We pull out of the parking lot. This time, he drives carefully. Every turn is gentle. Every stop is gradual. He doesn't speak. Neither do I. But I can feel the tension in the car. Different from before. Not anger or frustration this time. It’s want and confusion.
When we pull up to my house, he puts the car in park but doesn't look at me. He doesn’t move to kiss me again or even to go around to open my car door.
"Goodnight, Liana."
"Goodnight."
I get out on shaky legs and walk to my door. When I turn around to look back, he’s watching me.
Gia is waiting for me inside. She takes one look at my face. "What happened?"
"I jumped out of his car while it was moving."
"You what?"
"He was driving too fast. I asked him to slow down. He didn't. So, I jumped out." I kick off my heels. "In a bad neighborhood. He was scaring the shit out of me."
"Liana!"
"I'm fine. Don’t worry." But my lips are still tingling. My body is still humming. "He was so furious with me that he kissed me."
Gia's mouth falls open. “When?”
"In a parking lot afterwards. We fought and then he kissed me and I kissed him back and..." I trail off. "It was an impulsive kiss. It was a mistake."
"Was it?"
"Of course, it was." I head for the stairs. "Because if it wasn't a mistake, then everything else is."
In my room, I change into pajamas and lie down, staring at the ceiling. My lips still taste like him. My skin still feels like his hands are on it. Over a month left to go.
Why do I feel like everything just changed?
Chapter 8: Santino
I can still taste her.
It's been twelve hours since I kissed Liana in that parking lot, and I can still taste her. Feel her hands fisted in my shirt. Hear that little sound she made when I touched her.
This is a problem.
I'm sitting in the back room of a cafe in the old quarter, waiting for the Benedetti brothers to arrive. This meeting is important. The Benedettis control the northern shipping routes, and there's been tension over territory for months. One wrong word and this could turn into a war.
I need to be focused. Sharp. Instead, I pull out my phone and text her.
Me: Good morning.
I hit send and immediately regret it. What am I doing? I don't text women the morning after. I don't check in because I don't care. I stare at the screen. Waiting for the three dots that show she's typing.
Nothing.
"Boss." Bruno's voice pulls me back. "They're here."
I straighten. Push thoughts of Liana aside. Put the phone face-down on the table. This is business. This is what matters. The only thing that matters.
The Benedetti brothers enter. Cassio and Tullio. Both in their forties, both dangerous. Cassio does the talking. Tullio does the hurting.
"Marcello." Cassio takes a seat across from me. Tullio stands behind him, arms crossed. "Thank you for meeting with us."
