A split-second later January crawls toward him. She moves slowly, one hand after another like a great weight is tied to her legs. My stomach sinks.
Doc lets out a wild drunken laugh. “Fuck me, talk about a dark horse.”
I grit my teeth. Adriano’s greedy. If she chooses him, the rest of us are going to be waiting hours.
“Bella?” I prompt but she doesn’t look my way.
“Still time to change your mind,” Doc calls, but he’s just glad she’s giving in. He and Adriano go back a long time. He has the best chance at getting in on the action with him.
January is inches from Adriano. Even from this distance, I can see she’s crying. Rossi won’t like that. He likes causing pain, but he can’t stand tears. His usual solution is to wrap a T-shirt around the girl’s face then fuck her from behind. I imagine him gripping her pale hips in his tattooed hands. Manipulating her beautiful body with his scarred one. Sometimes I like seeing beautiful things get broken, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to put my bitterness to one side and enjoy the show.
“January…” Bobby’s voice is low, imploring. “January, he wants to kill you.”
She freezes. Adriano makes a noise like an angry bull.
I bite back a laugh.Yes. Ruin this, you clever little bastard.
“If it weren’t for us, he’d have killed you already,” Bobby says so quietly his voice is barely audible over the music. “He’s wanted you dead the moment he saw you. Don’t let him win.”
January sits back, her chest heaving.
“You fucking moron,” Doc snaps. “We werethisfucking close.”
“All’s fair in love and war.”
“You’ll pay for that, Bassilotta,” Adriano says quietly.
I glare at him. “Do not threaten Bobby in front of me.”
“Fuck this.” Adriano gets to his feet, looking as unsteady as I feel.
“You leave, you can’t come back,” I remind him.
“It doesn’t matter. She’s done. No one wins.”
January looks up at Adriano. “Sorry, Mr. Rossi.”
He gives her a look of utter loathing. “Remember what I told you, Bambi.”
I frown. “Bambi?”
Adriano turns his crazy green eyes on me. “The dead deer.”
“Bambi’s mom dies, you idiot,” Doc mutters but his gaze is still locked on January. “How are you doing this, Tits?”
She smiles at him. “Maybe your drug isn’t very good?”
I almost laugh but catch myself at the last second. Bobby can’t hold back, he doubles over, cackling. Adriano leaves, his tread heavy even on the carpet. Doc stares mutinously into space. I know that mood, but before I can say anything, Doc paces to the nearby wall and puts his fist through it, plaster dust scattering the carpet. He storms out of the room slamming the door behind him.
“Idiot,” I mutter, though I’m relieved he didn’t take a swing at Bobby or throw one of the paintings in the fire.
“Does this mean I’ve won?” January’s voice is small but steady.
Bobby looks at her and I see him realize he’ll never get to touch her.
“Go,” I tell him. “I’ll deal with the girl. Get out of here.”
“You sure?”
