Total pages in book: 206
Estimated words: 192184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 961(@200wpm)___ 769(@250wpm)___ 641(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 192184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 961(@200wpm)___ 769(@250wpm)___ 641(@300wpm)
One of the guys who’d been in Mexico with us was at the car door, trying to get Dario’s attention.
“One sec,” he said, and got out and spoke to the guy. Then he rolled his eyes and motioned for me to get out, an amused look on his face. “The Calvary has come,” he said.
I didn’t know what he meant.
“My sisters and Pop’s wife. They’re here. Before we go in, Tommy doesn’t want you discussing things with them. They know a little, that you and Tommy had a fight, that you messed up his face, that you took off, and that you were kidnapped, but they don’t know other details. Okay? He also doesn’t want you to attempt to contact anyone by phone or to leave the safety of the house until he’s home and he’s had a chance to prep you. All right?”
My eyes widened. Sisters, rules, craziness. I wished I could just go up and hide out in the bedroom and watch some brainless TV and decompress.
“Come, you’ll be fine. They just want to dote on you.”
The four women were in the family room, but spilled out into the hallway to greet me. There was Sarah, Tessa, and two others. One looked a lot like Tessa but about six or more months pregnant, and the other looked around their age, too and she had long dark hair, was model tall and very beautiful. They were all very attractive. The pregnant one pulled me into an embrace.
“I’m Luciana. They call me Luc, I’m glad you’re safe.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said.
The dark-haired one leaned over and air kissed both of my cheeks. “I’m Lisa, I guess I’ll be your mother-in-law soon?”
They all cackled like it was the funniest thing they’d ever heard.
“Monster-in-law more like!” said Tessa, who was approaching me warily. She’d stepped out of the embrace of one of the guys that’d been in Mexico with us. Clearly, he was her husband. I eyed her apologetically and was about to speak. She shh’d me and pulled me into a hug and whispered, “Forget about it. Glad you’re okay.”
“Let the poor girl in, guys,” Dario told them. “Give her some space.”
“Get outta here, you!” Luciana shoved at him. “Go home. We’ve got this.”
“Nope, got orders to stay here until Tommy is back. James, you can head out.”
James was Tessa’s husband. He was dressed in a dark suit, a tall, dark, good-looking guy. He kissed Tessa on the lips briefly and whispered something in her ear. She nodded and he left.
The girls bodily pulled me into the kitchen where Sarah was putting a plate of sandwiches on the table. She put the plate down and then took me into her arms like I was her long-lost child. “Look at you, Chiquita! Are you okay? We’re so glad you’re safe.”
I gave her a little smile. “I’m okay.”
Luciana sat down on a chair and picked up a sandwich, “So you were kidnapped and taken to Mexico? That must’ve been awful.”
“Shh,” Lisa said. “Leave it.”
“Yes, leave it,” Tessa added. “She’s been through enough in the past few days. Let the girl relax.”
Dario reached over and took a sandwich and then got a drink out of the fridge. “Drink, Tia?”
“Thanks, just water,” I answered.
They all started to babble about things like food, about the size of Luc’s stomach, about the weather, about the latest episode of the Bachelorette on TV. It was noisy, it was hectic, it was nice. It reminded me of Rose and Cal’s.
I wondered how they were. I wondered about my dad, too. Had Tommy followed him to the mall and then had someone hold him back? Had Tommy found me before my dad even got there? I still wanted to hear that explanation from my father about all of this. I’d talk to Tommy about contacting my dad when he was back.
For the next few hours I listened to the girls giggle and watched them eat the plate of sandwiches, then devour a fruit tray, and then eat a giant bag of pretzels. Sarah was right in there laughing and hooting and howling and Dario sat on the counter and shook his head mostly.
I realized that no one had asked where Tommy was. Did they know he was taking care of business? Were they here to keep me company and pass the time so I wouldn’t be pacing the floors wondering if he was okay?
Was he okay? What would happen to me if he wasn’t?
Tessa leaned over and patted my shoulder and illustrated some mind-reading skills.
“He’ll be fine. That brother of ours is tougher than nails. Trust me! He’s tougher than Pop, even, and Pop is one tough motherfucker.”
The others were all nodding. This is exactly what they were doing. They were rallying together during a crisis. All of a sudden, Sarah held her cell phone in front of Lisa and Lisa squirmed. “That’s disgusting!”