Villain of Secrets

by L A Cotton

  “I’m going to get a drink,” I said, leaving them to it.

  Ari called after me, but I continued weaving through the big round tables until I arrived at the sleek chrome bar.

  “What can I get you?”

  “The lady will take a vodka and cranberry,” a smooth voice said.

  I turned to meet Dane Marchetti’s smirk. “Really?” My brow lifted with amusement.

  “You look good, Nora.”

  “So do you.” Nicco’s cousin might have still been in high school, but there was no denying he had those strong Marchetti genes. Dark eyes and chiseled good looks, the ripped muscles, and tattoos. He was every bit as handsome as his cousins. But he was too young.

  Shame. He would have been the perfect distraction from my thoughts tonight.

  The bartender served my drink and fetched Dane a beer. He didn’t bat an eyelid at his age, just handed it over with a smile.

  “You gonna save me a dance later, dolcezza?”

  “You’re a real smoother talker, you know that?” My lips curved.

  “You haven’t seen nothing yet, baby.”

  “God, stop.” Laughter bubbled in my chest as I jabbed my finger at his shoulder. “Do these lines actually work on the ladies?”

  “Every single time.”

  “Color me impressed.” I tucked a stray curl behind my ear before taking a sip of my drink. The vodka burned, but I liked the way it warmed my insides.

  “I didn’t know you were coming to town for Arabella’s birthday.” Dane and his family lived in Boston.

  “I didn’t know I could until the last minute. My old man has been keeping me on a tight leash after I—”

  “Take a walk, kid,” Enzo practically growled the words.

  “Fuck you, E. I’m almost eighteen. I graduate in five months.”

  “Which makes you a kid still. I said take a wa—”

  “I’ll catch you later, Nora. Don’t forget to save me a dance.” Dane flashed me a wink before leaving me alone… with Enzo.

  “Well, that was rude,” I scolded him.

  “What the fuck are you doing?” He glared down at me.

  “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me. He’s my cousin. Are you really that desperate to snag your very own Marchetti that you’ll stoop to Dane’s level? He’s still in high school.”

  “Are you done?” My body trembled with rage as I fisted my hands at my sides to stop myself from hitting him and making a scene.

  I didn’t know how he’d managed to signal the bartender and order a drink, but Enzo picked up his glass and knocked it back in one. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he glowered at me once more. “Stay the fuck away from Dane, Nora. I mean it.”

  “Or what?” The words tumbled out.

  He leaned down into my space, so close I could smell the spicy notes of his cologne. “Or you won’t like what happens.”

  “Fuck you.” I slammed my palms against his chest, smiling up at him. “Just because you made it perfectly clear you didn’t want me, doesn’t mean there aren’t guys out there who do.”

  “Like Dane?” He scoffed. “He wouldn’t know what to do with a woman like you if he tried.”

  Not girl.

  Not chick.

  Woman.

  Why did I have to hone in on that, as if it was some kind of code for Enzo’s repressed feelings toward me?

  It wasn’t.

  The rational part of my brain knew that. It knew, and yet, the foolish part that believed in romance and fairytales and happily-ever-afters was eagerly waiting for his apology.

  “Maybe I can show him the ropes, teach him a trick or two.” I don’t know who was more surprised at my words, me or Enzo. But the air turned thick around us, making it hard to breathe.

  Enzo shook his head, running a hand through his thick dark hair. “Just stay the fuck away from my family,” he snapped, and then he walked away.

  Taking another small piece of my heart with him.

  “What’s wrong?” Ari said the second she found me over by the buffet table. I’d made myself scarce after my conversation with Enzo. Not that it could really be called a conversation. No, that would involve actually talking to each other. Instead, he’d barked at me like I was his misbehaving puppy.

  Asshole.

  The more I stewed on it, the angrier I got. The constant flow of drinks didn’t help.

  “Nothing,” I said, helping myself to another chip. “I’m fine.”

  “I’m fine usually means you’re not fine.” She gave me a pointed look. “I’m sorry I abandoned you. Nicco’s family can be a little intense.”

  She said that like it was a bad thing, when I’d spent the last thirty minutes watching how happy she looked moving between Nicco’s aunties.

  “Please, I’m a big girl, I can take care of myself. Besides, Matteo and Dane keep checking in on me.” Dane had repeatedly asked me to dance, but I’d declined. He was like a dog with a bone and I was worried if I threw him some scraps, he’d never leave me alone.

  “Did something happen… with Enzo?”

  “Like what?”

  “I don’t know, you tell me.”

  “Nothing happened.” The lie felt all wrong as it rolled off my tongue, but I didn’t want Ari to worry, or put her in the middle of Nicco and his cousin.

  Besides, nothing had happened. Not really.

  Nothing I couldn’t handle at least.

  “There you are.” Alessia appeared, her skin flushed. “What are you both doing hiding over here?”

  “Not hiding. Just… observing.”

  “Well, stop, and come dance with me.”

  “Don’t you want to enjoy the party with your friends?”

  “They’re not my friends, not really.” Her smile fell. “It’s different for Bella. Her brother isn’t… you know? I mean, kids are still wary, but they don’t completely avoid her like they do me.”

  “Fuck them,” I said, draining my drink. “If they don’t want to get to know you, that’s their loss, Sia.”

  “You’re right.” She nodded. “So, you’ll come dance?” Hope glittered in her eyes.

  “Hell yeah. Ari?”

  “You two go, I’m going to say hello to a couple more people.”

  My brows furrowed. “Sure, okay. But remember, it’s a party. You’re supposed to have fun.”

  I tried to ignore the pit in my stomach as Sia and I reached the dance floor. Bella spotted us and rushed over. “Nora, you came.” She threw her arms around my neck.

  “Uh, hey, birthday girl.” I patted her back gently before forcing her to arm’s length. “Are you drunk?”

  “Ssh, if my dad finds out he’ll lose his shit.”

  “Let me guess, Dane slipped you some drinks?”

  “Yeah, right.” She scoffed, still dancing. The bubblegum pink dress she wore looked killer with her dark raven hair and stilettos. “He wouldn’t risk getting railed at by Matteo and our cousins.”

  “True story.” Sia nodded.

  “If your brother asks, I know nothing,” I said around a tentative smile. “But please, for the love of God, don’t drink anymore.”

  “Fine. Now dance.” Bella grabbed my hand. “Dance!”

  Their enthusiasm was infectious and soon the three of us were crowded by Alessia and Arabella’s school friends and family, dancing like our lives depended on it.

  “Oh my God, I love this one,” the birthday girl yelled, pumping her fist in the air. Everyone laughed, watching as she and Sia moved into the middle of the crudely formed circle.

  But the DJ slowed it right down on the next song, playing some sappy love song that had everyone pairing off. Nicco and Ari joined us. He scooped Arianne up into his arms while Matteo grabbed Arabella before any of the younger guys could make their move. Sia intercepted Dane and forced him to dance with her. Which left me… all alone.

  My heart was heavy as I sank into the shadows and watched them. I liked to think of myself as a strong, indepe
ndent woman. I was confident in my own skin; loved my curves and lack of filter, and my quirky t-shirt collection. But standing there, watching my best friend laugh and smile with her husband and his family, twisted something inside me.

  I was happy for her, so freaking happy. But she was part of something bigger now. Her family was entwined with the Marchetti.

  She was one of them.

  An insider.

  I always knew when Ari found her wings, she would soar, but I’d never anticipated this. I was proud of her, so fucking proud. The way she handled the alpha men around her with nothing but grace and humility. She had them all eating out the palm of her hand, Antonio Marchetti included.

  Arianne had this whole other life now, and honestly, I didn’t know where I fit into that.

  A server waltzed past with another tray of drinks and I snagged one, not bothering to inspect the contents as I drained the glass dry. The liquor coursed through my veins, making everything a little blurry. But I liked the sensation, hovering between being drunk and sober, when the edges of reality began to shimmer and shift into something else.

  My eyes scanned the room, landing on Enzo. He stood immediately across from me, the sea of tables and bodies separating us. Our eyes connected and he trapped me there in his icy gaze.

  Something had happened to him. Something before losing his father in the accident. It had made local news. Vincenzo Marchetti taken too soon from his family and friends. Arianne tried to tell me Enzo was just grieving, but it didn’t explain the way he’d betrayed me with that skank.

  I didn’t know what had happened. I wasn’t allowed to know. But I knew it was something bad. He wasn’t the same Enzo I’d known a few months ago. Sure, he was still the quiet brooding mafioso, but he was different now.

  He was cold and cruel.

  It didn’t stop me from crossing the room to him though. My body hummed with electricity with every step, the thread tethering us pulling taut and reeling me in.

  When I finally reached him, he didn’t chastise me or taunt me. Enzo grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the party, out of a staff exit and down a long, empty hall. I stumbled behind him, drunk on liquid courage and high on pure lust.

  This was a bad idea.

  The worst.

  But I couldn’t stop myself. I was under his thrall, completely at his mercy.

  He grabbed a door handle at the end of the hall and pulled me inside. There wasn’t even a chance to get my bearings before he was pushing me up against the wall and pinning me there, his big hand wrapped around my throat.

  “You’re playing with fire, Gattina.” Enzo dipped his eyes to mine, searing me to the bone.

  But I wasn’t scared, not even a little bit.

  “Yeah?” I smirked, loving how his eyes danced with torment. “Well, maybe I like the burn.”

  Chapter 5

  Enzo

  She was under my skin.

  I’d watched Nora all night. Watched as Matteo and Dane continually tried to lure her onto the dance floor with the promise of a good time. I knew Matt was probably doing it to piss me off, but Dane… that kid was too fucking self-absorbed to see past his own needs.

  I knew she would be here. Arabella loved Nora. Sia too. I knew the root of their obsession with the girl with fire in her eyes and love in her heart.

  Nora was good, too fucking good. But she was also strong, and unafraid to speak her mind, determined to go after the things she wanted.

  And thank fuck, she still wanted me because the second my eyes landed on her tonight, I knew I had to have her again. I was a selfish bastard, concerned with only one thing, feeling her tight little body beneath me.

  It probably meant something different to her. She probably thought it was my way of apologizing. It wasn’t.

  It was sex.

  Nothing more, nothing less.

  “Fuck, you’re sexy.” I clawed at the skirt on her dress, trying to find her pussy.

  “And you’re moving too slow,” she hissed, grabbing my hand and guiding it to her damp panties. “God, yes,” she cried as I rubbed her over the lacy material.

  Of course, she was wearing lace. I smirked. Nora was good, but she was also as dirty as fuck. It’s why I wanted a repeat. The sex had been mind-blowing. I could use that kind of tension reliever tonight.

  Dipping my fingers into the lace, I curled two inside her wet heat, rolling my thumb over her clit.

  “Enzo, God…” she breathed, her head rolling back against the wall with a thud.

  “Guardami.” I growled, squeezing her throat gently. It would be so easy to snap her neck, to watch the life drain from her hypnotic eyes.

  Fuck, what was wrong with me?

  I didn’t want to kill Nora. I didn’t even want to hurt her. But killing my old man, pulling that trigger and watching his brain splatter all over the wall, had flipped something inside me. Unleashed a darkness I wasn’t sure I could contain.

  “What is it?” she panted. “What’s wrong?”

  I hadn’t even realized I’d pulled away until her voice pulled me from my thoughts. “Enzo?”

  “Fuck,” I grunted. “Fuck! This was a bad idea.”

  Nora scoffed, the sound so bitter and twisted it was like a punch to the gut. “You don’t want me, is that it?”

  My eyes narrowed. I needed to leave. I needed to get the hell out of here before I did or said something I couldn’t take back.

  “Talk to me, E, please.” Her expression softened, her bedroom eyes promising me things I had no right wanting. “I’ve been hoping we can talk. I’m so so sorry about your—”

  I froze, red hot fury flooding me. “You shouldn’t have come here with me.” She flinched at my harsh tone. “Go back to the party, Nora.” Please, I’m begging you.

  “Seriously?” Her voice trembled. “You want me to go back out there and find another guy to keep me company? Dane was more than willing—”

  I flew at her, grabbing her around the throat and pinning her to the wall. “Don’t push me, Gattina.”

  “Why, what are you going to do? Hurt me? I’m shaking in my—”

  I crashed my mouth down on Nora’s, swallowing her sassy words. Stealing the very air from her lungs. She was fucking crazy, always pushing. Acting as if she didn’t care about the way I treated her.

  Why the fuck didn’t she care?

  She kissed me back with as much anger and frustration as I was drowning in, the two of us locked in a duel for dominance. Our tongues curled together, teeth nipping and lips sliding together with enough friction to start a wildfire.

  “More,” Nora rasped, fisting my shirt and erasing every sliver of space between us, until the hard lines of my body were pressed up against every soft curve she had.

  Fuck, she felt good.

  She wasn’t supposed to feel this good.

  “Use me,” she gripped my jaw, raking her fingers over my scruff. “Use me, E. Take what you need.”

  She didn’t know what she was asking. I wasn’t the guy she knew before. I was different now. Changed by death.

  Changed by murder.

  Nora’s hand went to my jeans and she popped the buttons like a pro. I didn’t like to think about how she was so good at this stuff… I didn’t like to think about her full stop. But she was there, in the back of my mind like a nightmare that I couldn’t escape.

  It’s just sex, that’s all it can ever be.

  Her hand found its way into my jeans and she wrapped her fingers around my dick. “You want me,” she teased, her lips peppering hot wet kisses all over my neck.

  “I want what you can give me,” I ground out, my hand flat against the wall as she pumped me harder. But Nora used my precarious position to her advantage and swung us around, so I was pressed up against the wall, completely at her mercy.

  “What are you—”

  She dropped to her knees and grinned up at me as she freed my dick. Fuck, she was beautiful.

  Why did she have to be so fucking beautiful? />
  “Don’t just look it at,” I barked, the words rough against my throat. “Suck it.”

  Nora rolled her eyes at me before running her tongue over the tip. A sharp hiss escaped my lips as she took me into her mouth, hollowing her cheeks.

  “Fuuuuck.” The word reverberated in my chest as I tried to catch my breath. But she was too damn good at this, at making me forget my own goddamn name.

  My fingers slid into her thick, silky curls, guiding her deeper over my length. Not that she needed any encouragement, Nora couldn’t get enough of me. And don’t even get me started on those little groans of pleasure vibrating from her pouty lips.

  “Yeah, just like that.” I relaxed against the wall, letting the sensations carry me away to somewhere else.

  Her free hand curled around the back of my thigh, pulling me closer.

  “Fuck, Gattina, I’m gonna… fuck.” My chest heaved as blinding pleasure shot down my spine. Nora didn’t miss a beat, swallowing me down like she’d been born to do it.

  When she finally released me, her lust-drunk gaze lifted to mine. “Hmm.” She grinned, dabbing the corner of her mouth with her thumb.

  “Come here.” I lifted Nora to her feet and slid my hand along the side of her neck, brushing my thumb over her pulse point. The air crackled between us, taunting me with all the things she wanted to give me that I would never allow myself to take.

  Because this right here—stolen touches in the dark—would be all I could offer her. And no girl was cut out for that life.

  Not even ones as strong as Nora.

  My hand skated down her spine, fitting her body impossibly close to mine. There was something settling about feeling a woman’s curves.

  “How do you want me, Gattina? Slow and deep, or hard and fast?”

  Nora’s eyes glittered with desire, her skin flushed and breathing shallow.

  “However I can get you,” she whispered, her words like a poisoned arrow through my heart.

  Because she meant it.

  Nora meant every single fucking word.

  My hand disappeared under her skirt, finding the soft flesh of her thighs, but Nora snagged my wrist. “No, E. I want you.”