Craving Carlo (The Adamos Book 3) by Mia Madison

Author:Mia Madison [Madison, Mia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-12-27T16:00:00+00:00

18

You’re Here Now

I stop again. Carlo’s arms come around me, gently. “Finish it, angel.”

“Dad was home, jonesing because he couldn’t even get bar jobs anymore. They all got in a huddle, the three of them, talking low. I snuck close enough to hear.

“They were haggling.” My voice breaks. “Over me. How much to sell me for.”

His body goes so rigid I don’t even need to see his face to know the volcano is ready to blow. “I ran to my room and shoved my dresser in front of the door and stuffed what I could in my backpack. Then I climbed out the window and went to the bus station.”

I wait, trembling, but he doesn’t speak, just keeps holding me. When I go up on my elbows, the inferno of rage in his eyes is both comforting and terrifying.

“I know you could find them and … make them pay,” I say. “I’m asking you, please don’t. I know it sounds crazy, but they’re still my parents, if they’re even still alive. And they’re all I’ve got.”

He closes his eyes and tucks my head against his shoulder and holds me close for a long time. When he finally speaks, he says, “One thing, babe.”

“What?”

His hands lift my head, framing my face. “They may be your only blood kin, but they’re not all you got. A lot of people in this town care about you.”

My chin wobbles. I swallow hard and nod my head. “How’d you wind up at the café?” he says.

“My car. I saw an ad for someone to paint a mural in a nursery. They paid me with the car, which seemed like a pretty good deal at the time. I didn’t know what a piece of crap it was. It broke down right in front of Revved.”

The ghost of a smile flickers over his face. “Rico take care of you?”

“Yeah. He had a bunch of his guys push the car into one of the bays. I told him I couldn’t pay him, but if he had anything that needed painting, or any odd jobs like cleaning, I could work it off.

“He looked at me, and it was like he knew my whole story without me saying a word. Took me into the café, sat me down at the counter, and took Victor aside. Vic came over a minute later and asked me if I wanted a job.

“I said yes, and he said he needed a waitress and could I start right away. Of course I said yes to that too. So then he told me meals were one of the job benefits, and what did I want.

“Being polite, I said, oh, no, that’s all right. And he smiled and said, ‘Eat. Waitressing’s hard work and you’ll need your strength.’

“So he made me a cheeseburger and fries. Best meal I ever had in my life. And then I put on a smock top and worked the next ten hours, because someone called in sick. When Vic cashed me out that night and gave me my tips I nearly bawled like a baby.

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