Page 22 of Stroke of Luck

“Othello felt it would keep you from wandering and trying to avoid getting ready,” Remo informs me as I pick myself up off the floor.

Tossing my dreads out of my face, I frown at him. “Don’t worry, I’m fine. I didn’t bruise my ass from getting shoved to the ground by the door you so rudely tossed open.”

“You shouldn’t be acting like a child,” Remo counters as he steps out of the way to let me out.

“Do you always have to be such an ass?”

“Coniglietto, this is me being nice. Anyone else and I would have left them locked up.”

That causes me to pause and look at the man. “God, we need to work on your people skills. Do you really want everyone to dislike you so much?”

“You don’t dislike me, and your odd friend didn’t either. In fact, she wanted to be best friends,” Remo shares, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and leading me over to a makeshift glam station.

Knocking off his arm, I whirl to face him. “You know one of my friends?! Why the fuck didn’t you say anything before?! This is kind of a big deal!”

“Calm yourself, coniglietto. I have sent out men, and they will notify me if there is any information. Now sit and let Bethany do your makeup,” Remo instructs, lifting me up and setting me in the chair like a child.

Bethany is a beautiful woman, with lush brunette hair and a curvy body that’s accentuated by the dress she’s wearing. I can feel my hackles rise as she looks at Remo from under her lashes, trying to be coy. I’ve never been a jealous person. I couldn’t be with how I’ve lived my life, but seeing her eye up one of my men lights a fire in me that I’ve never experienced before.

I try to shove the feeling down and give the woman a chance. I don’t know Remo’s past, and if he’s slept with her, then it makes sense she would feel entitled to act this way in front of me. Or at least, that’s what I keep trying to tell myself…

It’s not working.

“Remo, it’s been so long. I never see you come around the clubs with Giorgio anymore. We’ve all missed you,” Bethany says with a pout, her full bottom lip popping out making her look like a fish rather than adorable.

I look over to see what Remo thinks of her expression, but his eyes haven’t left my face, almost as if he doesn’t really see Bethany in the room.

“Skyler is your client, Bethany. Stop worrying about me and do your job,” Remo says, giving her a sideways glance before returning to me. “Did you and Giorgio eat anything while you were out?”

Shocked by the change in topic, I shake my head no.

“Let me get you something. There is food at the gala, but I doubt it will be anything you’d eat,” Remo states, but I catch the hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

This asshole is laughing at me. What does he know? I can eat fancy food if I want to! Well… maybe not snails, or oysters, or escargot… Fine. Fuck fancy food—it’s all weird!

“Thanks Remmy,” I chirp, grinning at the disapproving look he gives me, though he doesn’t argue with me about his new nickname.

Instead, he leans in and catches my chin, kissing me soundly before he walks out of the room. I gape after him, stunned that he would pull such a move, but also smug at the equally shocked look on Bethany’s face. After a moment, she collects herself and starts to pull out a few things from the large makeup trunk beside her.

“So you’re the new toy then,” Bethany comments as she starts on my makeup. “We’ve all been there before. They go to a strip club and find someone interesting to play with until someone new catches their eye.”

The small benefit of the doubt I’ve given Bethany goes flying out the goddamn window with that remark.

“Oh? Well I guess I’ll just live it up while I can. Getting taken on a shopping spree, eating amazing meals with them prepared by their personal chef—can you blame a girl for sticking around?” I ask with a shrug.

“I wouldn’t hold your breath about landing Othello though. If he catches wind that Giorgio and Remo have had their way with you, he’ll kick you to the curb so fast you won’t know what happened.”

“So the fact that he walked in on Enzo, Paolo, and I is a bad thing? Damn. And here I thought I was going to get the complete set.”

Bethany stops what she’s doing, looking at me with wide eyes. “You’ve been with all of them?”

I cross my legs and let my chin rest on my hand as I grin at her. “Oh sweetie-sugar-baby-darling… it’s far more than that. The men in this house are mine. There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell for you to land a man in this house anymore.”

“Fucking bitch!” Bethany snarls, picking up a vase off the side table and chucking it at me.

I'm more than ready to act, knowing I’ve provoked her to do something stupid, but what I hadn’t counted on was getting tackled to the ground and wrapped up in a large, masculine body.

“You must have a death wish, Bethany, because I don’t see any other outcome for attacking MY WOMAN!” Othello roars.