I close my phone again and put it back in my pocket. A few seconds later, Franco appears by my side. In the darkness, he swiftly tucks two extra guns into my belt without anyone noticing. The music and disco lights are enough of a distraction to the people around us, so they don’t know what’s going on.
“My men confirm he’s in there,” Franco says. “Are you going to do it?”
I take another gulp of my bourbon, the burn preparing me for what’s to come. “This is just a precaution.”
“Do you want me to go in there with you?”
“That won’t be necessary,” I reply. “Lucio knows what will happen if he tries anything on me.”
Franco looks me in the eyes and nods. He knows as well as I do that Lucio wouldn’t dare touch me. I’m the head of the biggest Mafia empire in this city. If there’s even so much as a scratch on my face, my men will hunt him and his guys down and destroy any semblance of their existence. Hewon’t risk it, and we both know it. He didn’t bring those guns to hurt me. He brought them for his own protection, because he’s afraid of what I’ll do to him.
“Are you ready?” Franco asks.
I take another sip of my bourbon, then shove the glass into his chest. “Stand guard behind the door. Don’t let anyone leave until I’m ready.”
He nods, and we both head toward the room. I don’t even knock before I barge inside. Franco positions himself at the door right behind me before it closes. My men are all around the club, watching, waiting to make a move. We’ve got this place surrounded, and Lucio isn’t going anywhere until I have what I came for.
But my eyes do a double take when I spot the same girl who just threw her expensive pearls over the edge of the balcony, sitting on the couch in the corner of the room right behind Lucio.
It’s her.
What is she doing here?
Her eyes widen when she spots me.
Well, well. This is a surprising turn.That red-lipped beauty is Lucio’s girl?
Suddenly, it all makes fucking sense.
Stella
The rough-looking man who just entered the room makes my heart pitter-patter immediately.
Oh my God, it’s him.
The guy from the balcony.
His darkened eyes settle on me, and I feel very small in the moment, like I just want to hide away in the corner and pretend I’m not here. But his chiseled jaw and those thin lips as he gently licks them into a smirk make it so hard to look away. He must be at least five years older than me, if not more, yet out of all the people in this club, he has to be the most handsome man I’ve ever seen. Even now, I can’t take my eyes off him, no matter how hard I try.
I shouldn’t be looking. Lucio will kill him. Look away, Stella, goddammit.
I avert my eyes swiftly, praying he doesn’t recognize me. I shift in my seat, hoping I can hide myself in the darkness. After all, this is Lucio’s deal, not mine. I have nothing to do with any of this, but he involves me anyway because he won’t allow me to leave his side.
But who is that man?
I don’t dare to look, but my heart is still chasing the beat, remembering his words about Lucio and me being worth more than the hell he put me through.
I sigh and take a quick peek. He wears an expensive-looking suit, complete with hand-tailored cuff links with theletters “DS” engraved on them. The man runs his fingers through his luscious brown hair and tilts his head, but then his eyes suddenly connect with mine. I hold my breath and squeeze my legs together, trying not to react. His gaze is so intense, it’s almost as if I can feel it in my entire body, and I don’t want him to notice.
Too late.
A hint of a smirk forms on his face, and I swiftly look away.
“Matteo, I’m glad you could finally join us,” Lucio says, the sarcasm dripping off his words.
I roll my eyes. I can’t believe the only interesting person in this club is here for Lucio. I should have known. This club is riddled with Mafia men, even if the regulars don’t notice. This is a favorite hub they frequent to make grimy deals and sell their drugs and weapons. Ugh, I can’t wait to get out of here.
Bartolo, one of Lucio’s guards, stares at me from the door, narrowing his eyes as if he wants to warn me not to say a single word, or I’ll face the punishment. Again. Which means getting locked up in my room for three days, again, until the next time I mess up and break one of Lucio’s invisible rules.
