“Salvatore is finishing up,” Luiggi says.
“He always enjoyed taking his time.” Her gaze swings toward me. It starts at my toes and crawls up to my face. Thick lips twist into a wry smile.
“Renata,” she says, like it should hold more relevance. “I’m sure Salvatore told you who I am.”
I feign giving a fuck. “You don’t come up in our conversations. Sorry to disappoint.”
Renata is a stunning older woman. Full figure on display in a tight black dress with big brown eyes that match the highlights in her hair. Something about her rubs me the wrong way. I can’t place it, but there are secrets under that thick foundation.
“I own Eden and have known Salvatore since he was a teenager,” she says, voice curt. “Even taught him a few things when he was older. He’s a fast learner. I’m always happy to assist.”
Yeah, I might put hands on her before the end of the night.
Fighting over a man is pointless. I never knew why someone felt the need to do so until now. Renata might’ve had him, butI’m willing to bet she’s never seen the real Benny. His caring side comforts when he’s not on a path of destruction.
She crosses her long legs in the chair behind her desk. “It’s good to see him back within my walls.” Her smile grows. “Lots of our girls have gone to his house, but there’s something about him coming home.”
My nails scrape the armrest to keep me in my seat and not going upside her head. It’s stupid to be jealous. I pretended to be a woman Benny pays for sex, but what pisses me off is Renata’s smirk. It’s obvious she wants to get under my skin. I won’t give her the pleasure.
Pow.
But I will test the bullets in my gun to verify that it works. Guess what? They do.
Renata screams. Luiggi grins into his glass.
Heavy footsteps thunder down the hall before Benny bursts through the open door.
“You okay?” He directs the question to me without care for the Glock still in my hand.
“Just getting acquainted with your old friend and my new toy,” I say. “She was informing me about your friendly dick. Keep talking, Renata.”
“Put the gun down, Trouble.” Benny chuckles. All evidence of humor erases when he looks at Renata. “Watch how you talk to my wife.”
Wife.
“Wife?“ She gawks. “Yourwifealmost shot me!”
“Please. The bullet is half a foot from your head. If I wanted to shoot you, the mouth you’re running wouldn’t be the only hole in your face.” Technically, her nostrils count, but whatever.
The two go back and forth in Sicilian. Benny slams his hands on her desk. “You’re lucky you’re not downstairs with the other bodies,” he says.
I peek out of the window. Sure enough, the four who were alive are face down in their own blood.
“Did you know about the smuggling ring?”
Renata’s chin trembles. “Of course not. I protect my workers.”
“Yet they keep disappearing.”
“I don’t monitor any agreements off the books. Some inform me of their outside clients. I look the other way with drug sales, but that’s it.”
She cowers when Benny leans closer. “If I find out you’re lying, neither God nor my uncle will save you.”
“Salvatore,” she pleads.
“Am I clear?”
Tears spill over Renata’s eyeliner. “Understood.”
