It’s not too long before the car pulls up at the front entrance to the building A red carpet laid out, cameras lined up like this is the Met rather than a simple charity gala in Italy. It’s always like this, though; the public is desperate to know the lives of those wealthier and more powerful than them, so they take pleasure even in a photograph of us walking into a party.
I get out of the car first and help Petra get out.
“We should pose as each other’s date,” I offer as I hold her hand and she uses her other one to brush her skirt down.
“I think that’s my job,” Raff insists, his voice laced with jealousy again.
I tilt my head to the side and offer her hand to him. “Go ahead,” I say smoothly. “If you mess things up, I certainly wouldn’t want to face her.”
Petra smirks softly and refuses to take Raff’s hand.
I may have made a mistake. If Petra is going to cling to me tonight, I won’t have much room to meet Carmine and Soren.
Thankfully she lets go of my hand and looks at the both of us with contempt. “I don’t need a man to accompany me tonight. Just do your jobs,” she tells us.
I narrow my eyes at her but nod and let her walk ahead of us. Raff and I walk forward together, though he stays ahead of me ever so slightly as though he doesn’t want it to be assumed thatweare a couple.
My own care is very shallow. Raff isn’t my type, but if people want to assume we’re an item, it just gives me more of an alibi for the evening.
The flashing of cameras makes it hard to see for a moment, but between blinks I can see a curious look on peoples faces. This is the first time I’ve been out in public like this as part of the Bianchis. They’re likely wondering who the hell I am and what I’m doing as part of one of the wealthiest business man’s crew. For all they know, he’s on the straight and narrow, so I must be one hell of an employee or a friend of the family, to get into a function such as this.
While I’m sure some are aware of the nefarious truth behind the Bianchi family, most see Stephan Bianchi as a figurehead in the tech world. Just as they see Carmine Dresvanni as the son who took over his fathers’ weapons business.
I don’t stop to pose for the cameras, simply giving them a slight wave before making my way into the building behind Petra and Raff. They’re being greeted and handed drinks almost immediately. If they know what’s good for them, they’ll pretend to sip at those drinks and keep themselves clear-headed.
I’m hoping they don’t.
Thankfully, not many people stop me to talk as I make my way through the crowd with a glass of champaign. They don’tparticularly know me, so they’re far more concerned with talking to Petra and Raff.
I scan the room until I spot him.
Tommaso.
He’s standing a couple feet away from his brother, Carmine, and his boytoy Soren. I can tell that they’re attempting to mingle while also waiting for me. It will be quite a while before I can make an excuse to talk to them, so I pull my gaze away from them and focus on Petra and Raff.
Petra walks over to me with someone I vaguely recognize as Raymond Valdetti, a celebrity who frequently gets himself in trouble with the media.
“Trevor, have you ever met Raymond?” she asks me, confirming my recognition.
I shake my head and gently sip at my drink, just enough to taste it on my tongue but not enough to actually swallow anything but my own saliva.
“No, I haven’t. I have heard of you however,” I tell the man and I reach a hand out to shake his.
He shakes my hand but his eyes stay on Petra and I can tell he’s particularly interested in her tonight. The following conversation is about as boring as I can handle. He goes on and on about how many movies he’s going to be doing over the next year and how he needs someone to be his secretary, clearly trying to goad Petra into something.
She seems interested, honestly, but I can’t quite tell if it’s her putting on a show or if she’s serious. What I do know, however, is when she looks at me sideways, she wants me to leave them alone.
I excuse myself just as someone is getting on the mic on the small stage nearby and announcing how much money has been raised already, and that dinner will be served soon.
I myself donated a few thousand dollars to the charity, though I’m not quite sure if it’s to find families for orphaned children or to build houses for orphaned children. Either way, it’s a good cause and not donating anything would be suspicious.
As the night goes on, it grows closer to both my meeting with Carmine and Soren, and Carmine’s intended kidnapping.
Raff and Petra are both distracted, so I wander over toward the bar where Carmine and Soren are both seated after dinner and stand where I can see Petra and Raff if needed, but still talk to them.
“Trevor,” Carmine says slowly. It’s a good thing he called me by my cover name; you never know who is listening.
I nod slowly. “I assume Tommaso told you the plan,” I say quietly.
