Scarlett and the Feds Read Free Page A

trip, besides I’m in good hands here,” I said.
    “What the hell happened?”
    I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady and calm. Trying to conceal the fact that I was lying to her face.
    “Luke and I were out to dinner, I didn’t realize that he had been drinking before hand and when he’d gone around a corner wide, we wrecked. I managed to call Victor, he arrived with Hawke before the cops showed up and took care of everything. Luke is pretty banged up and lost a finger.”
    “Let me know when he is better so I can kick his ass for drinking and driving, after I kick Hawke’s for not telling me!”
    Scarlett Z snapped Nicole, ass kicking was her job and she wasn’t ready for a pink slip yet!
    “Don’t be pissed at Hawke. I begged him not to tell you so you wouldn’t leave early and come home,” I said, with my most pathetic look I could muster.
    “Where is Luke?” she asked crossing her arms.
    “In the rear wing of the house.”
    “I want to see him.”
    “Ok,” I said, hesitating. “Be nice,” I said shooting her a warning look.
    She sighed. “I will. I promise,” she said crossing her heart.
    Luke was sitting up and doing much better. The I.V.’s were out and the monitors were long gone. He was up walking around and insisting on going home. He was sitting in chair looking out the window lost in thought when we walked in.
    “Yo, loser. I came to bitch slap you for being a complete dumb ass for drinking and driving. But Angelina says I have to be nice.”
    Scarlett was standing next to her pounding her fist into her palm.
    “What are your talking about?” Luke said confused.
    “He’s pretty drugged up still,” I said nervously.
    Nicole’s bullshit meter was creeping up to suspicious levels. I had to think fast.
    “Nicole, would you do me a favor and go get Victor to help me move Luke back into bed?”
    “Yeah I guess.”
    “Thanks, sugar.”
    “But I don’t want to get—” Luke blurted out as the door shut behind Nicole. “What the fuck, Angelina, is going on?”
    “I told Nicole and your mother we were in a car wreck and you had been drinking.”
    “Why the fuck did you tell them that?”
    “What the hell was I supposed to tell them? The truth? I’m trying to keep them safe.”
    “Then give me the fucking book and end this now!” Rage consumed his eyes.
    Victor and Nicole walked through the door.
    “Victor, can you help Luke into bed?” I said giving him a ‘work with me on this’ look.
    “Of course,” he said grabbing Luke’s arm and easing him up.
    “Let’s let Luke rest, Nic,” I said, grabbing her hand and walking out.
    I led her to the kitchen and poured her a glass of wine. She finished it in two swigs and both Nicole and Scarlett held out their glasses for a refill. I just left the bottle for the two of them to fight over.
    “How long is he staying here?”
    “Till tomorrow. He is insisting on going back to Rhode Island.”
    “Can he travel that far? He still looks pretty rough,” she asked taking a swig of her wine.
    “Yea. The doctor gave us the go ahead.”
    “I’m going with you.”
    “No!” I said with more urgency in my voice than I intended, causing her to raise her eyebrow at me.
    “Okay then,” she snapped.
    “I appreciate it, and all, but you got work, and I’m sure that between Victor and the goons, I got it covered.”
    “Is Hawke part of this entourage?”
    “Most likely, but I can ask Victor to have him stay here to take care of Salvatore Disney Land. As long as you promise he will be in one piece when we get back.”
    “No promises,” she said flashing that million dollar smile and flipping her blonde hair.
    Scarlett gift wrapped a can of whoop ass for Nicole.
    “Speaking of work, were they cool with you being gone this long?”
    “Yeah, Victor took care of it, but I’m going back on Monday. I’m going bat shit crazy sitting in this house all day.”
    Nicole took a last swig of her wine and got up. “I’m going to