“We’re what? Killers? Extortionists? Blackmailers? Thieves? Drug runners?”
I opened my mouth to retort, but whether past or current, we were all those things. Maybe I hadn’t heard the terminology put so succinctly. “This isn’t about our past or whether we are decent people or not. It’s about the fact the Italians have suddenly decided their alliance with us doesn’t suit their needs any longer. So, they tried to infiltrate our club with drugs. First, this girl yousay you’re friends with suddenly moved to New Orleans, the star of the benefit you asked me to attend last night. You bet she was sweet. So much so that I…” Well, shit. This was awkward as hell.
“That you what? Just had to be the guy who got his dick wet. And she has a name. Anna.”
She had me so frustrated the pain behind my eyes was worse than the injury. “That girl… Anna appeared at the warehouse this morning pretending she had the wrong address. Then we ran into each other a block away from Indulgence. After that, she was her inside your house. What am I supposed to think?” At least I could see a light turning on behind her eyes.
“The Italians?” She blinked several times. She knew all about the alliance. While we kept certain day-to-day tasks from her, such as how I’d handled the betrayal this morning, she knew our business arrangements.
“Yes, the Russos. Sergio to be exact. Out of the blue. Now, maybe you can understand my confusion as to your friend suddenly appearing out of nowhere. I should give the bastards an A for effort. That was this morning. Forgive me for not believing Anna’s story. I will discover the truth one way or another. I have a call out to Irina. She will answer my questions since you won’t.”
“You are unbelievable. Always by force. Maybe if you tried being nice to people, you’d get cooperation. Including from your own sister.”
“She’s Italian in case you haven’t figured that out. What are the odds that I would accidentally run into her on the same day as discovering Russo’s possible infiltration attempt? Huh? Why in God’s name would you allow her to stay here?”
She acted as if she wasn’t going to bother answering me, folding her arms and standing still. When she finally did, the tone of her voice indicated she’d moved past anger to seething. “She was offered an opportunity of a lifetime. She’s a ballerina. To answer your horrible question, because she needed a place to stay since she made a quick decision to come to our lovely city for a few months if not the rest of her life. We went to college together, so you know our father had her and everyone else I spent time around checked out, going generations into the past. The rest is none of your business. Everyone out there isn’t trying to destroy our family. Your paranoia is getting the better of you.”
When she walked away, I was floored. Absolutely floored. “Did you not hear what I said to you?”
“And did you not hear what I said to you? This is my house. Mine.”
What was she doing? She’d grabbed her iPad, her fingers flying across the screen. My sister was hotter than I’d seen her in a long time, cursing while surfing.
A bad combination.
“I know it’s your house, Emme, but you need to be careful. You know the drill. I worry. So do your other brothers. We have reason to.”
“Yeah, I know the drill, which is why I cannot stand the thought of being born a mafia princess.” She reared back, her eyes scanning the screen. With two long strides she was in front of me, shoving the iPad into my face. “Hit play and don’t you dare anger me any further. Do what I say.”
When I didn’t grab the computer right away, her face flushed red with rage. “Fine. What are you going to show me?”
“Look at the video and answer for yourself.”
Exhaling, I drilled her with my eyes before doing what she asked. She’d forced a video on me. At first, I had no idea what I was looking at. Snorting, I glanced at my sister who pointed her finger at me.
“Fine.” Leaning against the edge of the counter, I sipped my drink, initially bored. Then I gathered why it was so important to Emme. I was watching a ballet. There was a couple dancing. I knew nothing about ballet, other than they wore tutus.
At first, I just didn’t care.
The camera panned in on the dancers and there was no mistaking the female dancer. Anna. Another beautiful performance.
This I hadn’t expected in my wildest thoughts. She was incredible, floating across the stage on her toes with her chin held high. The emotional piece was a tearjerker and she parlayed every dance step into a creation of beauty, artistry I’d never paid any attention to.
Before the dance was over, Emme tried to take the iPad from my hand, but I waved her off. The applause was thunderous, much like the rapid beating of my heart.
I’d be damned if my cock wasn’t at full attention all over again.
She snatched the computer, remaining where she was. “Now, do you understand? Last night wasn’t some ruse to get closer to you or anyone else in the family. She’s a dancer given an opportunity. Maybe Irina thought you’d like to meet her. I don’t know. What I do know is that Anna is here to stay for as long as she and I decide.”
“Did you know she was coming to New Orleans?”
“No. So what?”
“Emme. Come on. The timing is far too coincidental. Maybe she’s here under false pretenses and found a way of using all her skills. Do I honestly need to remind you that at one point, you were to be married to Lorenzo Russo?”
“What in the hell does that have to do with this situation?”
There’d been bad tainted blood between the families for years. To say I didn’t trust Don Russo before he’d died or his son Carmine was an understatement, but I was required to follow Alexander’s decision on the alliance. “Because I protect my family.”
