where I finally find answers about Father McDonagh’s disappearance. I just hope those answers don’t lead me back to Marcello.

That thought burns hot and heavy in my mind as I exit the school’s main doors, only to spot a troubled Father Torresrushing toward the chapel with Enzo close on his heels. I glance left and right to verify no one’s watching me and follow them.

On quiet feet, I slip inside and duck behind one of the chapel’s columns, peeking around it just enough to see the altar clearly.

Father Torres is on his knees again. Only this time, Enzo is kneeling right beside him, his arm protectively wrapped around his shoulders.

“Talk to me, Alejandro,” Enzo murmurs. “Let me ease the load you’re carrying.”

Father Torres lifts his bowed head, his eyes locking onto Enzo’s. “I love you more than life itself… but this cross… I have to carry it alone.”

“That’s not true. I was there, remember?”