Damiano assesses the case of jewels while rubbing the back of his neck and looking bewildered. “I have no idea about the order. The jeweler was supposed to take care of that.”
“Then I’ll choose. To start with, something high quality and eye-catching.” I select a heavy ruby pendant and put it on, nestling the sparkling red stone between my breasts. “What do you think?”
Damiano caresses the ruby, and his touch lingers, warming the stone. “Beautiful,” he murmurs, his eyes growing darker and heavy lidded. I know he’s remembering what I look like naked. Right now, he’s imagining what I’d look like naked wearing just this ruby necklace. Has he been dreaming about how I tasted? How it felt to be one thrust away from burying himself deep inside me?
Damiano’s fingers move lower. He cups my breast and rolls his thumb over my nipple through the black velvet, makingme shiver in pleasure. I’m not picky where and how I lose my virginity, as long as it’s to him. I don’t need rose petals and candlelight. Bent over a king-size bed in the Corinthian, Damiano’s hand clamped over my mouth while he fucks me fast and hard with a dozen men waiting for us in the next room sounds amazing, actually. He makes me so wet that I doubt it will hurt for longer than one thrust, and then it will be all pleasure.
There’s the sound of the elevator opening. A moment later, Dad rounds the corner and sees us, followed by four of his men in suits.
Damiano snatches his hands from my body and steps away. One day, he won’t have to hide what I mean to him. He’ll be able to touch me without pulling away like he’s been burned.
“Dad. We agreed I’d run the auction tonight,” Damiano says.
I pretend to be fascinated by the jewels in the case. Dad glares at me and then turns to my brother. “What is your sister doing here?”
I calmly reach for the ruby earrings that match the pendant and fasten them to my earlobes.
“What does it look like she’s doing? Lucy’s helping me.”
“You know the rules. You do not involve our women in our business.”
“It’s a jewelry auction, and Lucy’s beauty makes these stones even more precious. I made a business decision.”
Dad’s opening his mouth to tell Damiano that I can’t stay, but Damiano speaks over him. “The jeweler bailed. I need Lucy.”
Dad closes his mouth. “Fine. Afterward, take her straight home. You and I will speak about this tomorrow.”
I cast Damiano a worried look, hoping I haven’t gotten him into trouble. There’s no time to think about it now because the guests have started to arrive, and Dad and Damiano go and meet them.
I’ll just have to make sure tonight goes perfectly so Dad has nothing to reproach my brother for come tomorrow. I’ll prove I can be an asset to this family.
I study the jeweler’s notes and lay the pieces out in the order that I’m going to present them. When Damiano comes to say that they’re ready for me, I emerge from the bedroom and head down the corridor, tucking my blonde curls behind my ears so that the ruby earrings can be seen.
In the large sitting room, a dozen hard-looking men in suits with tattoos peeking out beneath their sleeves are settled into the sofas and armchairs, sipping from tumblers of whiskey. There’s only one other woman present, around twenty-five and wearing a low-cut dress. The man she’s with is in his fifties. He’s wearing a wedding ring, and she isn’t.
I take a seat in the armchair that’s facing the room, demurely crossing my legs at the ankles. With a smile, I tell the men about the ruby set, pointing out the high-quality stones, the unique design, and the provenance of the pieces, which is French. I recognized the maker’s mark.
As I speak, I look around, and I realize I recognize some of the men. My best friend Adora’s older brother is here, a big man with tousled golden hair. Cristiano Montoni is handsome and appealing, until you notice his cold, hard eyes. He’s the new Montoni don.
Don Vincenzo Vici, a sleek, dangerous assassin, is here as well, but sitting as far away from Cristiano as possible. The previous Montoni don, Adora and Cristiano’s father, murdered his family. Despite this, the bloodthirsty man married my sweet friend. I wonder why he’s here tonight. He’s not a man I expected would be interested in expensive jewelry.
Damiano starts the bidding at the reserve price while I sit with my hands loosely clasped in my lap, smiling at the men.Dad’s expression is sour, but I’m determined to show him that I am an asset, not a hindrance.
The set sells for nearly twice the reserve price. Damiano catches my eye as I get to my feet, and I can tell he’s pleased. My head is high as I leave the room to put on the next set.
In between modeling pieces, I listen to the men talk, trying to discern their names and how they fit into Dad and Damiano’s world. The man who is here with his mistress is called Mr. Cattaneo. A man who’s more interested in staring at my breasts than the jewelry is Mr. Dimitriou. He buys three necklaces and four sets of earrings for an eyewatering amount of money. I think he’s trying to impress me, but I keep my attention averted from him as much as possible in case he gets the wrong idea. He’s not bidding on me, he’s bidding on the jewels.
Vincenzo Vici hasn’t made one bid the entire auction, but when I finish talking the men through the amber-colored diamond earrings I’m wearing, I turn to him. “Don Vincenzo, have you noticed that these diamonds are the same color as Adora’s eyes? The color is very rare, and they’re known playfully as pumpkin diamonds, but I think these are closer to amber.”
Vincenzo has been looking overwhelmed by all the talk of cuts and carats, but now he seems interested. “Do you think my wife would like these? I want to buy her something, but I have no fucking idea what I’m doing.” He laughs, a surprisingly good-natured laugh for such a dangerous man, and I find myself warming to him.
“I think she would love these earrings,” I tell him.
Don Vincenzo nods. A few minutes later, he makes the winning bid, and he’s the proud owner of the pumpkin diamonds.
“You know about jewels,” Mr. Cattaneo remarks.
“A little,” I say, with a modest smile.
