Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
“You’re such a little thing to cause so much trouble,” Emilio finally says to me.
“I’m sorry. It wasn’t my intention for any of the trouble I caused to happen. I only want to pay what I owe and be out of your hair.”
“Quiet, Oni,” Uncle Claude bites out and gives me a pointed look.
“If she’s old enough to be a thief, she’s old enough to negotiate for herself,” Emilio says slyly.
“I think we are all getting ahead of ourselves. Come have a seat, Oni. Rico, sit next to me, my son.”
I don’t miss the emphasis Federico Sr. places on the word “my.” Emilio pulls a sour face and watches us as we go to take our seats. I make sure to sit across from Federico Sr., away from Rico, but with a clear view of him, his uncle, and mine.
My gut tells me to observe. My dad used to tell me to be aware of the situations I find myself in. Know how to read a room to know what cards to play.
I definitely have a hand to play here. My uncle wants me safe. Rico wants my loyalty and a driver.
I’m not going to analyze what else is in this for him. For now, I believe Federico Sr. has an agenda too, but I’m not sure yet what it is. That leaves Emilio, who I’m not sure wants me around at all.
“Oni, you took something that didn’t belong to you. As a result, it cost my family a considerable loss,” Rico’s dad starts.
“Considerable?” Emilio murmurs and shrugs. “I would have written it off. Which is why I’m questioning my nephew. Why bring this little thief into your circle? Which head are you thinking with, nipote?”
“Brother, I think you should watch the video. She’s more than a thief. The girl is smart. I backed his decision to hire her.
“If you think the boy isn’t thinking straight, she can come and stay with me for the summer. A pretty thing like her probably shouldn’t be back at the house with the boys anyway. I hadn’t known she was a looker. Rico couldn’t have known that either. This was a business decision,” Federico says.
I keep my gaze on Rico. He looks like steam is about to come out of his ears. His fists are clenched so tight his knuckles are white. He’s bouncing his knee beneath his tightly fisted hand.
I give him a pointed look so he’ll catch himself. He drops his gaze to his leg and stops the movement immediately, unfisting his hands and placing them palms flat on his thighs. He gives me a curt nod of thanks.
“Pretty she is. She could come stay with me if you must have her here,” Emilio says, eyeing me.
Eww, gross. He’s the oldest man here. I don’t miss that Federico shoots his hand out to place on top of Rico’s to keep him in his seat.
“Claude has come to me as a friend. I feel like she’s my responsibility. I’m vouching for the girl. She stays with me,” Federico says firmly.
“Cub, what do you want to do? I’ll come up with the money. I’ve been working on it in case something went south. You don’t have to work it off if you don’t want to.”
“That wasn’t the deal,” Rico bites out.
“You chose a car she couldn’t resist. You used a joke to take advantage of her one weakness. That was my bad.
“I never should have said anything. I made that deal with you, not her. You’re trying to bring a little girl into a grown man’s game.
“My brother would be rolling in his grave to know I allowed this. Give me a month, I’ll have your money.”
“She will make me twice that in a month.” Rico seethes.
“And I’ll get to keep a portion of what I earn for him. With that, I can go to one of those schools Mommy keeps talking about. I’m fine, Uncle Claude. You’ve done enough for me,” I say.
“Oni,” Uncle Claude bites out.
“I’m not a little girl anymore. It’s time I own up to my mistakes. You and Mommy can’t keep digging me out of trouble. Let me make things right and get my life back in order. I can do this.”
“Then it’s settled. Oni stays and she will live here with me. I will protect her like she’s my own daughter.”
Uncle Claude bites out a curse under his breath. Emilio narrows his eyes at me as if he’s trying to see through me. Rico … Rico is glaring at me, and I have no idea why.
“I’ll take her back to the house to pack her things,” Rico says coldly.
Ut-oh. I think I fucked up.
CHAPTER 7
You’re Mine
Rico
“Can you please slow down? You’re scaring me,” Oni says from the passenger seat.
“Fuck,” I roar and punch the steering wheel.
I know my father did what was right, but that wasn’t how I wanted things to work out. Oni is supposed to be with me. Fuck, I sound like a spoiled brat in my own thoughts.