“Oh, shit! Sorry.”
I stand by him on the sidewalk as he texts our driver, who pulls up minutes later. Avery opens the door for me and follows me into the back.
He doesn’t say a word, just continues to work on his phone while letting silence swirl around us.
“Avery…”
He looks up at me, his big blue eyes behind his black-rimmed specs shining with concern and sincerity. “Yes, Chiara?” he responds, holding my gaze intently.
I almost crack and tell him everything. That’s what he’s being paid to do, after all. Protect me. But by default, that will putmore people I care about in harm’s way. So, instead I tip my lips up into a playful smile.
“Will you have a wine with me? I don’t want to drink alone, and I won’t tell Big Bad Raf if you don’t,” I say conspiratorially, the words taking on a double meaning.
He snorts and just shakes his head at me. “It’s the big boss I need to worry about. Marco has strict rules about drinking on the job, I’m afraid. But I tell you what, I’ll order one to keep you company. If you finish yours and want another, then you can drink mine and call it done.” He’s setting my parameters, reminding me not to get messy.
“That entirely depends on how this shit show goes,” I say, pointing a painted fingernail at him. “Don’t be trying to take my wine from me if I need it to drown my sorrows.”
“Don’t be so foolish to think I’m going to let you drink enough to drown your sorrows.”
“Ha. You know me so well. Let’s just get this over with,” I say as I see the sign come into view.
He just shakes his head at me, bemused, before hopping out and offering me his hand so I can exit on the same side and not into oncoming traffic. Honestly, given all that’s happened in the last hour, it would be preferable. I follow him inside, and he directs me off to the side towards a dark corridor leading us away from the main bar, down some sort of service entry.
“Where are we going?”
“The secret members-only room. That’s where AJ will be.”
“Oh. Can I still get my wine delivered down there?”
“I’m sure it can be arranged,” he quips as we turn down another corridor, then a set of stairs until we’re in front of a black door. He buzzes the button with the bell icon on the intercom.
“Speak,” comes a voice. “Name and who you’re here to see.”
I jump in before Avery can, needing to channel my nervous energy.
“Tell my cousin dearest his worst nightmare has arrived.”
“Couldn’t have said it better myself,” comes AJ’s voice through the intercom.
Then the door buzzes and we’re let into a spacious room, dimly lit with lamps dotted along the walls—sconces. There are plush, red velvet lounges along the back wall, and after a day on my feet, they’re calling my name, but instead I head towards where my cousin is sitting at the head of a long, black marble dining table with gold accents.
“Well, isn’t this fit for a Godfather,” I mock.
He glares at me in exasperation, then gestures for me to sit.
“That big velvet lounge looks far more my style,” I say, thumbing towards it.
“Sit,” AJ demands. “We don’t have much time before our guest arrives.”
I’m on high alert after what happened with Alessandro just now. Anxiety creeps up my throat as a new thought occurs.
“Is this a trap? Are you going to force me back to Italy with that scumbag? Or maybe let him kidnap me?” I start backing away towards the door.
“Chiara, please just fucking sit down and I will explain everything. No one is here to force you to do anything or kidnap you,” he says, exasperated. “How do you come up with this shit?”
“Please don’t pretend there is nothing plausible about that suggestion, because we both know it could happen at any time.”
“I don’t have time for this shit. Listen, in five minutes Julian Rizzo is going to walk through that door.”
