Isla laughed, letting her bangs fall over her left eye. She didn’t brush the hair away. No, she let them hang, hang like a curtain shielding a flirty expression.
I nearly slammed the glass onto a table as she giggled at whatever the fuck the son of a bitch said to her.
But I wouldn’t explode outwardly. I kept my cool, so I didn’t draw attention to myself.
“You need to get over there before he steals your girl. Islatold Rosa she didn’t think you guys would last but hoped she could still be friends with her.”
Not last?
“What the fuck, Roman? You’re just telling me this now?” I growled through gritted teeth and turned on him, both my hands fisted. I had never hit one of my brothers, but right now, I wanted to break Roman’s face.
He stepped back, clearly aware of the dangers standing before him. “Calm down. I only heard about it this morning. Maybe you should talk to Rosa more frequently.”
I was about to storm off to claimmywoman when I was stopped.
“Ciro! Oh, Ciro, darling! Where have you been hiding?” A “leggy blonde” squealed. Her long arms wrapped around my neck and a hand cupped the back of my head. Her scarlet lips captured mine as the flash of a camera blinded me.
Worst fucking timing.
“Annalise, you look lovely tonight,” I said in my sincerest, fakest voice, pulling away from her firm grasp. I couldn’t stand the money-hungry, fame-obsessed social media influencer. But she talked up my casinos to her millions of followers. Word of mouth was the most profitable advertising.
It took a moment for the stars to go away after the bright flash, but I didn’t have to see to know Isla was watching us.
“Thank you, handsome. You’re looking dapper yourself. Why haven’t you called me?” She ran her hand up and down my chest, leaning into me, all amorous and shit.
Yes, I’d fucked her before, years before Isla and me had gotten together. I’d fucked a lot of women as thanks for promoting my casinos.
Sue me. I enjoyed sex and hadn’t been picky about where I stuck my dick. I’d been a reckless cunt most of my life.
But I had changed and was faithful to Isla. Regardless, my fucking past would rear its ugly head unexpectedly from time to time, like now.
“Excuse me?” I glared into her wide blue eyes. They were framed in thick-black eyeliner and false eyelashes. Her floral perfume almost made me gag.
“Well, I mean, to work together.” Annalise snaked her hand around my bicep. “I could perform in one of your clubs. Rub your back and you rub mine, just like old times.”
I flicked my eyes at Isla. She was gone. So was the guy she had been talking to.
“Dance floor.” Roman sneered, stalking away.
I noticed the disgust in his eyes when they darted to Annalise hanging on me. This scene was exactly what he was talking about when he said I would lose Isla.
Cazzo! It enraged me that he might be right.
I couldn’t live in denial anymore, believing I could do as I pleased, and Isla would deal with it. She loved me, no question. But eventually, she’d surrender in defeat and dump my ass.
Part of me wanted her to leave me. She deserved better.
The other part of me knew I’d die without her.
I scanned the south end of the backyard where the DJ was set up and spotted my girl dancing to a silky-smooth John Legend song with Mr. No Name. His hand rested below the arch of her back, his fingers splayed out, holding her close. The motherfucker made her laugh again.
“Excuse me, Annalise.” I pulled away, my eyes on Isla as I stalked toward the other side to rescue My-la from a woman-eating predator.
“Ciro wait,” Annalise called, but I didn’t stop.
The closer I got to Isla, the more I felt like I wouldexplode. The asshole was clearly putting the moves on my woman. His hand dropped lower, his face inching closer to hers.
Why didn’t she stop him? Shove him away? Slap his forgettable face?
