Scarlett and the Feds Read Free Page B

find Hawke and ‘make up’,” she said, winking and kissing me on the cheek.
    “Have fun and go easy on him.”
    “Not my style, darling,” she snickered, heading out the front door.
    Scarlett was hot on her heels. She wasn’t going to miss this.
     

***
     
    Victor walked into the house carrying a bouquet of flowers. “Security just intercepted the delivery guy at the gate with these.”
    Victor had called to let my new boss, Ashley, know about the accident and that I would be out for a few days. Ashley was a bubbly vivacious little blonde with an infectious laugh. She felt bad for me that I got trapped working for Nelson. She despised him because he’d made moves on her a week before her wedding. She confided in me that Nelson pinned her up against the news van, grabbed her by the back of the head, and tried to make out with her. I was not at all surprised. She was pretty and a woman, his two favorite flavors.
    I pulled out the card from the plastic holder:
     

Get better soon, Angelina! We miss you!
All the best,
Ashely and Channel 6 News
     
    “That is sweet. My new boss is so thoughtful.”
    “Better than that last asshole.”
    I rolled my eyes at Victor, just as I got a text from Nelson.
    Hey heard you were in an accident. What are my chances of getting an interview with you? Miss you, wish you would re-consider coming back to work for me, the new girl is a troll. Let’s have lunch soon.
    I ignored the text. Victor was riled up enough with all that happened. Throwing Nelson into the shit storm was too much.
     

***
     
    Luke was waiting in the Escalade. Victor helped me climb in, his hand in its usual place on my ass. Victor got in the front with Hawke. He was guarded around Luke. I could sense there was something he didn’t trust about him.
    “Are you comfortable, Luke?” I asked, gently touching his arm.
    He winced and jerked away. “I’m fine,” he snapped, his eyes ablaze.
    We both sat silent. My thoughts reverted back to when we were in the backyard and I fell out of a tree and hit my head so hard it knocked me out cold. Luke picked me up and carried me inside to Aunt Ella. He sat next to me nervously chatting all the way to the hospital. I was fine, but he felt responsible because it was his idea to climb the tree. He was very attentive for a few days after that.
    Luke just stared out the window. Silent.
    “I’m so sorry, Luke.” My voice was barely audible.
    “This is on you, Angelina. If you had just given them the fuckin’ book, I wouldn’t be a freak. Every time I look at my left hand, I will blame you,” he snapped, thrusting his left hand in my face.
    I had to hold Scarlett back from kicking him in the balls.
    “I know,” I whispered.
    Victor turned around and glanced at me. At that moment, all I wanted was Victor to be sitting next to me and holding me. It was the longest car ride of my life. Scarlett was trying to pass the time by playing the license plate game. I wasn’t in the mood. My thoughts were consumed with keeping my family, Nicole and Victor safe, and I had no idea how to do that. Scarlett was going through her rolodex to find a guy who could give me a new identity and plastic surgeons who could alter my looks.
    It was just after lunch when we pulled up in front of Aunt Ella’s. She came running out of the front door and flung open the Escalade door before Hawke had even shut off the engine. She started fussing over Luke and scolding him for making her worry as she helped him get out. She put her arm around him and walked him up the step onto the porch and inside. I followed behind, Victor firmly holding my hand.
    Luke was settled on the couch as Aunt Ella rushed to my side. She gently touched the bruise on my head that had faded considerably.
    “Are you okay, darling?”
    “Yes. I’m fine.”
    “Thank you both for taking such good care of Luke.”
    “Sure,” I said, my tone flat.
    “Is everything okay, Angelina?” she asked.
    “Yup. I’m just tired, it