Shadow Rider Read Online Free PDF Page B

in, let alone something to wear. Seriously, Joanna, go with your other friends or by yourself. No way am I going out to a club, especially one the Ferraros frequent.”
    â€œOwn. They own it. They have several businesses, and that’s just one. The main family business is international banking. They also have the hotel, which is the bomb. Movie stars stay there. In any case, you
have
to come with me. They’ll expect it.” Joanna pressed the card against her heart. “I’ll find you something to wear.”
    â€œNo.” Francesca threw herself into the seat beside Joanna. “They’re watching me. He as good as said so. Why would they do that? Do you think they found out about . . .” She trailed off, and reached for Joanna’s hand. “They run in the same circles. If they tell anyone I’m here, I’ll have to run again and I don’t have enough money.”
    Unbidden came the thought of the money Stefano had shoved into the pocket of his coat. It would be stealing to take it and disappear. She had the feeling if she did run, Stefano would find her. He would never allow her to steal from him and not hunt her down. She shivered at the thought.She didn’t want him coming after her. He would be relentless and she doubted if he had much mercy in him.
    Joanna shook her head. “You’re under Stefano’s protection. That’s what he meant when he said to my uncle to take care of what was his. Clearly the Ferraro family is looking out for you.”
    Francesca glanced around the room, took the stack of magazines, held them up and lowered her voice even more. “Are you crazy? I can’t come under any scrutiny. You know that. No one can know anything about me. Having Stefano Ferraro showing me any interest, for whatever reason, even if he’s just worried about my well-being, is dangerous.”
    Joanna looked crushed. “I
love
that club. Celebrities go there. Movie stars, Francesca. It isn’t like they notice me, but I get to see them up close. Some of the NASCAR drivers go there as well. The bartenders do amazing tricks, just like you see in the movies, and the music is killer. Best dance place in Chicago.”
    â€œHe said you could go anytime,” Francesca reminded gently. “It didn’t have anything at all to do with me.”
    Joanna sighed and nodded. “I guess you’re right. What time do you get off?”
    â€œYour uncle said five. It’s nearly that now.”
    Francesca didn’t have to look at the clock to know it was close to the end of her shift. Her feet were killing her, toes numb with cold. She was afraid she was going to get frostbite. She wished for a bathtub to soak in. The tiny apartment had only a shower, and the water wasn’t very hot. Still, she wasn’t about to complain. She had a roof over her head and Joanna’s uncle paid her a much better wage than she’d anticipated, which meant if he kept giving her the hours he’d promised her, she could pay another month’s rent.
    If she just ate one meal a day at the deli, or grazed a little throughout the day, she’d save money. Electricity and water were included in her rent. She didn’t have a cell phone or a car. She was on the lookout for thrift stores so she could see if she could find a few more outfits.
    â€œWhy the big sigh?” Joanna asked.
    â€œWhy would it be such a big deal to the Ferraro family for me to buy a pair of shoes?” The temptation was there. Her feet were so cold she wanted to cry, not to mention, because the shoes were too big, she had blisters from them constantly rubbing.
    â€œIs it a big deal?”
    Francesca nodded, leaning into her hand. “Giovanni told me to buy shoes or his brother was going to be angry. He said not to make him angry.”
    â€œHe said that?” Joanna looked shocked.
    â€œI don’t understand why Stefano would care in the first place. It