“Would you care to join me?” he asks with a smirk, his voice lowering even further.
“You’re drunk,” I remind him. “You likely won’t remember this conversation in the morning.”
That fact doesn’t stop my chest and neck from becoming hot as I look up at the thinner but taller man next to me. He licks his lips, and I’m looking right at them.
“Even better,” he mumbles.
“You’re out of line, Mr. Dresvanni,” I tell him roughly and turn my head to look in front of myself ahead.
“I just want to thank you,” he tells me, his voice rumbling ever so slightly.
Goosebumps climb up my back, and I ignore those as well.
“You’ve thanked me quite enough,” I say. “You should get back to the party.”
Just as I’m saying this, Rosalie exits her conversation and looks in our direction. I meet her gaze, and she looks a bit flushed from the alcohol she’s been drinking as well.
“Your fiancé is looking for you,” I inform Alessio. “Perhaps she’ll take you up on your offer.” This is my way of reminding him that he’s engaged, and his fiancé is literally in the same room. Regardless of if they’re really interested in each other.
I hope they are.
Don’t I?
Alessio sighs and turns to look just as she walks over to us.
“Is he bothering you?” she asks. “Alessio, how much have you had to drink?”
Alessio scoffs. “Frankly, my dear, not enough,” he slurs ever so slightly.
Rosalie eyes him and then looks at me. “I don’t think you’re needed anymore tonight; you don’t have to stay down here for the entire party,” she says, then turns more to Alessio. “Why don’t we go up to a room? It’s getting late, too late to go to my flat.”
It’s after midnight. She’s right. Despite the fact that it would be me driving them, it is late and the best option is to stay the night here until morning.
“If you insist,” Alessio replies and hands me his glass.
Rosalie rolls her eyes when she thinks I’m not looking and takes Alessio’s hand.
I watch the two of them exit the party and go up the stairs as I hold Alessio’s glass. Alessio doesn’t look at me before they disappear, and I’m almost disappointed.
I look down at the glass he left with me, and see there’s a small sip left in it. Looking around me for a moment to see that no one is paying attention to me, I lift it to my nose and sniff.
Brandy.
There’s a faint impression of his lips on several spots of the glass that I see through the flickering firelight and string lights all around the room.
After a few seconds of deliberation, I place the glass to my own lips and take that very last sip.
Strong. Vintage. And I’d swear I can taste the lips that were there before mine.
What am I doing?
Three days later, 9:34 am. The last few days have been rather uneventful, and I’ve had very little opportunity to get information on the Dresvanni family, Alessio in particular. Posting up outside of the house will get me no more information either, so I need to get closer. Closer to the family. Closer than just keeping an eye on Rosalie is allowing me.
So, when I discover that Alessio is going to target practice this morning, I decide to invite myself along. After all, I’m a guard, and we need practice with our guns occasionally as well.
Plus, I’d like to see how Alessio is with a gun. How big of a danger he might be—to others, himself, me.
Eivor seems to think it’s a fantastic idea, and finds a way to keep Rosalie busy at the estate with her wedding dress so that I’m not forced to keep an eye on her instead of joining Alessio.
