Fractured Freedom(33)

I took seven breaths in the bathroom before I threw on some strawberry lip gloss and changed into a summer dress.

I could be around him and still find my way here. I simply had to get a handle on myself.

He’d said I was an adult, and I knew that was true. Still, I felt like a damn child sometimes. What way was right, what way was wrong? Did anyone in the world even know?

I spritzed on some body spray and came back to the room to find him lounging still.

“What is your plan for the day?” I asked, hoping he would be leaving me to my own devices.

“I have to work, but if you’re going down to the beach or—”

“I think I need to decompress here today.” I planned to get lost in a book or three. It was my only way to calm down. “And I need to call my family today or tomorrow.”

“Well, Izzy wants you to make it clear this is all her fault.”

My eyes widened. “Is she going to ever call me?”

“You know her phone time is limited.”

That made me want to scream. I smoothed an imaginary wrinkle in my dress instead. “She can’t seriously expect me to keep this secret.”

“We do and you will.”

I stomped over to the kitchen and grabbed a glass to fill with water. “I tell my mother everything.”

“Well, you’ll have to exercise restraint.”

I took a sip. “She’s already so mad at Izzy. We can’t keep throwing her under the bus when—”

“I thought you were mad at her, anyway.”

“Well, yeah, I am. But that doesn’t mean everyone else gets to be mad at her.”

Dante never understood sibling dynamics. The proof was in the way he squinted at me like I made no sense. “Okay. Well, I’ll be working in my room. If you need to leave, call me.”

“Hardly freedom when I have to tell you exactly where I go and what I do with my time. And is your room just across the hall from mine? That’s ridiculous.” My tone was pouty and immature, but he was ruining my whole traveling nurse gig.

He chuckled as he walked past me and handed me my list. “I’m happy to eat, pray, and love with you, Lamb, but I’m not letting you out of my sight for too long.”

I breathed out a loud sound of frustration and stomped over to my books when the door closed behind him.

My freeing trip had just turned into what felt like witness protection.





I wasn’t proud to admit that I stayed in my room the whole day reading.

The next morning, I almost called him to see if we could go over exactly what I’d say to my mother. I’d charged my phone all night and ignored the missed calls and emails waiting for me.

I’d been off the radar for a couple of days, anyway. The only person I needed to update was my mother. She’d spread the news to all who would listen in our town.

I bucked up and dialed her number. When she answered, I sighed at the fact that I was about to lie straight to her face.

Obviously, I knew it wasn’t literally like that, but it felt like it as she cried over the phone. “I’m so happy you’re safe. And Dante will get Izzy out too, right? Is he with you? Can I talk to him?”

“With me?” I repeated like the idea was ludicrous.

“Well, he came to get you out, didn’t he? I don’t know what that means, Lilah.” She had the audacity to act affronted. “You certainly thanked the young man, I hope. And there’s no better thank you than—”

“Mom!” I bellowed into the phone, my eyes widening.

“What?” I pictured her shrugging and pushing that dark hair that looked so much like mine out of her face. “You had a crush on him, no? Maybe it went further after he did such a nice thing for you. That’s all I’m saying.”

“I can’t believe you right now.”

“Well, I would approve if you did. That’s all I will say.” All of a sudden, she was whispering angrily at my father, and I knew he was chastising her too.

“Thank God that’s all you’ll say.” I was floored by how quickly she wanted me to put out.

“Oh, don’t act like he’s a stranger. You’ve known him your whole life, Delilah. He’s practically your brother. He was with your siblings every second of every day.”

“All the more reason for me to not do anything with him.” I almost said ever again but I caught myself.

“Well, Dom is here, and he said Dante better not. So maybe it’s a good thing you’re the responsible one, huh? I don’t want those boys fighting. I just want grandbabies, and can you imagine the little munchkins you two would have?”

“I cannot with you right now, Mom,” I grouched. She had six kids and somehow wanted more, even though I knew my brothers were still running through her house half the time on vacation. “I’m going to lie low for a few days, okay? I’ll call you when I’m back at work. Let’s focus on getting Izzy out of jail.”

“Well, maybe she needs to stay there for a few weeks,” my mother grumbled, but I caught a hint of sadness as she said it.

“Let’s not jump to any conclusions about what—”

“Lilah, don’t make excuses and don’t tell me to hope for the best with this one, okay? You could have been in danger. You still might be, right now,” she huffed. “Has she even called you?”