Twisted Hearts (The Camorra Chronicles #5)(22)

“I know, Dad.” Problem was the alternative was spending my life with a man I didn’t want, and that seemed an even less desirable option.

Diego walked in, shrugging his jacket over. “Hurry up, or you’ll be late.”

I gave Dad a kiss on the cheek then followed Diego out toward his Ford. He brought me to school and picked me up from there every single day. Since the Arena incident, he was even more vigilant than usual. I wasn’t even allowed to ride in Toni’s car anymore. Inmates had more freedom than I did.

“Dad won’t reduce your time.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not a prisoner.”

Diego shook his head. “If you don’t stop changing into other clothes in school, then we’ll have to start locking you in.”

I made an innocent face.

“Bag it. Sierra told me you’re wearing jeans in school.”

I couldn’t believe her! She was such a snitch. My cousin loved to shove her nose in my business. “It’s just jeans and a sweater. These clothes make me feel out of place.” I motioned at my dress. It wasn’t a bad dress, no frills, bows or strange colors, but most girls didn’t wear modest dresses in school. I wanted to wear jeans and shirts like everyone else did. Diego didn’t say anything. I’d have a serious talk to Sierra today. Checking out my reflection in the side window, I took out my hairband and fluffed up my hair, then applied a touch of lipgloss.

“Will you stop the shit? You’re so fucking blind and na?ve, Gemma,” Diego growled.

“What’s gotten into you? I didn’t do anything.”

“Fluffing up your hair and applying lipstick isn’t nothing.”

Had he lost his mind now? My bewilderment must have shown because he shook his head. “You really don’t get it. I suppose I should be glad.”

“Can you just tell me what I did?”

“You’re driving guys crazy, Gemma. You don’t even realize how many threats I have to hand out every day to keep guys from undressing you with their eyes.”

I laughed, thinking he was pulling my leg but his face was dead serious. “Really?” I asked, thrilled and embarrassed at once. Savio had hit on me that day, but I’d thought it was a fluke. “Guys never hit on me.”

“Because they know what’ll happen if they do,” Diego said in a voice that sent a little shiver down my back.

“Was that why you were in that fight?” A couple of days ago, he’d come home with a split lip from a meeting with several other Camorrista in his age. He hadn’t been very forthcoming with information.

“Yeah, a few guys voted you hottest piece of ass and aspiring sex bomb.”

“Oh.”

“And no, Savio wasn’t one of them!” Diego hit the steering wheel.

“I didn’t ask if he was.”

Diego parked the car in the school parking lot. “You were about to.”

I didn’t deny it. I could see that Diego wanted to say more, but then he just shook his head. “You’ll be late.”

I got out. Toni was already waiting for me. I rushed toward her, eager to get away from Diego’s brand of crazy. We hugged, then she scanned my face. “What’s the matter?”

“My brother’s been intolerable all morning.”

“Isn’t he always?” She looked pointedly toward the Ford, which was still parked at the curb despite other cars honking behind it.

“We should go inside. He won’t leave until we do.”

Toni and I linked arms before we headed into the building.

“If you’re looking for the Amish commune, this is the wrong way,” Noemi said, her little posse of friends surrounding her. The idea that Diego was making out with her older sister made me want to gag.

I ignored her. If I didn’t, I’d punch her, and I’d promised Dad that wouldn’t happen again. If I wanted to be on time for class, I didn’t have time to change.

Later in recess, Toni and I sat at our usual table in the corner, and I was finally out of my dress and wearing jeans and a sweater. “Dad has started looking for a husband for me.”

Toni choked on her iced tea. “What?”

“I’m sixteen. Usually girls are already promised at that age.”

“What about Savio?” She’d lowered her voice another notch. Nobody knew of my crush on him and I preferred it to stay that way. I didn’t need more rumors about me.

I pushed my vegetables around on the plate. “He hasn’t asked yet.”

“You need to up your game, Gemma. Flirt with him. Savio’s brain is wired differently. He’s used to girls throwing themselves at him.”

“I don’t want to throw myself at him. The guy has to make the first move.”

Toni sighed. “Maybe he needs a tiny nudge to make the first move. Do you want to risk being promised to someone else?”

“Of course not,” I gasped. “But it’ll probably take many months for Dad to find a viable suitor. It’s not like I have a long list of admirers.”

Toni rolled her eyes. “Too many hits against your head during training, eh?” She pointed her fork at something behind me. I turned, finding a group of jocks staring at me. Flushing, I jerked back around. “Some of them aren’t Italian. And the others are too young. They need to be a couple of years older.”