Free Ballad (Rockstar #5) by Anne Mercier Page B

face.
    Holy smokes I love that man.

I DIAL GIOVANNI and wait for the call to connect.
    “Tell me,” he says.
    “It’s just as we thought,” I tell him, extremely unhappy at being right this time. Sometimes I’d really like to get it wrong when I figure out people have a fucked up agenda.
    “How do you know?”
    “Nicole overheard her. Misty was on the phone talking about trying to get close to the guys, close enough to fuck them.”
    Gio grunts. “Likely trying to get knocked up and cash in on that.”
    “My thoughts exactly.”
    He grunts again. “Continue.”
    “She mentioned the Manzinis, money, and getting close to Lucy,” I growl. “That pisses me off more than anything. Using Lucy, who’s been nothing but nice to this bitch.”
    “Mmm. She’ll get hers, as you know.”
    Oh, I know. She’ll get hers and a little extra if Sera has any say.
    “Does Serafina know?”
    “She does. She’s the one who brought Nicole to me.”
    “And?”
    “And she wants blood.”
    Gio chuckles. “Of course she does. Anyone who messes with Lucy will be on the wrong end of Serafina’s gun.”
    I sigh. “That’s the truth. I just wish things would die down.”
    “They will. Remember, she was inside before we remedied the situation with Carina, though I wouldn’t doubt for a second if she learned of the Manzinis from that piranha,” Gio tells me.
    “It’s possible.” I think about it for a few seconds. “Shit. It’s likely.”
    “It is. She’ll be dealt with when the time is right.”
    “By my wife.”
    “Yes, by Serafina. Are you all right with her being part of this?”
    I know what he’s asking, if I’m okay with Sera being in as deep as I am. “Honestly? No, but there’s no avoiding it. She’s not one to sit back and not take part in protecting her family. Not anymore.”
    “No, not anymore. I’ve thought of opening things up for Bella as well.”
    Bella is Ernesto’s daughter and just as lethal as Sera. She was raised in la Famiglia just as my Fee was.
    “Now she’ll get to ‘play with the boys’ as she says,” I reply, my agreement written in that statement.
    Gio chuckles again. “So she will, and she’ll knock more than one on their ass, as well.”
    I laugh. “I look forward to seeing that.”
    “As do I.”
    There’s a comfortable silence for a few minutes and I know Gio is thinking of Lucy, Misty, Nicole, and this whole fucked up mess the Manzinis have brought to us.
    He takes a breath. “Here’s what we’re going to do.”
    I grin. I’m looking forward to this too.

    “Hey, little sister,” Kennedy says as he leans against the wall outside the arena.
    “Hi!” I reply and give him a hug, one he returns stiffly.
    “Whatcha been up to?”
    “I was just helping Burners with their boards. Lucian’s voice was getting drowned out.”
    “You fixed that, did you?” he asks with a grin.
    I nod. “I did, much to Justin’s displeasure. He owes me a payment of my choosing.”
    Kennedy chuckles. “What did you choose?”
    “I haven’t yet. I want to make it worth my while,” I tell him with a wink.
    “That’s my girl.”
    I laugh. After a few seconds of silence, I break it. “I know why you’re here.”
    “Is that so?”
    I nod.
    “And?”
    “I did,” I admit.
    “Why did you do it? It’s not like you.”
    I turn and meet his gaze. “I didn’t have sex with him. We just did… stuff.”
    He nods. “I thought you were hung up on Ben.”
    I huff and throw my arms up in the air. “I am. I was. Argh!”
    Kennedy just watches and waits.
    I lean back against the wall and tip my head up. “I saw him.”
    “What?”
    “I saw him, Kennedy. He was fucking some chick.”
    “It’s not the first time,” he tells me. Leave it to Kennedy to tell it like it is, even if it does sting.
    “That’s the truth. Only this time I didn’t run away.”
    He just waits. The man has the patience of a saint.
    “I had had it. Why them and not me? I don’t get it. I see his interest