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said.
    “Exactly. Amy’s pissed now, me cutting short our vacation. And I’m staying at Jane’s until Rich leaves town.”
    Lorenzo lightened, as if a ten pound weight had been lifted from his arms. Still, Lee wouldn’t follow Lita everywhere, and Jane couldn’t be trusted.
    “If I can do anything…”
    “Set her up with Joe before she chooses another creep. I’m only twenty-seven and already getting grays.” Lee laughed.
    Lorenzo plastered a smile on. The sun glinted harshly in his eyes. But he played through.
    ***
    By the next weekend Lorenzo’s cool mask cracked. Rich had been not only calling Lita, but also following her sometimes. He ignored Lorenzo’s warnings, so Lorenzo decided to make a more convincing gesture.
    Thankfully, it seemed from Lee’s unwitting information, Lita only knew about Rich’s phone calls and not the rest. Lorenzo thought about going to the police, but knew he couldn’t. That would upset Lita further and implicate him. Of course, his plan would dig him deeper into illegality, but he couldn’t care. He would do anything to protect Lita. He had to call in a lot of favors and he really pissed off his father, both because Lorenzo wouldn’t explain anything to him and because his father didn’t like owing people.
    The Saturday evening three weeks after the incident with Rich, Lorenzo sat in an inconspicuous old car Pete had procured and watched the narrow alley next to Jane’s bookstore, where Lita was working that evening.
    “Lorenzo, are you sure you don’t want me to get one of my grandpop’s old contacts to handle this? Better not to yourself when it’s personal,” his cousin Vincente said as they sat in the backseat while Pete kept a lookout.
    “No, I need to do this. I need to be sure she’s safe.”
    Soon they saw Rich, then a while later Lita came out, looking young and cute in a black skirt and boatneck sweater, waving at a couple other girls who waited on the sidewalk. The three walked away together. At a discreet distance, Rich followed. Pete pulled the car out. Nico trailed Rich on foot. They all ended up at a small pub.
    As Rich waited in the alley, Lorenzo made his move. Things couldn’t have been better than if they’d been planned. Pete eased into the street end of the alley, blocking the only other way out, as Lorenzo and Vincente came from an adjacent alley. The noise provided distraction, plenty of people milled around, the air dim with fog, all to the good. When they approached Rich, he panicked and ran, but Vincente caught Rich near the car and pinned him.
    “Didn’t I tell you to stay away from her? You don’t follow directions well,” Lorenzo said.
    “I haven’t done anything.” Rich’s breath came in small gasps; he’d given up straining against Vincente.
    “Do you think I’m stupid? I told you I’d be watching.” He knew what Rich wanted from Lita. He’d gotten enough, Lorenzo imagined. His lightweight wool coat stifled him.
    “I love her. I want to--”
    A crazy laughter built in Lorenzo’s throat. He closed his eyes, but only saw Lita’s frightened, tearful gaze. He lashed out, punching Rich again and again as Vincente held him, his body hot with the mad desire to crush the life out of this man. Lorenzo’s breath sounded in raspy snorts, like a bull as he charges. Rich sagged against Vincente, but still Lorenzo pounded him.
    “Enough. Stop.” Vincente’s low voice threatened.
    Lorenzo glared at him as he let Rich fall to the ground, where he folded himself up, almost retching. Lorenzo bent down, to whisper in his ear.
    “This is your last warning. Leave town by the end of the week or I will finish you.”
    He swung back his foot to kick him, but Vincente grabbed him, pulled him to the car, and shoved him in. Pete drove away. Lorenzo studied his hands, streaked with blood. He leaned his head back, swallowed the sour spit of rage, and closed his eyes. Again, Lita’s face came to him, so sweet and innocent. He was no kind of man