Dirty Money Read Online Free

keyboard. I couldn’t swallow. Why couldn’t I swallow? My vision blurred. Was it from the sweat in my eyes?
    All I could think of was Reese. Any second, she would come through the door into the stagnant heat of the café. She would want to know what I was doing. What would I tell her? How could she not tell me? Why did I have to be curious?
    That was it. I was done. I pushed myself out of the chair, sweating palms sliding away from me on the counter. When I turned to seek the air outside, I stopped as if I’d been struck. Reese was inches away, her smile losing altitude as she caught my eyes.
    “Babe, what’s—” But her question was already lost because I was running out the door.
    On the street, I turned and just started walking. That was when I should have gone home, cried to my mommy, and lived my half-scarred life alone. Alone wasn’t so bad. Problem with alone was there were no DiGiovanni twins. I could handle alone, but I couldn’t handle life without them. Without Reese.
    Right there on the crowded street, I stopped and waited. She didn’t take long.
    “Cooper?” she whispered, though I heard her anyway.
    I spun to face her, searching for words. Only one came to mind.
    “DiGiovanni.” The loss hit me and I nearly gasped. No longer did DiGiovanni mean warm memories of summer vacation and notes in class and bickering with a sexy girl. Instead, moments rushed at me, rising bitter and acidic, moments when they could have, should have told me and chose to lie.
    “But you knew.” Her eyes were pleading.
    That hit a nerve.
    “I knew?” The sneer came out a scream. I brought the volume back down. “The biggest crime family east of the Mississippi,” I quoted the newspapers. “And you think I knew?”
    Her eyes became granite. Hell, her whole face did. “Keep your voice down.” She glanced frantically around us. People were staring.
    “No.” I didn’t care about appearances. “You’re one of them. You knew,” I accused her.
    “Stop talking,” Reese commanded. “I won’t discuss this on a street corner.”
    “I don’t give a fuck. You’re part of the biggest crime family on the East Coast.” I used my hands to punctuate the words.
    “I’m not doing this here.”
    Just like that, she spun and walked away.
    “Well, I am.” I went after her, still talking. “How long have you known? When were you going to tell me?” No answer. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”
    “Away from you.”
    That hurt.
    “Right.” I pulled the keys from my pocket. “Get your ass in the car, buttercup.”
    “What?” Reese finally stopped walking.
    “I said get your ass in the goddamn car. I’m leaving and you’re coming with me.” Roughly, I grabbed her arm and dragged her in the direction of the SUV. Reese yanked her arm away and looked for a moment like she might slap me. I’d been there and didn’t care to repeat the experience.
    “Don’t fucking touch me.” She kept her voice very, very low. “And don’t tell me what to do.”
    We stared at each other waiting for the other to back down.
    Finally, I broke the silence first. “Do you want to discuss your family here or in private?” That worked. Reese climbed into the passenger seat without saying a word.
    The silence continued as I started the car, drove to the bungalow, and followed her inside. She went to the kitchen and got out bread and peanut butter. After assembling a messy sandwich, she grabbed a bottled water and set both in front of Ryan.
    “Ryan,” she said. He continued to sleep. “Ryan,” she screamed, all patience gone. “Get up.”
    “Huh?” He opened one eye. “What, Reese? Why’re you yellin’?”
    “Eat the sandwich. Drink the water.” She handed him two pills. “Take the pills.”
    “What’s got your panties in a twist?”
    “Yeah, buttercup.” I finally moved from the door, ready for action. “What’s got your panties in a twist?”
    “Shut the fuck up.” She pointed at me as she said it.