Read Mobster's Bones (Mobster #5) for Free Online Page B

facing Vito and Alessandra.
    “Outside,” Vito orders. The hallway is vacant because it is so early in the morning. He closes the door.
    “What’s going on?”
    “Some bad shit. I need you to watch Alessandra. She needs to stay here.”
    “Um, yeah.” I think for a minute. “I can get her a place in guest housing.”
    “No. She stays here.”
    “She can’t stay here. There are rules. No cohabitation.”
    “Don’t worry about the rules.” I run my fingers through my hair, not liking this at all.
    “What happened? How long will she be here?”
    “If she wants to tell you, it’s her story to tell. I don’t know how long but she doesn’t leave your side. She is not to be alone. You eat, she eats; you go to class, she goes to class.”
    “Are you kidding? Don’t you think my professors are going to notice an Italian chick following me around?” I can’t hold the sarcasm back.
    “Make some shit up—exchange student, shadowing for the semester, your sister. I don’t give a fuck. She stays with you!” Vito’s voice rises in agitation.
    “Why?”
    He ignores me and takes out his wallet and counts out ten one-hundred-dollar bills.
    “You’re paying me?”
    “No, it’s to take care of her. Buy her shit she needs. There should be money in her purse too.” Vito goes back into my room. He pulls a gun from the back of his jeans. Checks it and lays it down next to my cell on the bedside table. “She’s carrying,” he informs me as if this is all normal. “It’s a little one in her purse. Do you know how to shoot?”
    “Uh. Yeah.” My fingers run through my hair in exasperation and I check my watch. I need to be at study group in ten minutes. “I used to go hunting with my dad.” 
    “Good. That’s convenient.”
    “This is messed up.” I run my hand through my hair again; I’m nervous. I turn and Alessandra is exactly the way she was. “I have to get to a study group.”
    “Not today. Let her rest. Try to get her to eat something. She’s tough. Give her some time.”
    I lean in to Vito. “Why don’t you watch her?”
    “I’m asking you!” He puts his index finger in my chest. “I have some shit to sort. She needs to stay out of Palmetto for now. No one knows she’s here, not even Antonio. Don’t tell anyone.” His meaty hand lands on my shoulder. “If someone calls you, you don’t tell them anything. Understand?”
    “Tell them what? I don’t know anything.”
    “She’ll tell you herself when she is ready.” Vito walks over to Alessandra and kneels down to her level. “I have to go.” His voice is gentle, unlike I have ever heard from him before. “Troy will hang with you until I figure this out. There is a burner phone in your purse. Call me if you need anything.” He stands and leans down, kissing the top of her head. “Bye.” Vito walks toward the door to leave.
    “Troy. One more thing.” He pauses with his hand on the doorknob.
    “Yeah?”
    “Don’t date her and don’t fuck her.”
    And with that statement he leaves. I stand at the closed door staring at it, processing what he just said, when I hear another door slam. Alessandra is gone from my bed and has locked herself in my bathroom.
    Just great.
     

Alessandra
     
    Why do things you only see for a second become seared into your memory? A snapshot that you can’t rip up or a picture on your phone you can’t delete. I run the water in Troy’s sink and throw cold water on my face trying to wash it away.
    It will never go away. Seeing my mother’s decayed body propped up at our kitchen table is stamped in my mind.
    “Alessandra?”
    I pause, not even wanting to move my mouth to talk. I force it out, through a crack in my voice.
    “Yeah.”
    “Do you need anything?”
    This is adding misery to the gaping wound in my chest. Vito dragged me here. I can’t believe it. Why did he bring me here? These are the most humiliating circumstances—needy and broken.
    I run the water again and reach for a hand