Before she could reply, Autumn heard the clipping of stilettos on the marble floor. A woman walked down the hall. She had long black hair and wore a black pencil skirt with a slit up the side. The shirt had such a low neckline Autumn could see the V between her breasts.
“Waking me up before ten, Nico?” Her blood-red lips pursed while kohl-rimmed eyes narrowed on them. She eyed Autumn, walking around her as if she were a circus animal. “And you brought your pet.” She gave Autumn a sugary sweet smile. “How lovely.”
“She’s a little more than a pet.” To show their charade, Scala wrapped his arm around Autumn. “She has a brain, too.” He kissed Autumn’s cheek.
He let her go briefly and walked to the woman. “But I couldn’t live without you, Lydia.” They were nearly nose to nose. A smile quirked the sides of his mouth when he gazed down at the other woman’s mouth.
Autumn wanted to throw up. Once again, she had to remind herself she wasn’t the jealous type.
Lydia looked at his lips, then attacked them. She moaned against him, then finally let go. Her laugh was husky as she touched her nose to his. “You’re so full of shit, Nicky.” Lydia’s eyes veered to Autumn, then slowly pushed off Scala, her hands smoothing the lapels of his suit.
“Why don’t you tell me the real reason you’re here?” She purred. “I don’t think you came with your new toy for a threesome, for old time’s sake.”
Scala’s husky chuckle filled her ears, “As satisfying as that sounds, you’re right.” He moved back to Autumn’s side. “We need to know exactly how safe you are in yourpalazzo, your castle.”
Lydia peered down her nose at Autumn. “Oh, I’m very safe. Thank you for asking.” She sneered and took a step back from both of them. “But since we’re discussing safety, how does cop pussy taste, Nico?”
Autumn didn’t flinch. Her presence threated this woman, and she knew it. Did Scala end their affair? Or was it mutual?
“That’s not the kind of safe he’s referring to, and you know it.” Autumn retorted. Playing the charade, she smiled, “But he has the best tongue I’ve felt in a long time.”
Lydia rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. The movement raised her breasts higher. “Relax, sweetie, I’m not trying to steal lover boy.”
“Have you been watching the news about the Forget Me Not killer?” Autumn changed the subject since they needed to know how safe Lydia Esposito was.
Lydia set her hands akimbo on her hips and shrugged a shoulder. “Who hasn’t?”
“So, you’re aware of what happened to your father’s business partners’ daughters?”
“One was a daddy’s girl and the other trailer trash. What’s that got to do with me?”
Autumn bristled at the catty tone. Did this woman think she was the only person alive who mattered? She was about to respond when Scala answered Lydia.
“The reason we ask is that we believe you may be in danger.” He spoke in a soothing tone, “Have you seen anyone suspicious hanging around? Either a man or a woman?”
“Not that I can think of.” She looked at a painting with an embracing couple. “I have an auction tomorrow afternoon, so I haven’t exactly been entertaining.”
“I would cancel it until we find the killer.” Autumn’s lips pursed. “I don’t think you want to endanger any of your guests or yourself.”
Lydia whipped her head towards Autumn. “Cancel the auction?” She shook it with a laugh erupting from her throat. “Not a chance in hell, sweetheart. There’s too much riding on this event. Millions of dollars will exchange hands, and some of these pieces are priceless.” She waved her hand around the room.
“You do realize these women were attacked without realizing it, correct?” Autumn asked with a sigh. “The killer gained their trust, then strangled them to death before he took their eyes out.”
Lydia smirked again and looked down her haughty nose at Autumn. “I have my own security, honey. I’m untouchable.”
Autumn shook her head and took a step away from Scala. She walked until she was nose to nose with Lydia. “This killer blends into the crowd. It isn’t until you realize it’s too late, you’re in danger.”
The woman’s jade-colored eyes widened slightly, and she blinked several times. Her shoulders shook as if a chill swept up her back. She tilted her head up as if nothing had just happened. “I know how to protect myself. A mobster raised me, after all.”
Lydia looked over Autumn’s head at Scala. “Don’t worry about me, lover boy.” She glanced back down at Autumn, “She’s the one who should be careful.”
“Are you threatening me?” Autumn cocked her head to the side. “Why should I worry?”
“You work for the police.” Lydia smirked as if she knew something Autumn didn’t. “I may not speak to my father, but I still have friends. And Casale wants you something bad because of your fuck up with Cat’s murder.”
Autumn raised her chin, “I know how to protect myself.”
“Maybe from murdering psychopaths.” Lydia looked at Scala again. The smirk washed away, “If I were you, I’d have Luna keep her safe. Just in case, y’know?”
