by L A Cotton
A derisive snort crawled up my throat.
“So it’s not… true?”
“What do you think?” I narrowed my eyes, shucking on my jacket. I remembered kissing her, running my hands over her tight little body. But I couldn’t remember much after that.
Fuck. I’d been totally wasted.
“I’m thinking you should stay here and finish what you started last night,” she damn near purred.
So we hadn’t fucked then.
I didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed.
She must have had her mouth on my dick though because most of the tension I’d felt talking to Matteo last night had dissipated. Even if the jealousy sat heavy in my chest, coiled around my heart like barbed wire.
“No can do, dolcezza, I gotta go. Stay though. Order room service. Take a shower.” But be gone when I get back.
“You’ll come back to me?”
“I don’t think so, Blondie. This could take a while.”
She pouted. “Well, if you want some company later, I could always leave my number.”
“Yeah, you do that.” I motioned to the notepad by the telephone. “I gotta go.”
She flopped back with an exasperated breath, but I didn’t wait around to hear her complaints. I’d stay away long enough to hope she was gone when I got back, and if she wasn’t, I’d give it to her straight.
I wasn’t interested in anything more than she gave me last night.
Gino was already waiting in reception. The grim expression on his face told me all I needed to know. He suspected Alejandro. Which meant whoever he was working with, or for, they were upping the ante and this time it was personal.
It couldn’t have been a coincidence we were drinking at DiMarco’s last night, right before it was hit.
They were watching us, taunting us… which changed everything.
“What’s the plan?” I asked, noting it was just the two of us.
“We go check it out before the cops arrive. I already spoke with Toni. We keep this between us for now, just you and me, okay?”
My brows furrowed. “What aren’t you telling me?”
He gave me a sympathetic look and said, “Let’s go.”
DiMarco’s was a mess. Whoever had been here had caused thousands of dollars worth of damage, smashing the mirrored walls and glass shelves housing Zander’s impressive range of liquor. Chairs lay overturned and tables were at strange angles. It looked like a herd of wild animals had stormed right through the place.
“Jesus Christ.” Glass crunched under Gino’s boots as we made our way toward the back office. “Zander?” he called.
“In here.” He sounded pissed.
We found him in his office, standing in the middle of the room with his back to us. “I think it’s for you.” His eyes caught mine over his shoulder.
“Say what?” I frowned.
“That.” He jabbed his finger toward the far wall. I stepped closer, certain my eyes were deceiving me. But sure enough, there scrawled in blood red were the words, ‘like father, like son.’
“This is what you wanted me to see?” I pinned Gino with a hard look.
“I wanted you to see it before we scrub it.”
“Fuck.” I ran a hand down my head and cupped my neck. This was bad, very fucking bad.
“You think this has something to do with my—” I hesitated, glancing at Zander.
“Seriously? My place just got fucking trashed because of yo—”
“Basta!” Gino hissed. “This is not Enzo’s doing, and you’d do well to remember who he is.”
“Yeah, yeah, my bad.” Zander held up his hands in defense. “As long as the insurance covers it, it’s all good.”
Gino tsked, moving closer. “Give us the room for a second,” he said with an air of authority.
“Come on, Gino, this is my fucking—”
“I said, give us the room.”
“Yeah, whatever. I’ll be out front.” He took off, but Gino called after him, “And don’t fucking touch anything.”
“You good, kid?” He asked, the second Zander was gone.
“They know,” I said, disbelief coating my words. “How the fuck do they know?”
Only a handful of people knew about my father’s betrayal. In years gone by, if a man betrayed omertà, his death would be broadcast across the Family as a reminder of what happened to traitors. But times were different, and Uncle Toni tried to rule with respect instead of fear.
“They’re clearly more connected than we first thought.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “That or—”
“No, don’t say it.” My eyes finally tore away from the scrawl and slid to Gino. “Don’t you fucking say it.”
“We have to consider it, kid.”
“My father.” This could all be his doing.
Fuck.
My boot flew out connecting with the leg of the chair. Pain shot through my big toe and skittered up my leg but it barely registered.
“Better?”
“Not in the slightest.”
“We’ll get them, Enzo. Whoever is behind this, we’ll get them. And when we do—”
“I put a bullet between their fucking eyes.”
“Rein it in, kid. Harness all that anger and frustration, because something tells me you’re gonna need it. Let’s get this cleaned up before the cops get here. The last thing we need is them sticking their nose in where it doesn’t belong.”
Gino scanned the office before strolling toward Zander’s drinks cabinet. He grabbed a wad of tissue paper out of the box and poured expensive whisky over it before moving to the mirror and scrubbing away all evidence of the message.
“Get rid of this.” He thrust the soggy tissue paper at me. “I’ll speak to Zander. You stay cool, okay? We came to assist Zander. That’s all. I’m counting on you not to screw this up, kid.”
Without a word, I crossed the room and slipped outside. Zander was hovering in the hall. His eyes collided with me and he blanched.
“Problem?” My brow rose. I wasn’t afraid of these guys. They might have been older and wiser, but with the amount of anger and thirst for vengeance fueling me, I was deadlier.
“I don’t even know where to start.” His shady expression gave way to defeat. “This bar is my whole world.”
“Let the cops do their job and then we’ll send in someone to help you.” Because no matter how irritating or shady somebody was, we looked after our own.
“Have you checked in on all the girls? Did everyone get home okay?”
“I can’t get hold of Cait.” His eyes dropped to the cell in his hand.
“Cait?” I hadn’t heard that name in the last few days.
“She’s my… she’s one of my best girls. If you know what I’m saying.” His lip curved with wicked intent.
God, I fucking hated this asshole.
“You want me to go check on her?”
“You’d do that?”
I shrugged. “Beats being here when the cops show up.” Even if they sent over someone on our payroll, they still made me antsy.
“She lives on Jefferson Street, Park View Apartments. I just want to know she’s okay.”
My brows furrowed. “She someone to you?”
“Like I said, she’s one of my best girls, and I protect my interests.”
I bet you do. Sleazy motherfucker.
Growing up, once Nicco, Matteo, and I were given more responsibility in the Family, I’d always wondered why Uncle Toni aligned himself with guys like DiMarco. He was only out to line his own pocket. But Providence was Marchetti territory and it’s just how business went. Plus, guys like DiMarco collected enemies like I collected shiny new sharp-edged toys to play with.
“I’ll head over there and make sure she’s okay.”
Something flashed over his face, and his whole posture shifted. “Actually,” he scrubbed his jaw, “I’m sure she’s fine. I’ll call her ag—”
“It’s fine, I got it. I’ll call as
soon as I get over there and check it out.” I regarded him for a second. DiMarco was usually the epitome of cool, calm, and collected, but he seemed a little ruffled and I couldn’t work out if it was because of the break-in… or because of Cait.
“What’s her full name?”
“Caitlin,” he let out a derisive sigh. “Caitlin O’Connell.”
“I’m on it. Tell Gino, I’ll be back soon.”
I didn’t wait for his reply, walking straight out of the bar and into the brisk morning air. Dragging in a deep lungful, I gave myself a second before checking my maps app on my cell and taking off in the direction of Caitlin’s apartment building.
Gino would probably kick my ass when I got back to DiMarco’s, but I needed air. I needed space to fucking think after seeing that message scrawled on the wall. It wasn’t done in blood, despite its red coloring. Fresh blood had this smell. A coppery metallic twang that permeated the air.
It was a smell you didn’t ever forget.
Pulling out a smoke, I lit it up and inhaled a deep hit. Everyone was right, I needed to kick this habit. It made my skin stink, and my lungs burn… but I needed the routine. I needed to keep myself distracted. Because in the moments of silence, when everything was still, the memory of that night threatened to pull me under so far, I wouldn’t ever make it back out in one piece.
I crossed the street and double checked the map. I was close. Caitlin lived around here somewhere. I’d been so desperate to get the fuck out of DiMarco’s it hadn’t occurred to me how odd it would seem, me turning up at a stranger’s door. But I only needed proof she was okay, then I could take a slow walk back to the bar.
Stepping up to the buzzer, I pressed her number and waited. When no one answered, I pressed it again.
Still nothing.
Some guy slipped out of the building, so I waited for him to pass and then stuck my hand out to catch the door, ducking inside. I took two steps at a time until I arrived outside her apartment. I knocked on the door and waited.
Finally, I heard shuffling on the other side, and the door cracked open. “Can I help you?”
It was dark inside, her face cloaked in shadows, but her green eyes glittered up at me.
“DiMarco sent me,” I said. “There was an incident at the bar.”
“Incident?” She kept the door firmly in place, like a shield between us.
“Are you okay?” I asked. “Zander said you didn’t answer his call for you to check-in.”
“I… I should go. You can tell him I’m fine.” She went to close the door, but my hand shot out, steadying it.
“Wait.” There was something familiar about her. Gently, I pushed the door open further, forcing her to sidestep the damn thing.
“You.”
Her breath hitched as she met my confused gaze. “Please,” she begged. “Just tell him you saw me and that I’m fine.”
My hand shot out, capturing her chin. I stared at her, my brows furrowed, and growled, “Tell me what the fuck happened.”
Chapter 12
Nora
“Morning,” Luca said as I joined him at the breakfast counter.
“Why are you so fresh and awake and I’m… ugh, my head hurts.”
He chuckled and shoved a glass of water and a couple of pain pills toward me. “Take these. It’ll help.”
He leaned back against the counter, watching me with those warm hazel eyes of his.
“Things got a little crazy, huh?”
“You could say that.” After we’d gotten back to his apartment, Lucii had challenged the guys to beer pong. Only, Luca had no beer, so it became tequila pong. I’d crashed out after a couple of rounds and vaguely remembered someone carrying me into the guest bedroom.
“Thank you, for putting me to bed,” I said.
“You remember that?” His brow arched.
“I remember… bits. I didn’t do anything too embarrassing, did I?”
“I never kiss and tell.” A faint smirk traced his lips.
“We didn’t…” My cheeks burned.
“Relax,” he chuckled, “you tried to kiss my face off, but I was the perfect gentleman.”
“I did not,” I gasped, and Luca’s laughter only increased.
“You’re teasing me.” My brows furrowed, but relief seeped into me.
“I couldn’t resist. Nothing happened. I don’t take advantage of drunk girls. Even if they’re as cute as you.”
“Luca…”
“Nora…”
The air crackled with tension. I was ready to change the subject when Lucii breezed into the kitchen looking as fresh as a daisy.
“Why am I sitting here with a nest on my head,” my hand went to my hair, trying to take the wild curls from my face, “and you two look like… like that.”
“Good genes.” Lucii shrugged, completely at home in a guy’s kitchen. “Is there coffee?”
“I just made a fresh pot and I’m making pancakes.”
“My hero.” They shared a smile, and something twisted inside of me.
Luca wasn’t mine… I had no right to feel jealous of their small interaction.
But did I want him to be mine?
That was the question I’d grappled with all night as we’d sat around until the early hours playing beer pong and listening to Nate regale us with stories of his college days.
“Where is Nate?” I asked her, because the last thing I remembered was the two of them getting up close and personal on Luca’s couch.
“He already left.”
“Oh. Are you seeing him again?” I teased.
“Maybe.” She shrugged.
“Well, before you leave, you can disinfect my couch.” Luca gave her a pointed look and the three of us burst into laughter.
“It was a fun night. We should do it again. Although we might have to find a girl for Isaac next time. I kinda got the impression he didn’t come because he didn’t want to play fifth wheel.”
“Fifth wheel?” The words spilled out, even though I knew exactly what she was getting at.
Luca cleared his throat and turned around to tend to the pancakes. Lucii shot me an amused look, but I ducked my head, nursing my glass of water.
“Good thing we don’t have classes until late morning,” I said. “I’m not sure I could handle it.”
“Nothing giant sunglasses, a strong coffee, and some Advil won’t fix.” She grinned. “I’m going to use the bathroom.”
“Can you remember where it is?” Luca asked, and she nodded.
“I think I’m just going to go…” I got up but the room span. My hand shot out to steady myself, but Luca was there, gripping my shoulders as he stared down at me with concern in his eyes.
“You good?”
“I… yeah, thank you.”
“You know, I wanted to ask—”
“Your apartment is so—my bad, am I interrupting something?”
We both turned to meet Lucii’s suggestive grin.
“Uh, no, I just felt a little lightheaded. I’m going to head back to my apartment though and take a shower. I’ll see you in class later?”
“Sure thing.”
“But I made pancakes.” Luca frowned, but I was already backing away from him.
I smiled weakly. “Maybe another time.”
I hurried down the hall into the guest bedroom and gathered up my purse, shoes, and cell phone and slipped out of Luca’s apartment.
Last night had been fun… but something had changed between us. The invisible line between us blurring. I was attracted to him, that was a given. He was handsome, and sweet, and good.
But there was just one glaring issue.
He wasn’t Enzo.
“You should eat something,” Ari said, concern lacing her words.
“I’m fine.” I pushed the plate away from me and let out an exhausted sigh. “I’m just tired.”
And classes so far today had been killer.
“You’re burning the candle at both ends… you can’t—”<
br />
“It was one night, babe. One night. Besides, it’s freshman year. This is exactly what I’m supposed to be doing. Next year is for the hard work. This year is for partying and finding yourself.”
“You did a pretty good job of finding yourself last night.”
“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?” I didn’t like the judgment in her tone.
Ari’s expression softened. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just worried about you. You’re all alone in the apartment. Luca is—”
“He’s good people, Ari. And he likes me. At least, I think he does. Is that so hard to believe?”
“Of course it isn’t.” She jerked back as if I’d slapped her. “Why would you even ask that?”
“I’m just grouchy.”
“You mean hungover.”
“Yeah, that too.” My eyes fluttered closed. “Is it so wrong I let my hair down for a night?”
“Not at all. I just hope you’re doing it for you and not to escape.”
My eyes snapped open. “Say what?”
“I know you Nora. I’m your best friend. What happened with Enzo—”
“I think that ship has sailed, babe. He left.”
He freaking left without uttering a word. I didn’t ever imagine I was the kind of girl who could make a guy like Enzo stay… but a goodbye? That wasn’t too much to ask.
“He did. And honestly, I want to say it’s a good thing. But I can see you’re hurting, and that makes you vulnerable.”
“If you’re worried about my honor, you needn’t be. I lost my v-card in high school and it was completely unmemorable.” I laughed, bitterly.
“Nora.” Ari didn’t join me. “I’m serious. Luca seems like a good guy. All I’m saying is if you jump into something with him, what happens when Enzo comes back?”
I suspected a whole lot of nothing. Whatever we had, or might have had, was gone. I saw it when he walked away from me at Arabella’s party.
“Can we talk about something else? This is hurting my head,” I grumbled.
“Here, take this.” She slung a box of pills across the table. Luis was watching us from his position at the doors leading in and out of the food court. Students came and went either not noticing him or accepting his presence without question. I guess that’s what happened when you went to school with a local celebrity.