Page 40 of Never Say Never

I checked the time just in case, and sure enough, it was well past their bedtime.

Navy: R u going to be a narc ??

Laughter bubbled free before I could catch myself. These kids were insane, maybe it was a twin thing.

Nyra: Navy, that’s not nice. Sorry, Paul. Don’t tell Dad.

Paul: I won’t tell him if you two go to bed. You have school in the morning.

Nyra: ????????Promise to come play games tomorrow?

Navy: BOO ???? BOO ????

I’d be some kind of monster if I ignored their request, and I kind of liked hanging out with all three of them. I had been without my family for years, and being around York’s touched that emptiness inside of me.

Navy: ??????????

Nyra: Pls ????????

Paul: Okay, you two win, stop using your evil powers on me. I’ll be there.

Navy: Yay

Nyra: ??????

I shook my head at them.

Paul: Good night, girls. Phones away or I'm calling your dad.

Navy: Night Night Paul

Nyra: Night

I pocketed my phone after making sure both girls were done texting me. The stupid grin on my face was impossible to get rid of ,even as I checked out my disguise in the reflection of the car. The black wig hid the bleached hair and for a second it looked like I was back. I was more Gianpaolo than I was Paul.

Abandoning the stolen car I picked up on Staten Island, I headed toward Marianna's home. I kept my hood up as I got closer, quieting my steps. The tall white fence gave them full privacy in the backyard, and with them not having neighbors in the back, made it easier to infiltrate. I’d already picked up on the undercover car out front.

Grass and leaves crunched under my weight as I stepped over balls and toys from their kids. There was a life-size Barbie playhouse that I bet Navy and Nyra would like. Maybe paint it blue and put a TV in it and the girls would never leave their new spot.

Hanging out with them a few evenings ago was oddly one of my best nights. I was hoping for a repeat, but between finding the rat and work, my time was limited. I didn't get to spend more time with York either. He'd been in meetings for a week and working late, which meant the girls were left with that bitch.

Note to self, go have a meeting with Shelly. I wasn't going to get rid of her, it wasn't my place, but scaring her a bit would certainly make her act right.

The lights were off in the house, only a dim, flickering one illuminated the back windows. The closer I got, I recognized the light was coming from a TV mounted on the wall. Their blinds were open enough for me to get the full layout of the house. An open kitchen led into a living room. There was a hallway leading to the left side of the house and another leading to the right. I checked out the windows on the left, recognizing the main bedroom.

I made my way to the back door, pulling out the lockpicking kit. Gin was better at these than me but I wasn't complete shit at it either. I worked the tools into the keyhole, glad it wasn't a sliding door for once. Those were a bitch to break into, not to mention when they had one of those bars in the track.

Sweat beaded my brow as I failed to get the damn lock. I was losing my patience to the point I contemplated breaking a window and handling it that way. If Gin was here, he'd already be inside breaking their windows for the fun of it, glass crunching under his feet. Somedays I wish I had my brother's lack of inhibitions. I stopped as the sound of movement right outside the door hit my ears. I pulled back just in time as the doorknob turned.

“I'm checking to see if the boys cleaned up out here."

"Do it tomorrow, Diego," a woman's voice carried outside just as the door opened all the way. “Seriously, leave it. Don’t go out there.”

“It’s fine, baby.”

Before the big man knew what was happening, I jammed the small lockpick in his throat. His soft flesh caved under the slightest pressure. Diego backpedaled, his eyes wide, giving me all the time I needed. I swept his feet from under him and slammed my fist into his temple just as he went down. A scream ripped through the air, settling deep into my bones. I punched him again for good measure, smiling at the way the cartilage in his nose crunched.

I miss this.