Despite her best attempts not to do so, she got more and more flurry-eyed the longer she sat there. I kept her engaged in light conversation, never really saying anything that would suggest I had any interest in hitting on her or engaging her romantically. We were just two souls who managed to happen upon one another, help each other alleviate our stuffy party stress. I was kind of hoping she’d make the move, but she hadn’t even asked my name yet, so I imagined I wasn’t going to press herthatfar.
No matter how sexy that would be.
“I’m sorry,” I said eventually, putting on my best aloof and uncaring tone of voice, “we’ve been speaking all of this time and I never asked you your name.”
“Avion,” she responded. “French, like your wine.”
I nodded. “Oh, what a coincidence, and a beautiful name I might add. I’m Giovanni, but most call me Gio.”
“Lovely to meet you, Gio,” she responded, her smile growing. Maybe, just maybe, I’d waded the waters enough to make a move? I looked over my shoulder in every direction and waited for her to say, “Are you looking for someone or avoiding someone?”
“Avoiding,” I said. “My assistant hasn’t sought me out to do some ass-kissing by my dying luck. I’m just hoping he doesn’t come along and interrupt such a delightful conversation.”
“You and me both,” she said.
That felt like a go-ahead. “Just in case,” I said, looking back at her, “would you be willing to give me your number, Avion? Perhaps we can find a less terrible place to continue talking in the future.”
Avion’s eyes flared with excitement at the request, and I felt like I’d won, but then she said, “While I’m sure that would be lovely, I’m afraid I must decline. You’re obviously very attractive and charming, but if you’re here, it means you’re a little too closely related to my father for comfort. I won’t get into it, but I’ve learned the hard way not to date within his circle.”
I tilted my head to the side, furrowing my brow. “Your father?”
“Yes,” Avion responded with an eye roll. “My father, Governor Curtis Narzand.”
5
GIO
Hearing that revelation wasnearlyenough to make me get up from the bar and just walk away. This enchanting woman—this absolute perfection—was Curtis’ daughter. Even if it weren’t for the fact that I was there to rough him up before he skipped town on a half-million-dollar debt, he was one of the smarmiest men I’d ever met in my life. He managed to keep a squeaky-clean facade up for the people of New York, but my dealings with him had only ever been unpleasant. On top of that, Curtis’ sons were the infamous Narzand Brothers turning the underground on its end. Did Avion know that? From what Punk had said, it sounded like Avion hadjuststarted working with her family.
Just like Curtis didn’t, she probably had no idea that her brothers were also the newest, most dangerous underground crime syndicate in New York City.
She must have seen the look in my eyes because she nodded. “I assume that means you know him then?” She took another sip of her drink, not bothered by my temporary retreat. “I understand losing interest quickly. Learning I’m his daughter has inspired men to either run screaming or double down in the interest of how dating a Narzand would benefit them. I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to walk away.”
Those words rang in my ear like someone was screaming in my ear on an echo. Walk away? Not get what I’d set my mind out to get?
No. That wasn’t going to work for me.
“I appreciate your candor, but that name doesn’t scare me, and with all due respect there isn’t anything your father could give me that I couldn’t give myself,” I explained.
She scoffed. “That isn’t what your face said.”
“I was surprised to be sure, but it was mostly because I was actually unaware that Curtis Narzand had a daughter. I’ve heard of his sons, but not you,” I said.
She didn’t seem shocked by that. “Yeah, let’s just say I’m new to the family business,” she responded. “I only get to be in the pictures if there’s a good boob shot or a happy family candid, and as you can imagine, I’ve been very unwilling to pose for too many of either, so…”
“I can imagine,” I said, knowing all three Narzand men much better than I liked. I assumed being related to them was probably a headache. “If you’re worried about me, don’t be. I’m willing to take the risk for someone as beautiful as you.”
“Well, that’s very kind of you, but it’s like I said, I know better than to date within my father’s circle. Nothing good can come of it.”
I let out a laugh. “Your father is the Governor of the entire state. If you aren’t willing to date men who are connected to him, you had better start looking outside of NYC.”
“That’s why I’m still single,” she quipped, lifting her glass in a toast to herself before knocking back what was left of it.
Though she was closed off and shy at first, her quick wit and intelligence were interesting to me. I wasn’t the kind of guy who dated long term or committed to anyone. In my world, love and genuine concern for someone else made you weaker. I had too many things planned for those weaknesses. I had empires growing above and below ground. Having people you truly cared about gave your enemies something to exploit and it was simply something I couldn’t afford.
That said, it felt like a waste to pass up a woman like Avion who exceeded my standards both inside and out. Not having her simply wasn’t an option for me, and if I had to do some things I otherwise wouldn’t do, in order to have her, then that was what I’d do. Being a dom wasn’t fun if you have to force the sub though, so I’d have to see to it that Avion would come around to the idea of letting me in one way or another.
“Well, I can appreciate you not wanting to date around your father’s influence. That must be stressful knowing that he can dip his hands into your relationships at will.”
