Accardi (Genevieve and Matteo) by Allison Franklin novel Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty

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Genevieve stood in the lobby of Logan Airport surrounded by her friends and roommates. It had been nearly a week since she’d signed the

contract to work for Accardi Industries. She’d packed most of her winter and spring clothes, arranged for Lauren to take over her position

overseeing her clients and sweated through nearly every t–shirt she had thanks to her nerves about what her life was about to become

“You’ll do great,” Charlotte encouraged her as she gripped her in a fierce hug. She stepped back but kept hold of Gen’s shoulders. “There

is no one else I would have gone into business with. You’re determined, qualified, and most importantly…”

“Not up to taking shit!” Abigail interjected followed by a chorus of agreements from everyone else.

Charlotte laughed and nodded. “Exactly what I was going to say.”

“I’ll come back with more clients, I promise,” Gen told her business partner and friend.

Charlotte shrugged. “Meh, just come back.” Her eyes widened. “I can’t do this without you for long.”

Gen laughed as Charlotte stepped into the arms of her husband, Benny. Sarah stepped up and handed Gen her infamous moving parting-

gift: wine, bread, salt, a candle, and some local honey.

“I wish you’d given me this back at the house. I don’t think it’ll fit in my carry–on,” Gen joked.

Sarah laughed and swiped a tear from her cheek. “Use it as currency on the plane then,” she told her.

“She’s not going to prison,” Louise said with a roll of her eyes. “Good luck, Chick. Have fun and make sure to update us with that hot

Italian sausage.”

“Lou!” Charlotte hissed, covering her daughter’s ears.

Louise winked but stepped aside so Abigail could give her yet another bone–crushing hug. “Good luck,” she whispered, her voice already

clogged with emotion.

Once Abigail stepped aside it was only Becca left to say goodbye to. It was a rare thing for the hermit to leave the house, an even rarer occurrence to find her in such a public place surrounded by such a large group of people. Becca looked side to side as if she expected a quadrant of ninjas to jump any moment before she clutched Gen in a tight embrace. Gen closed her eyes and held her friend tighter. She

knew Becca related most to her and worried about how she would get along in her absence. Gen was always the one to push her to leave

the house and to have a social life. She was also the only roommate Becca would confide in when upset.

“You’re going to be okay,” Gen whispered. “Just take a walk at least every other day, okay?”

“What about girls‘ night?” she whispered back. “It’s your turn to pick the spot next month.”

Gen smiled into her friend’s shoulder. Girls‘ night had been a monthly tradition since the women moved in together a year ago. They were

always so busy with contradicting schedules and differing personalities, it was hard for them to see each other. Even when they were all

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home at least one was asleep or fray on the phone. Girls night was the solution to their wandering life paths. Each month one of them would choose a restaurant, bar er, in Louise’i case, a nightclub to meet up at, no exceptions. Next month Gen was supposed to choose

“You all can come down to New York Can expressed stepping back but holding onto Becca’s hand. “Or… I can come up here,” she

suggested when all of their faces showed doubt rather than the joy she’d expected. She squeezed Becca’s hand. “I’ll think of something.

“Uh, I hate to interrupt, Benny said, holding his hand up. “The plane will be leaving in an hour.”

“Right,” Gen said firmly “I have to get going. Lord knows how long the security line will take.” She took in a deep breath and smiled at

her friends. “This is it. I’ll be back home in exactly six months and two days from today.”

“We’ll mark our calendars,” Charlotte assured her.

Gen was swarmed by her friends as they gave her a giant group hug. She felt tears pricking her eyes and wished she could stow them away

in her luggage. She loved Boston and the life she’d created here. She would miss it terribly every day.

“I was serious about what I said,” Louise insisted on saying as Benny helped Gem gather her luggage. “Weekly… No, daily updates on the

Italian sausage.”

Gen rolled her eyes. “There won’t be any sausage. We signed a contract.”

Abigail snorted and then covered her mouth in surprise.

“That’s okay, Abby,” Sarah assured her with a pat on the shoulder. “We all made that same note in our heads.”

Gen hoisted her final bag on her shoulder and looked at her friends who all formed a semi circle. She held up her hand in farewell and they all gave her their unique send off one last time. She turned and started walking, ticket in hand, ready but not ready to take on this

next challenge.

The flight to New York barely took an hour but to her, it felt like an eternity. The moment the tires hit the ground, the felt like she was a hairsbreadth away from hyperventilating. She had no idea what to expect. Would Matted be waiting for her? Would he insist on taking her to her new apartment? Would he want to stay? What if no one showed up? She had the address and the apartment number. She also knew her landlord would be waiting but could she really do this all again? Go to a city and start all over? While everyone on the plane began to disembark she sat rooted in her seat, terrified of moving.

As the last person exited the plane while sending her a look of curiosity, she stood up and started to pull down her carry–on She walked off the plane and down the terminal, fidgeting with her hands. She strode toward baggage claim, eyes on a constant swivel. She didn 1 bee Matteo anywhere. Just as she was about to let out a breath of relief, she saw her name etched elegantly across a placard. She stopped in her tracks and looked into the face of the man who had been sent to pick her up. Tree Trunk Arms.

Gen pushed her hair behind her ears and walked up to the man who resembled a brick house who had held the door open for her at her firm in Boston. His eyes were fixed on her but his face was completely unreadable.

“Uh, hi, I’m Gen Sinclair,” she said, pointing at his sign.

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He glanced down at it as if he hadn’t even known he was holding it and then ripped it in half before tossing it toward the closest trash

can

“Hello, I’m Leo,” he said, holding his hand out

She reached her hand out and shook it, causing his tight mouth to turn up at the sides.

“What?”

“I was reaching for your bags,” he told her.

Gen could feel the heat flooding her cheeks. “Oh, right, that would make sense. I can carry it though.”

Leo laughed loud enough to draw the eyes of everyone within close proximity. “I’ll not be letting you carry your luggage, Ma’am. Just

hand ‘em over so we don’t cause a scene.”

Gen’s need to challenge him reared its ugly head but she bit the inside of her cheek and handed her carry–on over to him.

“Baggage claim is this way,” he said, gesturing toward where the sign above their heads indicated.

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He led the way and waited patiently while the luggage rode around the circular carriage. She rocked back and forth on her heels until she

spotted her bright pink luggage.

“There it is,” she said with a sigh of relief. He snorted and laughed. “What?”

“It’s just… neon pink?” he asked with a raised brow.

She shrugged. “It’s easy to spot.”

“I’ll say.”

Completely loaded down with her bags, Leo led them toward the parking lot. Gen felt useless carrying only her small purse and backpack

which she’d refused to allow him to remove from her shoulders. While he was unwilling to let her carry her weight, he seemed even more

unwilling to resort to putting his hands on her.

They drove in silence into the city. Genevieve sat back in her chair, looking but not seeing. Stuck in traffic, she was struck with the

silence in the car. His phone pinged rather loudly. He quickly looked down at it, pulled it into his lap and chuckled.

“What?”

“Nothing, just someone wanting to check in.”

Silence resumed for a few more minutes until Gen felt like she was about to crawl out of her own skin. “So,” she said louder than

necessary, causing him to jump in his seat. “How long have you worked for Accardi Industries?”

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Leo smirked and his dark brown eyes met hers for a moment. “I don’t ”

Gen’s brow furrowed as she thought about it. “So you work for a car service?”

“No.”

“I could keep guessing or you could just tell me,” she prompted.

Leo laughed. “I like you. I work for the Accardi family.”

Gen felt a cold prickle coat her skin. “But… Ma–Accardi said I wouldn’t be involved in the family business.”

“You won’t.”

“Yet, here you are.”

AR

Leo sighed and flexed his calloused knuckles on the steering wheel. “Look. There are things I’m not at liberty to discuss with you. I was hired to keep an eye on you from time to time. I’ll help you get where you need to go and make sure you get there safely.” He told her

with a pointed look that said he meant what he said.

She narrowed her eyes. “Keep an eye on me?”

Leo sighed deeply again. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just here to keep you safe, is all.”

“Right. I don’t need a driver. I plan to take the subway. That’s why I chose this apartment,” she said. That and it was the furthest from the

neighborhood Matteo lived.

“You’ll not be taking the subway.”

“Excuse me?”

Leo shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “It’s part of your contract that you get a driving service.”

“A driving service, not a body guard.”

“New York is a dangerous place.”

“I lived here for nearly a decade and then in Boston for the same. I can handle myself,” Gen said. When Leo didn’t respond she crossed her arms and focused her gaze out the window again. “Forget it, I’ll take it up with your boss.”

Leo’s phone pinged again and he let out the same chuckle as if he was privy to an inside joke she’d never be let in on. “I’m sure he’d love

to discuss it.”

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