Page 15 of Bulletproof Baby

"Frankie, breathe. You're not going to get whacked. If Valentino is the kind of man I think he is, he's not a liar."

Frankie's eye twitches. "What the fuck does that mean?"

"That means that he promised to protect me and my family. You're included in that group. We'll be safe. You'll be safe. You don't have to worry about Val. If we need to be cautious of anyone, it's Saul."

"Saul who?" He asks.

"Caputo," I tell him, shrinking away, knowing that he's going to blow his top.

In true Frankie fashion, he throws his hands in the air. "Are you fucking kidding me? How the hell are you caught between two of the most dangerous men in this city?"

"Shh." I pump my hands toward him. "Calm down and lower your voice."

"Oh shit. This place is bugged, isn't it?" He looks around with paranoia replacing fear.

"It shouldn't be. You're a gay go-go dancer who lives on the Lower East Side. I don't think you're going to be identified as an associate of the mob."

"You lower your voice. They could be listening to us right now." He insists and starts moving objects around the room as if he’d be able to spot any listening devices.

"Frankie, no one's listening to us. I have to go."

"Go where? You just got here." His voice pitches an octave higher than normal. It reminds me of when we were kids. He used to throw fits and tantrums when he didn't get his way with me, but Nonna would have none of it. Frankie rambles, trying to get me to hang around. "You can't glaze over this piping hot tea you served and then dip out of here because your boyfriend left."

"He's not my boyfriend."

Frankie scoffs, "Right. The purchaser of your virginity."

"My time, Frankie, he bought my time."

He sighs. "You're starting to sound like him. Give me the best parts in less than a minute and I'll let you go."

I laugh, shaking my head. "This isn't some short internet video. This is my life. There's no way I can get through it all in less than a minute."

"Try," he says, folding his arms across his chest.

"Fine. The parents are in debt to Caputo. I sold my time to get out of that debt. I lost my virginity to Don Barrone, which I'm sure pissed off his rival, Don Caputo."

"For fuck's sake, Lia." He puts his hand delicately over his mouth. "Well, you can stay here as long as you like. As a matter of fact, I think it's a great idea. If you're here, we're guaranteed protection from your billionaire boyfriend."

"Frankie," I tell him in exasperation. "He is not my boyfriend."

"That man is consumed by you. He broke laws to figure out where you were because he thought you were in the arms of another man. Men like that don't take rejection well. Let him be your man so he can protect us."

"I'll come back as soon as I talk to my parents and meet with this lawyer woman."

"Lawyer? What is going on, Lia?"

I pout and stare at him a moment. "Frankie, honestly, if I knew, I probably still couldn't put it into words. I'm sorry to bring croissants and leave, but I have to go."

Frankie finally lets me walk out of his apartment without asking another question. It takes me a while to get a hold of my parents. Once I do, I'm only able to get my father to sit still for a moment in the trailer at the Saint Bartholomew's construction site.

"Dad, just listen to me, please," I beg him. "I don't want to spy on Valentino for Don Caputo. I think we should speak to this attorney Valentino recommended."

Dad doesn't want to hear anything other than me agreeing to this absurd idea to spy on Valentino. He refuses to listen to reason. "I didn't know you preferred me in prison, Lia."

I sigh. "You know that's not what I want, but it's better than selling our souls to Don Caputo. I didn't ask for any of this, but I'm the one bearing the burden."

"You? Do you have any idea what your mother is dealing with? She killed a man," he stammers but immediately lowers his voice with his eyes glancing at the door to the office trailer. "I'm not doing this with you, Lia. Just do as you're fucking told. Date the guy, okay? You don't have to do anything else. If nothing comes out of it, then we'll talk to Saul about adjusting your role in this. How does that sound?"