I snap a final selfie of the three of us before I go off in search of my bouquet, which I abandoned at the wedding party table. I’m tired, my feet hurt, and thanks to Carina—this time, I know which cousin it was—I’ve downed another rum drink before the open bar closed. If I wasn’t tipsy before, I definitely am now.
My water glass is still on the table, so I take a nice, thirst-quenching gulp.
“It’s probably a bit late for that, don’t you think, Jane?”
I wasn’t expecting the voice. I snort my water and start choking, turning to find Alessio watching me with a grim, hooded look. Now there’s water dripping down the front of my silk gown, and I’m trying to catch my breath.
“Christ, woman. You’re not dying, are you?” he grumbles, stalking forward to pat me none too gently on the back.
I’m still coughing, or I’d offer him a snarky response. Also, I think he’s enjoying thumping me on the back just a little too much.
Finally, I catch my breath and move a step away from him. “I’m fine, but thanks for the dubious concern. Why are you here?”
“I’ve been ordered to babysit you and take you safely back to your room.”
“Babysit me?”
I mean, it’s true that I’m currently sporting water I dribbled down the front of my dress, but I still object to the term. Besides, he’s the last person who should be entrusted with watching out for me. I don’t know if he wants to fuck me or kill me. Maybe both.
He eyes the dark stains on my dress, which happen to be right over my breasts. “Need a napkin?”
“It’ll dry,” I snap. “And I don’t need you to babysit me. Did Luna seriously ask you that? Where is she?”
I look around the reception hall, but I don’t see her. She must have already exited stage left with Priest.
“She’s gone,” he confirms. “Priest carried her out of here a minute ago.”
“Well, thanks for the offer, but I’m good.” I grab my bouquet, wincing as I touch the thorn I forgot was there for the second time. “Ouch.”
“What’s wrong?”
I glare at him. “You don’t have to play nice because your brother asked you to. I’m fine. Really. Go crawl back under the rock you came from.”
“That’s not very nice, Emily.”
“I thought it was Jane.”
He shrugs. “I like variety.”
“Funny. So do I.” I wield my bouquet at him like it’s a magic wand. “See you never.”
I turn away from him, picking my way through tables and trying hard to ignore the fact that he’s trailing me. Fine. He can follow me all he wants. That doesn’t mean I have to acknowledge his annoying ass.
I stop before the elevator bank in the main lobby, intent on getting back to the haven of my room, when I fumble around for my clutch so that I can extract my room keycard to run the elevator to my floor. But I don’t have it. Somehow, all I’m carrying is my bouquet. Panic hits me. Shit. My phone is in my purse, and so is what’s left of the cash I brought along with me so that I could tip the bartenders.
As I spin around to retrace my steps, there’s Alessio, sauntering up to me, my light-blue clutch dangling from his tatted fingers.
“Missing something?”
“Did you steal my purse?” I swipe at it, and he holds it too high for me to reach.
He gives me a dark look. “I’m not a thief.”
“Ah,” I drawl. “So in the grand scheme of things, murder, drug dealing, extortion, and illegal gambling are all morally sound, but being called a thief is one step too far? I get it now.”
As I taunt him, it occurs to me that I’m not supposed to be mentioning anything regarding the Andriani family’s Mafia ties in public. Luna specifically asked me not to.Damn it.A quick look around reassures me that no one is standing close enough to us in the lobby to overhear.
The elevator doors glide apart, and inside, it’s empty. Also, I haven’t hit the up button yet. I’m reasonably sure Alessio summoned the elevator, but I have no idea how.
