“No.” I shake my head, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Stella,” I finally admit.
“Romano’s daughter? Why?”
“Because…” I drag my hand over my face. “She’s… my angle. She’s how we’ll find Kira.”
Kostya’s black eyes drill into mine for a long moment, studying me, then widen with some sort of epiphany that coaxes him into sudden laughter.
“Holy shit!” he cackles, dropping my car keys back on the entryway table and eating the distance between us. “Now I see it! You fucking like her!”
“What?”
“Shit! There it is! How did I not see it before? You’re down bad for this chick!”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I grumble, pulling at my collar, rushing back into the kitchen, and away from my incessantly annoying brother. Still, the fucker just follows me, intent on pushing my buttons further.
“Ohhhh,” he wheezes, laughing again, pounding his palms on the table as if about to pass out from hysteria. “Youreallylike her. Sasha is going to freak the fuck out when he hears about this.”
I plant my hands on the table and lean in until my face is inches from his. “Sasha won’t know shit, because there is nothing to know.”
“Tell your face that!” Kostya shoots back, still laughing. “You’ve fucking done it now. I can’t believe you’ve got the hots for Romano’s daughter.TheVincent Romano! This is hysterical, even if a bit tragic.” He laughs, wiping the tears from his eyes. “Ah, it feels good not to be the only fuckup in this family for once.” My nostrils flare, but Kostya doesn’t look even slightly intimidated. “Oh, stop growling at me,” he snorts, “It’s not like I’m running to tell our brothers your secret. I’m cool. I’ll be cool. I won’t tell a soul. Promise.”
“There’s nothing to tell,” I seethe, but Kostya apparently isn’t buying it.
“Sure, there’s not.” He winks. “Go on and see your girlfriend. I’m due for a long nap anyway.” And with that, he waves me off and marches back to his room with a smug little skip in his step.
Last night, I told myself I’d wait until Monday to see Stella. But apparently, waiting for Monday to arrive was just too long a wait.
After a quick background check, it wasn’t hard to find out where Stella’s younger siblings attended school. Hence why I’msitting in the parking lot of Sacred Heart—a ridiculously upscale private school for Chicago’s elite.
However, as I look around the lot again, I don’t see Stella’s red sports car anywhere. Did she lie to me? Feed me some bullshit excuse about a ‘family obligation’ just to get me off her back? It would make sense. Christmas is ten days away, so the school should’ve had its decorations up weeks ago.
She mentioned something about a dance that happens during winter break, so maybe that’s why they’re doing everything so late. She also said something about having brunch with her brothers and sister before coming here, so perhaps that’s why she hasn’t shown up yet.
Still, as the minutes crawl by with no sign of her car or any Romano vehicle, realization hits me hard. Stella spoon-fed me a bunch of lies yet again, and I swallowed them whole like a starving man taking whatever scrap he could get.Blyad.
I’m two seconds from giving up entirely when two customized bulletproof SUVs turn into the lot. Just the kind of vehicles aCapo Dei Capiwould get for his children. Finally.
I watch them park side by side near the entrance, flicking the lid of my Zippo open and shut. Marcello Romano gets out first, moving with the rigid precision of a man who is always on high alert. He circles around to open the back door, extending his hand and helping his sister, Annamaria, out of the car.
A hard squeeze grips my chest when my gaze falls on Stella, watching her jump out from the front passenger seat, bright and carefree as she skips to her sister’s side. She threads her fingers through Annamaria’s hand while Marcello scans the perimeter with those flat, dead eyes of his.
Thankfully, I picked my spot well. His line of sight never reaches me, the row of cars in front of me keeping me out of his hawk-like view.
I don’t get out of my car just yet, waiting for the second SUV to unload. Once every Romano is inside the school, I’ll sneak in and find a way to get some alone time with Stella.
Enzo is the first to step out of the car, saying something that makes Stella roll her eyes and Annamaria blush. The four siblings fall into step and head toward the school’s main entrance, leaving whoever’s still holed up in the last car to trail behind.
When Stella disappears from my view, I let out an exhale. At least she didn’t lie to me. But Marcello staying glued to his sisters’ side? That’s a problem.
There’s no way I can get close enough to Stella without Marcello clocking it. And while I don’t give two fucks if he runs home to Daddy and tattles about my, let’s call it friendship, with Stella, I’ve heard enough rumors about the Romano successor to know one thing—Marcello Romano doesn’t think clearly when his family’s safety is concerned. He’s the type of man to shoot first and ask questions later. And that’s me being generous when discussing his unhinged mental state.
Everyone knows he’s got the devil in him. While I might enjoy a little bloodshed here and there, Marcello bathes in the blood of his enemies. That’s all I need to know to be sure he’d kill a man for looking at his sisters the wrong way.
Not that he scares me. I’ve danced with the devil before. But if I want to stay on Stella’s good side, that means I can’t so much as touch a single hair on her brother’s head, even in self-defense.
Well, that settles it. Mne pizdets.
Pissed abou having to wait until Monday to get Stella alone again, I turn the key in the ignition and prepare to leave, but then I stop cold at the sight of the last two people stepping out of the second SUV. My grip tightens on the steering wheel until the leather creaks.
