Victor's Vow, page 5
of them.
Charlene jumped and instantly moved out of his arms, straightened
her clothing, and got as far away from him as she could.
“Yeah?” he called back, those dark eyes following Charlene’s every
move.
“I’m going to take Charlie home after all. I want to spend a bit more
time with her.”
“Okay.” Still staring at Charlie, Vinny licked his lips and adjusted
himself. “It’s started, Charlie, so get yourself ready,” he said, low for
only her ears to hear.
All she could do was stand there, eyes wide as he left the kitchen
and went back outside. Taking a deep breath, swallowing hard, she tried
to make sense out of what had just happened, and couldn’t. What she did
understand was Vinny had her in his sights, and whatever he had planned
wasn’t going to end well for her.
“Ready?” Amanda’s cheerful smile helped get Charlene back under
control.
“Yeah.”
* * * *
At home, sleep was a bit hard to get once more and getting an early
phone call saying she was needed at the diner to work the noon rush
didn’t help matters. Pretty much she worked on fumes. Thankfully,
32
Vinny’s Vow
Vinny didn’t show up for a meal. She got to work her shift, got her small
pay, did the bank thing after, and a few other errands before going home.
That was when round one, she might’ve said, started.
Walking into her place she found Vinny, of all people, sitting in the
chair waiting for her. Furthermore, there were bags all over the place.
“What the hell is going on?” she demanded, kicking the door closed.
“Well, since you don’t want to move, I guess I’m just going to have
to fix it up around here so it’s a bit safer.”
“Excuse me?”
“No more Levi just walking in the front door, acting like he owns
the place. Got you new locks for all the doors and some plumbing stuff.
You need to be able to use the bathroom upstairs.”
“Who the hell do you think you are?” She tossed her purse aside and
jammed her hands on her hips, glaring at him. “You can’t just walk into
my house and-and—” she stammered.
“And what?” He stood up slowly, eyes narrowing. “What do you
think Dozer would say if he knew you were living in this house in the
condition it’s in?”
“First off, don’t go tossing my brother into this. Second, I think it
just might be interesting to know what he would think, knowing his good
friend is chasing after his little sister.”
Silence spread out between them. The air felt thick, as if there
wasn’t enough space between them, until just like that, as fast as it
started, it ended with his smile.
Vinny clapped his hands together and rubbed them. “So, where do
we begin?”
Her mouth opened in shock, Charlie just stood in the middle of the
living room, watching him pick up bags and head into the kitchen. She
could hear him whistling in the other room.
“When was the last time you used this room?” he called out.
Rolling her eyes, she went where he was. “I don’t. The plumbing
doesn’t work anymore, and I don’t have the money to get it fixed.”
“Then let’s take a look.”
She stood to the side, watching as he opened the cabinets under the
sink and began messing around with things. It didn’t take too long before
he came back out with a confused expression on his face.
33
Jaden Sinclair
“Okay, I’m stumped,” he stated.
Charlene couldn’t help herself. She giggled at him. She was about to
tell him to forget it when her cell phone rang. Leaving Vinny in the
kitchen, she headed back to the living room to get her purse, to dig it out.
“Hello?” she answered. “Dozer?” Vinny came back into the room
and snatched the phone right out of her hand.
“Dozer, where the hell are you?” Vinny demanded. “Where am I?
I’m standing in your living room trying to help your sister. Did you
know she’s staying in the house, and it’s falling apart around her?”
“Vinny, no!” Charlie gasped, reaching for the phone, only to have
him move out of her reach. “Damn it, keep your mouth shut.”
“Say that again?” Vinny said. Charlie had a very good idea what her
brother might be telling Vinny. Vinny stilled, slowly turned around and
narrowed his eyes, confirming it. “No, I didn’t know. Funny you should
say that. Mandy has been trying, I’m told, for a while now to get her to
stay with her. If you want, send me the money, and I’ll make sure it gets
done. Yes, I promise you she won’t until it is fixed.” He smiled at her,
handing the phone back. “He wants to talk to you.”
“You are sooo dead!” she hissed low enough her brother couldn’t
hear on the other end. “Yeah.”
“What the hell is this shit about you staying there when it needs
work?” Dozer yelled in the phone. “I told you to stay out of there until I
got home.”
“Where the hell was I supposed to stay?”
“I’ve been sending you money, dammit!”
“I’ve been saving it to fix the house.”
“That isn’t your job. It’s my responsibility. We had a deal, Charlie.
Son of a bitch, that roof could fall in on you while you’re sleeping.”
“I’m not sleeping upstairs.”
“Then where the hell are you sleeping?”
“Dozer, please get off my ass.” She sighed. “I’ve got other stuff on
my mind right now.”
“Damn right you do, and one of them better be getting out of that
house until I can get it fixed. Pack a God damn bag and go stay with
Mandy.”
“What? No!”
34
Vinny’s Vow
“This isn’t up for debate, Charlene.” The use of her full name had
her wincing. Dozer only called her that when he was really upset with
her. “I’m sending Vinny money to get a plumber out there. When I get
home, I’ll take care of the roof myself, and until then stay out of the
house. I don’t need to worry about you in there.”
When the phone went dead, she turned her anger on Vinny. “Are
you happy now?”
She turned her back on him to leave, a big mistake. Her arm was
grabbed, she swung around to face him, then found herself pressed up
against the wall, both arms going up over her head so fast it shocked her
all the way down to her toes. He held her with only one hand, the other
closed under her chin around her throat. A kiss stopped any further
rejections or argument.
His body wedged between her legs, forcing her to stand at an
awkward angle. Charlene could feel the hardness of his erection pressing
against her. Her clit started to throb for it. As he kissed her deep, the
hand at her throat slid down and then up under her shirt, closing around
one breast, squeezing it, and rubbing the nipple with his thumb. She
jumped at the contact, which in turn had him rubbing her between her
legs.
“Vinny, please,” she begged, not sure if she was asking for him to
stop or keep going.
He stopped.
Dark eyes locked with hers for a few seconds, and then he slowly let
her go, taking a step back. “Let’s go.” His voice sounded darker, deeper,
on edge. “Pack a bag quickly.”
Charlene shook her head. “Not a good idea and you know it. You
just proved it’s not the best idea you’ve had.”
“Charlene Rivers, you can either walk out of here on your own or
I’ll carry you over my shoulder. You’ve got ten seconds to make up your
mind.” She didn’t say anything, only stared back at him as if he’d lost his
mind. “Okay then.”
She found herself slung up over his shoulder. “Vinny!” she
screeched. “Put me down!”
He walked to the door and stopped with it open. “You coming on
your own then?”
35
Jaden Sinclair
“Fine, just put me down.” He did slowly, and her body slid down his
before her feet touched the floor. “You’re so going to pay for this.” She
turned and went to her room to pack some of her clothes, but not all of
them. She planned on coming back here sooner rather than later. No way
in hell was she going to stay close to Vinny, not after he just reminded
her why she needed to stay far away from him.
“After you.” He extended his hand for her to walk out first.
With her head held high, Charlene left her house with her bag. She
stared at the truck door for a few seconds, knowing in her heart this was
a big mistake.
“Get in, Charlie.”
“Fine!” she snapped, yanking the door open and sliding into the seat.
“But what about my car? I need it for work.”
“Screw the car. I’ll take you. That way I know you won’t be
stranded again.”
She rode in complete silence. She refused to even look at him until
they were about halfway to the house. Then she couldn’t take it anymore.
“No way in hell Mandy is going to be all right with this after she
finds out you brought Dozer into it,” Charlene said.
“She’ll be okay.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Tough.” It got quiet and tense in the truck for a few moments. He
broke the silence. “What happened to the town?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, where did everyone go? Everything is closed down.”
“The tourists stopped coming.”
“Why?”
“The last owner of the marina let it go. No one wanted to come to a
trashy place. Without the boaters, the other places lost money and closed
down.”
“No one thought to fix the problem and get people back?”
“Some have, but any of the ones who had big plans, Levi’s father
ran out of town. Last I heard he wanted to tear down the marina for
good. I’ve heard a few rumors that anyone who comes looking at it to
buy somehow gets scared away.”
“Really? Wonder why he doesn’t want anyone to buy the place.” He
36
Vinny’s Vow
turned, pulling into the driveway.
“Another rumor is that the bank that owns it refuses to sell it to
him.”
“Bank can’t refuse to sell something.”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Maybe it’s not the bank who owns it
after all. Maybe it’s the owner, and he doesn’t want to sell to them. I
really don’t know or care anymore.”
“Maybe I’ll just start sticking my nose into things. Stir the pot some,
bring in a bit of that competition the Kendricks don’t like.”
“Vinny, you don’t have that kind of money.”
“No, but I do have friends with the kind of money that’s needed
here.”
“Huh?”
“My unit is close to the end of their term, and a couple of them are
looking to settle down somewhere. They’ve got skills and dreams just
like everyone else. You get the right kind of people in here, who have the
backbone to stand up to Levi and his father, then this town can be
booming again. Hell, the lake is one of the best things about this town.”
He parked, turned off the truck, got out, and took boxes from the back.
“When your brother comes back and gets the mechanic shop going
again, that will help.”
Charlie was slower at getting out. “We already have a mechanic in
town.”
“Yeah, and he sucks, and the prick is one of Levi’s buddies. Come
on.”
To make sure she didn’t leave, she supposed, he took her bag and
headed to the front door. They didn’t speak again. He just glanced over
his shoulder to make sure she was following him as he went up the stairs
toward the bedrooms. Charlie stopped at the door next to Amanda’s.
Vinny cleared his throat to get her full attention.
“Not that one, this one.” He nodded to the door in front of him.
“What’s wrong with this room? I’ve stayed in it before.” He didn’t
answer, going inside the room. She followed. “Vinny, what’s wrong with
the other room?”
“Too close to Amanda.”
“So?”
37
Jaden Sinclair
He put her bag down and faced her, the corners of his mouth
twitching up. “Do you really want her to hear you?”
“Hear me do what? Sleep?”
He closed the distance, took hold of her face and kissed her deep,
bending her backward a bit. His kiss took all thoughts away for a
moment, but she quickly got her mind back on track and broke away
from him.
“Oh, no you don’t! You’re not going to seduce me in your sister’s
house or anywhere else for that matter.”
“Is that a challenge?” He grinned at her, and his eyes sparkled.
“It’s a fact!” she snapped. “I’m not staying in this house if the only
reason is for you to try to get laid again.”
“Again?” He huffed, one hand going over his heart. “You hurt me,
Charlie. I never got laid the last time.”
“What the hell do you call it then?”
“An attempt that never got finished.”
“Bullshit.”
He frowned at her. “Okay, I’m going to ask this, and you better
answer with the truth, because at the moment you just confuse me.
Besides me, have you had sex with any other guy?”
His question made her instantly uncomfortable. She crossed her
arms over her chest and glared back at him as she tapped one foot against
the floor. “That is none of your damn business.”
“Yes, it is.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Oh, but I think it is.”
“I’m not having this conversation with you.” She rubbed at her
forehead, irritation spreading all through her body. She paced the room,
feeling closed in.
“Charlie, what happened between us wasn’t really sex.”
She stopped pacing to look at him. “Yes, it was.”
“No, darling, it wasn’t. It was the beginning to it, but we never
really got started or brought it to the finish line. You shoved me away,
and I slipped out. The only thing that happened is I entered you, and I
guess you can say I took your virginity. That’s it.”
“What’s the difference then?”
38
Vinny’s Vow
“The difference is that neither one of us had an orgasm. Which leads
me to take a guess here and say the answer to my question is no.
Strange.”
“What’s so damn strange about it?”
“Because you’re on the pill.”
She gasped. “How the hell can you know that?”
“I saw them in the bathroom when I was waiting for you to come
home.”
She’d had enough. “Vinny, get out,” she said through her teeth.
“You staying in this room?” He smirked, taking his turn to cross his
arms over his chest.
“Fine, just get out and give me some damn space!”
“Okay, but unpack. I’ll check on you in a bit, and that bag better be
empty when I come back. Don’t make me have to call Dozer and tell him
you’re being a pain in the ass.”
“Whatever, just go!” With a smile still on his face, he walked out of
the bedroom and closed the door behind him. “I swear I’m going to kill
him, then Mandy next,” she snapped as she grabbed her bag and
unpacked her clothes.
It didn’t take her too long. She heard Vinny leave the house, and
peeking out of the window, she spotted him talking on a cell phone as he
got into his truck. When he started to pull out of the drive the land line
phone next to her bed rang, scaring the death out of her.
“Hello?” she answered.
“Hey, great you’re there. He told me he was going to bring you
home, but I really didn’t believe him,” Amanda said on the other end.
“Yeah, well, he got Dozer involved, so I’m going to have to kill him
first, then you.”
Amanda laughed. “Come on, he isn’t that bad. It’s just he cares
about you, and I was fairly sure Dozer didn’t know about you staying in
the house in the condition it was in. I’m glad he knows now.”
“This isn’t caring, Mandy. This is being a bully.”
“Yeah, Vinny can do that also, but hey, I’m calling to let you know
I’ve got to head to the city. My supplies aren’t in for the shop, and I need
them for the morning. Damn driver won’t deliver them tonight, and I
Charlene jumped and instantly moved out of his arms, straightened
her clothing, and got as far away from him as she could.
“Yeah?” he called back, those dark eyes following Charlene’s every
move.
“I’m going to take Charlie home after all. I want to spend a bit more
time with her.”
“Okay.” Still staring at Charlie, Vinny licked his lips and adjusted
himself. “It’s started, Charlie, so get yourself ready,” he said, low for
only her ears to hear.
All she could do was stand there, eyes wide as he left the kitchen
and went back outside. Taking a deep breath, swallowing hard, she tried
to make sense out of what had just happened, and couldn’t. What she did
understand was Vinny had her in his sights, and whatever he had planned
wasn’t going to end well for her.
“Ready?” Amanda’s cheerful smile helped get Charlene back under
control.
“Yeah.”
* * * *
At home, sleep was a bit hard to get once more and getting an early
phone call saying she was needed at the diner to work the noon rush
didn’t help matters. Pretty much she worked on fumes. Thankfully,
32
Vinny’s Vow
Vinny didn’t show up for a meal. She got to work her shift, got her small
pay, did the bank thing after, and a few other errands before going home.
That was when round one, she might’ve said, started.
Walking into her place she found Vinny, of all people, sitting in the
chair waiting for her. Furthermore, there were bags all over the place.
“What the hell is going on?” she demanded, kicking the door closed.
“Well, since you don’t want to move, I guess I’m just going to have
to fix it up around here so it’s a bit safer.”
“Excuse me?”
“No more Levi just walking in the front door, acting like he owns
the place. Got you new locks for all the doors and some plumbing stuff.
You need to be able to use the bathroom upstairs.”
“Who the hell do you think you are?” She tossed her purse aside and
jammed her hands on her hips, glaring at him. “You can’t just walk into
my house and-and—” she stammered.
“And what?” He stood up slowly, eyes narrowing. “What do you
think Dozer would say if he knew you were living in this house in the
condition it’s in?”
“First off, don’t go tossing my brother into this. Second, I think it
just might be interesting to know what he would think, knowing his good
friend is chasing after his little sister.”
Silence spread out between them. The air felt thick, as if there
wasn’t enough space between them, until just like that, as fast as it
started, it ended with his smile.
Vinny clapped his hands together and rubbed them. “So, where do
we begin?”
Her mouth opened in shock, Charlie just stood in the middle of the
living room, watching him pick up bags and head into the kitchen. She
could hear him whistling in the other room.
“When was the last time you used this room?” he called out.
Rolling her eyes, she went where he was. “I don’t. The plumbing
doesn’t work anymore, and I don’t have the money to get it fixed.”
“Then let’s take a look.”
She stood to the side, watching as he opened the cabinets under the
sink and began messing around with things. It didn’t take too long before
he came back out with a confused expression on his face.
33
Jaden Sinclair
“Okay, I’m stumped,” he stated.
Charlene couldn’t help herself. She giggled at him. She was about to
tell him to forget it when her cell phone rang. Leaving Vinny in the
kitchen, she headed back to the living room to get her purse, to dig it out.
“Hello?” she answered. “Dozer?” Vinny came back into the room
and snatched the phone right out of her hand.
“Dozer, where the hell are you?” Vinny demanded. “Where am I?
I’m standing in your living room trying to help your sister. Did you
know she’s staying in the house, and it’s falling apart around her?”
“Vinny, no!” Charlie gasped, reaching for the phone, only to have
him move out of her reach. “Damn it, keep your mouth shut.”
“Say that again?” Vinny said. Charlie had a very good idea what her
brother might be telling Vinny. Vinny stilled, slowly turned around and
narrowed his eyes, confirming it. “No, I didn’t know. Funny you should
say that. Mandy has been trying, I’m told, for a while now to get her to
stay with her. If you want, send me the money, and I’ll make sure it gets
done. Yes, I promise you she won’t until it is fixed.” He smiled at her,
handing the phone back. “He wants to talk to you.”
“You are sooo dead!” she hissed low enough her brother couldn’t
hear on the other end. “Yeah.”
“What the hell is this shit about you staying there when it needs
work?” Dozer yelled in the phone. “I told you to stay out of there until I
got home.”
“Where the hell was I supposed to stay?”
“I’ve been sending you money, dammit!”
“I’ve been saving it to fix the house.”
“That isn’t your job. It’s my responsibility. We had a deal, Charlie.
Son of a bitch, that roof could fall in on you while you’re sleeping.”
“I’m not sleeping upstairs.”
“Then where the hell are you sleeping?”
“Dozer, please get off my ass.” She sighed. “I’ve got other stuff on
my mind right now.”
“Damn right you do, and one of them better be getting out of that
house until I can get it fixed. Pack a God damn bag and go stay with
Mandy.”
“What? No!”
34
Vinny’s Vow
“This isn’t up for debate, Charlene.” The use of her full name had
her wincing. Dozer only called her that when he was really upset with
her. “I’m sending Vinny money to get a plumber out there. When I get
home, I’ll take care of the roof myself, and until then stay out of the
house. I don’t need to worry about you in there.”
When the phone went dead, she turned her anger on Vinny. “Are
you happy now?”
She turned her back on him to leave, a big mistake. Her arm was
grabbed, she swung around to face him, then found herself pressed up
against the wall, both arms going up over her head so fast it shocked her
all the way down to her toes. He held her with only one hand, the other
closed under her chin around her throat. A kiss stopped any further
rejections or argument.
His body wedged between her legs, forcing her to stand at an
awkward angle. Charlene could feel the hardness of his erection pressing
against her. Her clit started to throb for it. As he kissed her deep, the
hand at her throat slid down and then up under her shirt, closing around
one breast, squeezing it, and rubbing the nipple with his thumb. She
jumped at the contact, which in turn had him rubbing her between her
legs.
“Vinny, please,” she begged, not sure if she was asking for him to
stop or keep going.
He stopped.
Dark eyes locked with hers for a few seconds, and then he slowly let
her go, taking a step back. “Let’s go.” His voice sounded darker, deeper,
on edge. “Pack a bag quickly.”
Charlene shook her head. “Not a good idea and you know it. You
just proved it’s not the best idea you’ve had.”
“Charlene Rivers, you can either walk out of here on your own or
I’ll carry you over my shoulder. You’ve got ten seconds to make up your
mind.” She didn’t say anything, only stared back at him as if he’d lost his
mind. “Okay then.”
She found herself slung up over his shoulder. “Vinny!” she
screeched. “Put me down!”
He walked to the door and stopped with it open. “You coming on
your own then?”
35
Jaden Sinclair
“Fine, just put me down.” He did slowly, and her body slid down his
before her feet touched the floor. “You’re so going to pay for this.” She
turned and went to her room to pack some of her clothes, but not all of
them. She planned on coming back here sooner rather than later. No way
in hell was she going to stay close to Vinny, not after he just reminded
her why she needed to stay far away from him.
“After you.” He extended his hand for her to walk out first.
With her head held high, Charlene left her house with her bag. She
stared at the truck door for a few seconds, knowing in her heart this was
a big mistake.
“Get in, Charlie.”
“Fine!” she snapped, yanking the door open and sliding into the seat.
“But what about my car? I need it for work.”
“Screw the car. I’ll take you. That way I know you won’t be
stranded again.”
She rode in complete silence. She refused to even look at him until
they were about halfway to the house. Then she couldn’t take it anymore.
“No way in hell Mandy is going to be all right with this after she
finds out you brought Dozer into it,” Charlene said.
“She’ll be okay.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Tough.” It got quiet and tense in the truck for a few moments. He
broke the silence. “What happened to the town?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, where did everyone go? Everything is closed down.”
“The tourists stopped coming.”
“Why?”
“The last owner of the marina let it go. No one wanted to come to a
trashy place. Without the boaters, the other places lost money and closed
down.”
“No one thought to fix the problem and get people back?”
“Some have, but any of the ones who had big plans, Levi’s father
ran out of town. Last I heard he wanted to tear down the marina for
good. I’ve heard a few rumors that anyone who comes looking at it to
buy somehow gets scared away.”
“Really? Wonder why he doesn’t want anyone to buy the place.” He
36
Vinny’s Vow
turned, pulling into the driveway.
“Another rumor is that the bank that owns it refuses to sell it to
him.”
“Bank can’t refuse to sell something.”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Maybe it’s not the bank who owns it
after all. Maybe it’s the owner, and he doesn’t want to sell to them. I
really don’t know or care anymore.”
“Maybe I’ll just start sticking my nose into things. Stir the pot some,
bring in a bit of that competition the Kendricks don’t like.”
“Vinny, you don’t have that kind of money.”
“No, but I do have friends with the kind of money that’s needed
here.”
“Huh?”
“My unit is close to the end of their term, and a couple of them are
looking to settle down somewhere. They’ve got skills and dreams just
like everyone else. You get the right kind of people in here, who have the
backbone to stand up to Levi and his father, then this town can be
booming again. Hell, the lake is one of the best things about this town.”
He parked, turned off the truck, got out, and took boxes from the back.
“When your brother comes back and gets the mechanic shop going
again, that will help.”
Charlie was slower at getting out. “We already have a mechanic in
town.”
“Yeah, and he sucks, and the prick is one of Levi’s buddies. Come
on.”
To make sure she didn’t leave, she supposed, he took her bag and
headed to the front door. They didn’t speak again. He just glanced over
his shoulder to make sure she was following him as he went up the stairs
toward the bedrooms. Charlie stopped at the door next to Amanda’s.
Vinny cleared his throat to get her full attention.
“Not that one, this one.” He nodded to the door in front of him.
“What’s wrong with this room? I’ve stayed in it before.” He didn’t
answer, going inside the room. She followed. “Vinny, what’s wrong with
the other room?”
“Too close to Amanda.”
“So?”
37
Jaden Sinclair
He put her bag down and faced her, the corners of his mouth
twitching up. “Do you really want her to hear you?”
“Hear me do what? Sleep?”
He closed the distance, took hold of her face and kissed her deep,
bending her backward a bit. His kiss took all thoughts away for a
moment, but she quickly got her mind back on track and broke away
from him.
“Oh, no you don’t! You’re not going to seduce me in your sister’s
house or anywhere else for that matter.”
“Is that a challenge?” He grinned at her, and his eyes sparkled.
“It’s a fact!” she snapped. “I’m not staying in this house if the only
reason is for you to try to get laid again.”
“Again?” He huffed, one hand going over his heart. “You hurt me,
Charlie. I never got laid the last time.”
“What the hell do you call it then?”
“An attempt that never got finished.”
“Bullshit.”
He frowned at her. “Okay, I’m going to ask this, and you better
answer with the truth, because at the moment you just confuse me.
Besides me, have you had sex with any other guy?”
His question made her instantly uncomfortable. She crossed her
arms over her chest and glared back at him as she tapped one foot against
the floor. “That is none of your damn business.”
“Yes, it is.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Oh, but I think it is.”
“I’m not having this conversation with you.” She rubbed at her
forehead, irritation spreading all through her body. She paced the room,
feeling closed in.
“Charlie, what happened between us wasn’t really sex.”
She stopped pacing to look at him. “Yes, it was.”
“No, darling, it wasn’t. It was the beginning to it, but we never
really got started or brought it to the finish line. You shoved me away,
and I slipped out. The only thing that happened is I entered you, and I
guess you can say I took your virginity. That’s it.”
“What’s the difference then?”
38
Vinny’s Vow
“The difference is that neither one of us had an orgasm. Which leads
me to take a guess here and say the answer to my question is no.
Strange.”
“What’s so damn strange about it?”
“Because you’re on the pill.”
She gasped. “How the hell can you know that?”
“I saw them in the bathroom when I was waiting for you to come
home.”
She’d had enough. “Vinny, get out,” she said through her teeth.
“You staying in this room?” He smirked, taking his turn to cross his
arms over his chest.
“Fine, just get out and give me some damn space!”
“Okay, but unpack. I’ll check on you in a bit, and that bag better be
empty when I come back. Don’t make me have to call Dozer and tell him
you’re being a pain in the ass.”
“Whatever, just go!” With a smile still on his face, he walked out of
the bedroom and closed the door behind him. “I swear I’m going to kill
him, then Mandy next,” she snapped as she grabbed her bag and
unpacked her clothes.
It didn’t take her too long. She heard Vinny leave the house, and
peeking out of the window, she spotted him talking on a cell phone as he
got into his truck. When he started to pull out of the drive the land line
phone next to her bed rang, scaring the death out of her.
“Hello?” she answered.
“Hey, great you’re there. He told me he was going to bring you
home, but I really didn’t believe him,” Amanda said on the other end.
“Yeah, well, he got Dozer involved, so I’m going to have to kill him
first, then you.”
Amanda laughed. “Come on, he isn’t that bad. It’s just he cares
about you, and I was fairly sure Dozer didn’t know about you staying in
the house in the condition it was in. I’m glad he knows now.”
“This isn’t caring, Mandy. This is being a bully.”
“Yeah, Vinny can do that also, but hey, I’m calling to let you know
I’ve got to head to the city. My supplies aren’t in for the shop, and I need
them for the morning. Damn driver won’t deliver them tonight, and I
