“I couldn’t agree more.” Salvatore follows him, leaving me standing with Mack, who’s looking down at me like he knows mysecret. Maybe he does, but before I can dwell on that, I follow Salvatore and Nico outside into the narrow alley. Nico pushes the garbage container out of the way and reveals a door that’s barely visible in the ground.
“Subtle.” I nudge Salvatore, who is watching with narrowed eyes.
“You haven’t seen anything yet.” Nico opens the door and goes down first, Salvatore following. I take a step toward the door and look at the dark hole.
“Don’t worry. It's just a hole.” Mack’s deep voice rumbles behind me. I clench my jaw and inhale deeply before turning toward him.
I narrow my eyes at him. “What is your problem with me?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Oh, come on. You keep giving me strange looks, or are you always like this?”
He slices through me with a single glance. “I’m just keeping an eye on you, so your eyes don’t wander where they’re not supposed to.”
“My eyes?”
“And your hands and tongue.”
Shit.
I clench my fists. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, you do. The only reason you’re not bruised is this deal.” He motions with his head. “Now, go down.”
My lips pull into a vicious smirk as I step toward him. I tilt my head and narrow my eyes, letting him feel every ounce of the warning behind them. “My eyes, my hands, and my tongue are none of your damn concern,” I say, my voice low and lethal. “They’ll wander where I want, with whom I want, if I want. I won’t be asking you for permission.” I lean in just enough for the threat to sharpen. “Unless you’re into watching, then be my guest. But let me warn you…” My smile turns razor-edged.“That’ll be the last thing you ever see.” I look at him one last time before I follow Salvatore and Nico.
I can hardly concentrate on what Nico is talking about with Salvatore because all I can think about is the girl I shouldn’t be thinking about. The girl in the club who made me feel alive, who made me feel something again. After I thought I never would. After I swore off feeling that again.
Do I wish I hadn’t come here today? I do. But my priority is being by Salvatore’s side and closing this deal. There is no time for my lack of judgment.
What catches my attention is that they’ve come to an agreement, one that will benefit both families.
“Now this is set, how about some entertainment and good food? We need to celebrate our deal.”
“Lead the way!”
“I had VIP organized especially for you, and I plan on making this night entertaining. But first, drinks.” Nico leads us toward the lounge.
I chuckle inaudibly. The universe is playing games with me; this is the same seat I ended up in the last time I was here. Nico and Salvatore take their places on the other side of the scene of the crime from last time, leaving me to sit in the same spot as before. Mack joins us minutes later, followed by a server who is bringing our drinks.
As soon as I get hold of my glass, I down the drink at once, having zero fucks to give how this may look. Luckily for me, no one gives a shit. I’m about to down my second drink when a pair of legs covered with black boots and sheer tights appear in my line of view. My eyes follow the length of her legs as she walks nearer. I assess her, and my blood heats at the sight of her in leather shorts and her belly bare beneath her sheer top that’s covered with a leather jacket. My eyes land on her smirk-covered face and eyes that are gleaming with mischief. I lean back in myseat and raise an eyebrow, telling her that I know exactly where I’m sitting.
“Ah, you're here,” Nico exclaims as she stops in front of the lounge. “This is my sister, Valentina, who is also my consigliere.”
I tilt my head to the side, considering this new bit of information.
So, Nico De Angelo has taken his sister as consigliere. This is unheard of. There are rarely any women who work for crime organizations unless they are outsiders, and definitely not in high positions. I can only interpret this as a new age of Camorra. Modern, and with all options wide open. The only thing messing with the structure is that if more women are in place, the rule that women are off-limits may be considered.
Salvatore stands and extends his hand to her. “Salvatore Catalano. Nice to meet you.” And then he does something that makes my blood boil. He smirks and winks at me before he raises her hand toward his lips and places a chaste kiss on it.
“The pleasure is mine.” She gives him a smile different from the one she gave me.
A few moments pass before all eyes turn to me, and she raises her eyebrow, hiding a smirk as she bites on her lower lip.
“That’s Gabriel, my consigliere,” Salvatore says, saving me from the awkward situation I’ve got myself into.
“Can he speak?” she mocks as she lowers herself onto the seat beside me. Her cherry scent hits my nostrils, reminding me of the night I met her. I grab the amber drink in front of me and take a long sip, trying to drown out the cherry aroma so I can get control over my body again.
