Mama Said by Wendy Byrne Read Free Book Online Page A

ran with it down the block, she proceeded to scream her bloody head off. Then she sat down on the curb and began to sing.

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    Shane was still seething when he heard her scream. Immediately, his chest constricted. If this was more of her diva antics, he’d kill her.
    He let out a string of curses as he crashed through the door and into the street. As soon as Patrick showed up tonight, he knew there would be even more trouble ahead. He hadn’t imagined it would be this quick, and he sure hadn’t thought the scumbag would go after Gabriella. Then again, he wouldn’t put anything past Patrick if he thought he could screw over Shane in the process.
    His heart was still in his throat when he spotted her about thirty feet away. Sitting on the curb, she was singing. Singing?
    “What the hell happened?”
    “My…purse…” She pointed in the general direction of the alley and continued to belt out a Billie Holliday tune before moving on to Etta James.
    He sprinted toward the alley, hoping whoever had done this was still around so he could beat the crap out of him. But when he got there, it was empty except for a few stray cats.
    Just to make sure, he followed the alley until the end. Nothing. As he jogged back towards Gabriella, he spotted her purse. While he hadn’t caught the guy, at least he found her purse.
    He was out of breath from the adrenaline rush once he got back. “I didn’t catch him. But he dropped this in the alley.”
    “Am I still fired?” She tentatively reached out her hand.
    Despite the circumstances, he smiled. “No, you’re not still fired.” The last thing he wanted to do was kick her when she was down, even if getting her out of his life seemed like the most prudent thing to do.
    “Good.” She grabbed her purse and riffled through the contents. Immediately, she emitted a sigh of relief. “My iPod.” Then closed her eyes for a second. “My money’s gone, but I still have my wallet and my phone. Looks like I’m only missing about thirty dollars.” She chewed her lip. “You would have thought the iPod or my phone would be more valuable, but I say thank goodness for dumb criminals.”
    He pulled out his wallet and gave her thirty dollars. “It’s my fault it happened, so I should reimburse you.”
    He’d let Gabriella venture out alone. What an idiot.
    She nodded but didn’t say anything more, which was a first as long as he’d known her. He grasped her arm and led her to his car.
    “Why were you singing?” Once she settled in her seat, he asked the question, partly out of curiosity, partly to entice her into talking.
    The music of BB King filled the car as she turned in her seat. “Huh? When?”
    “I heard you scream, but when I came outside you were singing. You told me somebody stole your purse and pointed me in the right direction and then went back to singing.”
    She twisted her fingers in her lap. This was definitely a new side to Gabriella.
    “When I’m nervous or scared, I start singing.” She shrugged. “Half the time I don’t even realize I’m doing it. Somehow it makes me feel less anxious.”
    “I guess that makes sense in a Gabriella kind of way.”
    She plunked her head against the headrest and sighed. “I forgot to call the police.”
    That was the last thing he needed or wanted right now. “This time of night it will take forever. You’ll be last in line after the stabbings and gunshots and all that other stuff that happens late at night.”
    “True.” She sighed. “But I should file a police report.”
    “It’s late.”
    “Last I heard the police were open twenty-four hours.” She straightened in her seat and stared at him.
    He grimaced. “I’ve got an appointment in less than four hours.”
    “This isn’t about any appointment, and you know it. Don’t get me into the middle of this war with your brother. I had my purse stolen. A crime has been committed.”
    “You got your stuff back.”
    “This is ridiculous. You’re so