Is This Considered A Cliche?

Chapter Twenty One | This Smells Like Old People

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are a product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2014 by M-A-COYNE

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Chapter Twenty one

T H I S S M E L L A L I K E O L D P E O P L E

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"Arson?" my mother gasped, breaking the cold silence that had enveloped the room for a good 5 minutes. "What does that mean?"

"It means someone purposely started the fire," my father explained.

"I know what it means!" my mother snapped. "But... So you're telling me someone tried to kill my daughter?"

I sucked in a breath and tensed.

"Let's not jump to conclusion," Andre soothed. "Maybe whoever did it didn't know she was in the house."

"She was in the living room, they must have seen her!"

Yeah, they pretty much had a great view of me cuddling up on the couch.

"I know," Andre said. "I know. We're doing everything we can to find the perpetrators but...well, there aren't many clues. These guys left nothing behind. I think th-"

"Boo," was yelled in my ear, dragging me out of my reverie.

"What the hel- Clement!" I shouted, punching the boy in the arm. He laughed and jumped over the side of the couch and landed next to me, his arm wrapped around my shoulder. Both Clement and I were allowed to stay home from school. Mom, dad, and Andre all thought I was too traumatized to go. Andre was needed at work, Dad had an important meeting, and mom had to deal with the Insurance Company and Fire Dept. and all three would be gone all day, so they thought it would be a good idea for Clement to stay with me for "comfort and protection." So far Clement has been nothing but a pain in the ass.

"What were you thinking so deeply about?" he asked, giving my shoulder a squeeze.

"I..." I bit my lip. "Did you hear them talking last night, Clement?"

He nodded. "Yeah, they thought I was asleep, but I heard everything."

"Then...do you really think someone's trying to kill me?" I asked softly, looking down at my folded hand in my lap.

Clement sucked in a breath. "Well...You are dating one of the biggest Mob Princes, you're best friends with the Dal Monte twins, and you're about to become daughter to the Police Chief..."

"So, what, do you think it's a possibility?" I joked, already knowing his answer and dreading it.

"Yes."

"So, what, you think that Alphonso should have left me alone and in the dark about all this, right?" Everyone else seemed to think that, and I was starting to as well.

But to my surprise, Clement shook his head. "Nah, with people knowing you're Alphono's girl a lot of people will back off. Alphonso can at least protect you, the twins...they shouldn't have kept you in the dark. I know they wanted to protect you, but the only way to really protect you would have been to leave you alone and they couldn't do that, and neither can Alphonso, it would seem," he rubbed his still sore jaw and grimaced. "You know...Natale and Sofia have been calling me nonstop, asking if you're okay."