His Greatest Liability

chap 6

Rory

"I have something that may help you." Ian says, a slight edge to his tone. "This is all word to mouth, so..."

"Ian, can you please hurry up?" My tone is ruder than usual, and I almost fix my lips to apologize, but his stupid laugh stops me. I don't have the time to dissect it, because the moment I open my mouth, something wet drips on my bottom lip.

I blink, tilting my head up towards the sky.

The clouds are growing heavy and dark with rain, and I internally groan.

I'm not dressed for rain, which I suppose is my fault considering how bipolar and unpredictable New York weather is. In my defense, Chicago weather is nothing of the sort. Sure, it rains, but when it's supposed to be warm out, it's warm. The weather doesn't usually flip flop like this.

"So here's what I know," Ian's voice falls down over my head, and I shift my weight from one foot to the other, anxiety creeping around the lining of my stomach. "Jeremiah thinks that Korbin came to New York for his mother." He says. "An italian woman under the name Antonia. Does that name sound familiar?"

I chewed on the inside of my cheek. "No." I say honestly. Jeremiah doesn't talk about his life before my mother. Truth be told, I had no idea Korbin's mother was alive, much less the fact that she lived here. In New York. "What's her last name?"

"I'm not sure." Ian sighs. "Jeremiah's never mentioned her before now. I don't know if she belongs to one of the five families, or if she's just a woman Jeremiah knocked up but—"

"Do you think you could find out?" I ask. "I'm sort of on a wild goose chase. Jeremiah's fucking with me."

"I know." His voice is soft, safe. Ian isn't my friend, per say, but he's a very close second. Ever since he earned his button into the Outfit, he's looked out for me. In a weird way, he's kind of like the brother I never had. "I'll get her last name for you."

"Thanks." I balance my phone between my shoulder and my ear as I stand up and haul my bookbag around my arm.

"How's it going out there?" He switches the subject, but the dull ache in my chest from the reminder of why I'm here, and the risk of being caught, brings a wary sense of dread pooling in my mind. "Remember, Rory, my offer still stands—"

"We talked about this, Ian." My heart sinks a little. "You can't get me out of this. Not really. Jeremiah has my mamma, therefore it doesn't matter if I run away and disappear without a trace. He's going to let her die if I don't do this."

"Fucking hell." He grunts. "There has to be something—"

"There isn't." I sigh.

"Do you know what they'll do to you if you get caught? Death isn't even a good word to describe it. Jeremiah knew what he was doing sending you out there. And no offense Rory, but you're not cut out to be a rat."

"No offense taken." I utter. "I just have to get in where I can fit, hopefully find this Antonia lady, and get Jeremiah what he wants."

"He wants a reason to start something with the Cosa Nostra, even if he knows it's wrong. He's using you to hide behind and using Korbin as an excuse. When things get bad between the Outfit and the Cosa Nostra, it's a time when our women start wondering are their husbands gonna come home alive."

Irritation slithers down my spine. "That's not my problem, Ian. My mother's healthcare, and my freedom, is my problem."

"Fair enough." I can imagine him shaking his head. "Your uh, mom asked about you."

Shit.

My spine feels like a hot splinter of lava just hit me there. "She what?" I don't speak to my mamma over the phone too often, partially because hearing her voice and having to lie to her is entirely too much for me to handle. It hurts too bad.