Riding Dirty: Luciotti Crime Family (A Bad Boy Mafia Romance) - Kara Hart Page 0,49

she shrieked.

“Oh, it’s okay. I can tell you don’t really want to. We can just stay inside and watch a boring movie.” He gave a sly smile and winked at me. Why did he have to be so good with Jen? I wanted to remind him that he was just my bodyguard for the night, not her surrogate father.

“No!” She pouted, adding “I want to see the fireworks! Please Mom? Can we go? Please?”

“I don’t know…” I played along. “You have a lot of homework this weekend.”

“No I don’t! Ms. Langford gave us the weekend off, you liar!” She stomped her right foot down onto the carpet. If it wasn’t so cute I would have told her to settle down. Of course, Lucas loved this little game.

“Okay, fine,” he said. “I’ll take you this once. But you have to promise to be good to your mother for the rest of your life,” he said.

“Aw, thanks,” I said sarcastically. Like that’ll happen.

“I promise! I swear on my best friend’s grave,” she exclaimed, running to the door to put her light-up, Velcro shoes on.

“Last one out is a rotten egg!” Lucas yelled, running slowly to the door. Jen pushed open the door and ran to the car.

* * *

The park was lit up and full of people for the 4th of July fireworks show. Everyone was there. Mrs. Dobbins from down the street, John Maskins from the post office, even Jen’s teacher was there waiting for that grand finale explosion. Just being outside with everyone made me realize how long it had been since I had done something like this with Jen. It’s not that I didn’t want to. But raising a kid alone and trying to kick old habits made it hard to find the energy.

The night was beautiful. When they turned off the park lights, we could see every star so clearly. It was as if there were an infinite set of solar systems just like ours, and maybe, just maybe they were staring back at our dot of existence. The 4th of July was supposed to be this big, patriotic celebration of explosions and winning the war against the British. But when I really thought about it, it was a celebration that we were still here. We had survived and overcome ourselves and we would continue to fight and celebrate for generations to come.

“I never got to do this as a kid,” Lucas admitted, as we sat on the grassy hill overlooking the waterfront. The reflection of sparklers and neon glow-sticks shined across the water in front of us, as kids played tag, oblivious to how small their lives were in the grand scheme.

“Mom, can I go play with my classmates?” Jen asked me. She never played with anyone her age. Normally, she just hung out with me at the house. I looked at Lucas for confirmation it was safe.

“I don’t see why not. Just stay nearby and don’t leave the park,” he said. I still felt worried after what happened earlier. “It’ll be okay. It would be a huge mistake if Cade stuck around. This place is loaded with cops. Not to mention, you have me now. And I carry a loaded gun wherever I go.”

“Great,” I sighed. “I’m with a psychopath. And what do you mean I have you now?” I asked. Jen ran off with her friends nearby and I made sure to keep my motherly eye on her at all times.

“I just mean that tonight you have me. Jeeze, don’t get so paranoid. It’s not like I like you or something,” he said, smiling.

“Like hell you don’t,” I muttered.

“We had our fun. No need to prolong everything just for the sake of doing it. Plus, I’m not really the settling-down type of guy. I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said the other night and, well, you were right. I’m in the fucking mafia. Love isn’t part of my story.”

“That’s not what I meant,” I sighed, feeling confused about everything. My emotions were going haywire. Maybe I was about to start my period or something. Ugh. Or maybe it was just the stress from today. I didn’t know how to react toward anything now. I laughed and pulled my hair back. “Okay, maybe it was what I meant. But I shouldn’t have been so harsh about it.”

“Stop trying to let me down easy. I’ve had plenty of guns put in my face. I’ve been shot at by Brazilian pimps and chased down by the