simply nodded once. "Alright," I resp

of my torso as he leaned closer. "And there will be a next time, Anton." He was a mind reader. I was

k up at Romano, I gave him a number. Little did the man know that I was giving

st pocket and studied me critically. "This had better be your phone number, Anton

easily in

ed giving him my real number, but thought against it. He was hardly going to 'hunt me down'. Instea

counter, I slumped forwa

didn't even know the man. Lucian Romano had turned out to be a decent man to get along with when he had relax

.

edroom abandoning my home

me alone. I pigged out on a cartoon of ice cream, not touchi

g device. Romano couldn't have gotten my number already, unless he had called Tony and had demanded my numb

lattered or impressed knowing that Romano felt the need to send one of his bodyguards after me to make su

the caller, I sighed in reli

y as I put it on speake

end, relieved to hear me pick up. "H

me for dessert, it went well." I rolled my eyes at both the lame joke and the heavy silence coming from my brothe

d he want to see you again? Did he say anything about seeing you after ton

odd behavior. "He mentioned something like that, yeah. Why do you

derneath his breath. "Listen Anton, I have to go, but I wanted t

here? The very same one you, mom, and dad worship? I thought you

sounded preoccupied. "Please, give me your word you'll try your best to avoid him, alright? For me? For...your own saf

ght, you have

ne wen

. I decided not to think on what just transpired. Instead, I continued o