by Cora Reilly
I approached Nestore carefully. My white sneakers were ruined after only a few steps. Annoyed, I grasped his shoulder. He jerked up to his feet and tried to punch me. I blocked the assault then got in his face. “Snap out of it, asshole. Or you’ll be the one with the gaping hole in your throat.”
Nestore’s eyes focused on me, finally. That creepy out of sorts expression freaked even me out. He stepped back and walked past me then climbed out of the cage as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
I followed after him. We needed to have a talk, only not in front of hundreds of spectators.
“Who’s going to clean up the mess?” Roger called after me.
“Don’t pretend you didn’t make a fortune tonight. Pay someone to wipe away the shit.”
I stepped into the locker room after Nestore. He was already peeling out of his fighting shorts, still ignoring me. If I didn’t know the guy, I’d have thought it was a show of disrespect.
“This wasn’t a death fight, Nestore. Just like your last fight wasn’t a death fight. You need to get a grip.”
He looked up. “He got into a cage with me. He wanted to die.”
“I don’t give a fuck what he wanted. We didn’t declare it a death fight. That means you won’t kill. We make the rules, Nestore. If you want to rip out people’s throats, fight your battles in L.A., not here. For now, you’re banned from fighting in the Arena.”
“If that’s what my Capo wants,” Nestore said indifferently.
I wasn’t sure if that was what Remo wanted, but someone needed to be the voice of reason here, and as usual, that wasn’t going to be my brother. No one would have allowed a man like Nestore to become Underboss.
I turned on my heel and left Nestore so he could clean up. Outside, Diego was already waiting for me. Judging from the pissed expression, his father had called him.
He barred my way. “Why didn’t you get me when you found Gemma here?”
“Because you were busy disregarding your traditions with Dakota.” Fury flickered across his face. It pissed him off when I reminded him of his hypocrisy, but someone had to.
“My father blames me for it!”
“He’ll get over it. He’s turned a blind eye on all of your nightly activities so far.”
“I can do what I want, but this is about Gemma. I hope you kept your fucking hands to yourself when you took her home.”
I didn’t bother with a reply. Not only because Diego’s interrogation rubbed me the wrong way, but also because I wasn’t sure if he wouldn’t realize that my intentions toward Gemma had shifted.
Mick followed me toward the bar. I slanted him a look.
“You didn’t touch her, right?” His voice held a strange note. I couldn’t tell if it was anxiety or curiosity.
“Why do you care?”
He gave a shrug.
I scoffed. “Don’t tell me you’ve got the hots for her?”
He flushed. “She’s the hottest girl in Vegas.”
That was true. “She’s off limits.”
“So, you’re not going to ask for her hand?”
I choked on my drink, chuckling. “Hell, no. I won’t marry anyone.”
“Dad, please,” I said when it was only him and I at the breakfast table. “I’ve been grounded for two weeks. I only wanted to help Toni.”
Of course, Dad had ground me indefinitely after Savio had dropped me off. Mom hadn’t cried, but her eyes had glistened and that was almost as bad. Nonna was still sending me disappointed looks whenever she thought I was being too perky.
Why had Savio shoved his nose into my business? I’d always dreamed about him showing interest for me, but not in this way. I didn’t need another crazy protector. Diego was bad enough.
I was angry, not just because of Savio ratting me out but also because of his words. He’d made it sound as if the thought of marrying me was too horrid to even consider.
Dad narrowed his eyes. “You worked in Roger’s Arena, Gemma. That’s not a small thing. We don’t need those kinds of rumors about you, especially because I’ve started looking for a husband for you.”
I almost choked on my tea. “You promised to wait until I found someone.”
Dad shook his head. “It’s been one year, angelo mio, and the only one you’re interested in is Savio.”
“He’s a good catch.”
Dad sighed. “He’s a Falcone. He doesn’t share our values. Other men have already inquired about you. He hasn’t.”
“Can’t you mention it to him? Casually, I mean. Maybe he doesn’t realize that he can ask for me.” That was stupid of course. Savio knew about the rules in our world, even if he preferred to ignore them.
“All right. I’ll mention it next time I see him, and I’ll tell Diego to do the same, but that’s all we can do. The man has to ask for your hand. You are too precious to throw yourself at someone.”
“I know, Dad.” Problem was the alternative was spending my life with a man I didn’t want, and that seemed an even less desirable option.
Diego walked in, shrugging his jacket over. “Hurry up, or you’ll be late.”
I gave Dad a kiss on the cheek then followed Diego out toward his Ford. He brought me to school and picked me up from there every single day. Since the Arena incident, he was even more vigilant than usual. I wasn’t even allowed to ride in Toni’s car anymore. Inmates had more freedom than I did.
“Dad won’t reduce your time.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not a prisoner.”
Diego shook his head. “If you don’t stop changing into other clothes in school, then we’ll have to start locking you in.”
I made an innocent face.
“Bag it. Sierra told me you’re wearing jeans in school.”
I couldn’t believe her! She was such a snitch. My cousin loved to shove her nose in my business. “It’s just jeans and a sweater. These clothes make me feel out of place.” I motioned at my dress. It wasn’t a bad dress, no frills, bows or strange colors, but most girls didn’t wear modest dresses in school. I wanted to wear jeans and shirts like everyone else did. Diego didn’t say anything. I’d have a serious talk to Sierra today. Checking out my reflection in the side window, I took out my hairband and fluffed up my hair, then applied a touch of lipgloss.
“Will you stop the shit? You’re so fucking blind and naïve, Gemma,” Diego growled.
“What’s gotten into you? I didn’t do anything.”
“Fluffing up your hair and applying lipstick isn’t nothing.”
Had he lost his mind now? My bewilderment must have shown because he shook his head. “You really don’t get it. I suppose I should be glad.”
“Can you just tell me what I did?”
“You’re driving guys crazy, Gemma. You don’t even realize how many threats I have to hand out every day to keep guys from undressing you with their eyes.”
I laughed, thinking he was pulling my leg but his face was dead serious. “Really?” I asked, thrilled and embarrassed at once. Savio had hit on me that day, but I’d thought it was a fluke. “Guys never hit on me.”
“Because they know what’ll happen if they do,” Diego said in a voice that sent a little shiver down my back.
“Was that why you were in that fight?” A couple of days ago, he’d come home with a split lip from a meeting with several other Camorrista in his age. He hadn’t been very forthcoming with information.
“Yeah, a few guys voted you hottest piece of ass and aspiring sex bomb.”
“Oh.”
“And no, Savio wasn’t one of them!” Diego hit the steering wheel.
“I didn’t ask if he was.”
Diego parked the car in the school parking lot. “You were about to.”
I didn’t deny it. I could see that Diego wanted to say more, but then he just shook his head. “You’ll be late.”
I got out. Toni was already waiting for me. I rushed toward her, eager to get away from Diego’s brand of crazy. We hugged, then she scanned
my face. “What’s the matter?”
“My brother’s been intolerable all morning.”
“Isn’t he always?” She looked pointedly toward the Ford, which was still parked at the curb despite other cars honking behind it.
“We should go inside. He won’t leave until we do.”
Toni and I linked arms before we headed into the building.
“If you’re looking for the Amish commune, this is the wrong way,” Noemi said, her little posse of friends surrounding her. The idea that Diego was making out with her older sister made me want to gag.
I ignored her. If I didn’t, I’d punch her, and I’d promised Dad that wouldn’t happen again. If I wanted to be on time for class, I didn’t have time to change.
Later in recess, Toni and I sat at our usual table in the corner, and I was finally out of my dress and wearing jeans and a sweater. “Dad has started looking for a husband for me.”
Toni choked on her iced tea. “What?”
“I’m sixteen. Usually girls are already promised at that age.”
“What about Savio?” She’d lowered her voice another notch. Nobody knew of my crush on him and I preferred it to stay that way. I didn’t need more rumors about me.
I pushed my vegetables around on the plate. “He hasn’t asked yet.”
“You need to up your game, Gemma. Flirt with him. Savio’s brain is wired differently. He’s used to girls throwing themselves at him.”
“I don’t want to throw myself at him. The guy has to make the first move.”
Toni sighed. “Maybe he needs a tiny nudge to make the first move. Do you want to risk being promised to someone else?”
“Of course not,” I gasped. “But it’ll probably take many months for Dad to find a viable suitor. It’s not like I have a long list of admirers.”
Toni rolled her eyes. “Too many hits against your head during training, eh?” She pointed her fork at something behind me. I turned, finding a group of jocks staring at me. Flushing, I jerked back around. “Some of them aren’t Italian. And the others are too young. They need to be a couple of years older.”
“I didn’t say you were supposed to marry any of them. I was just making a point.”
I didn’t quite get her point. Even if these guys were checking me out, that didn’t help me with Savio.
I poured myself some orange juice when I heard male voices coming from the living room. One of them was Savio. Following them, I returned to my previous homework spot only to find Savio and Diego lounging on the sofa, bag of chips in their hand, and zapping through the TV programs. My books and notebook lay discarded on the floor as if someone had shoved them off without care.
If Diego had been alone, I would have thrown myself at him and tried to choke him with a throw pillow, but with Savio being present, I had to opt for a more ladylike option.
I stalked into the room, but both boys ignored me pointedly.
“Why did you throw my stuff down?”
Diego and Savio briefly glanced up before they returned their focus to a video on the screen of some shitty rapper who was surrounded by half-dressed girls. Nonna would lose it if she saw.
“They were in the way,” Diego said as if in an afterthought.
“I was doing homework.”
“Then do it somewhere else. Go into the kitchen, that’s a place where you have more business being anyway.”
I couldn’t believe him. He was trying to impress Savio by being an asshole. Savio’s mouth turned into that arrogant smile that always made my stupid heart speed up.
“I was here first,” I said, crossing my arms in front of my chest as I barred their view of the TV. Savio wasn’t as much as glancing my way. I might as well have been air. My outfit wasn’t really good for impressing anyone: sweatpants and a hoodie, but I hadn’t expected Savio to come visit. Diego mostly met somewhere else with him and Mick nowadays.
“Gemma, stop being a bitch, and move your ass away.”
Savio briefly looked up, and our eyes met. Butterflies danced in my stomach like they always did. His expression was unreadable. Not the familiar smirk or arrogant smile. Then he returned his attention to the TV.
“If you don’t go, then you’ll have to live with my presence,” I said. Before I had time to think about it, I sank down on Savio’s lap. Diego’s sharp intake of breath made me smile, but it died when Savio’s arm came around my waist. Shock shot through me. I hadn’t expected him to react that way. Shove me away? Yes. Shock? Yes. Pulling me closer as if I belonged on top of him? No.
My gaze darted over to him and he leaned back against the headrest, pulling me with him. His eyes met mine and there was something in them that had me swallow thickly.
He didn’t seem fazed by me sitting on his lap in the slightest. Of course not, Savio was used to girls being on his lap, but usually with less clothing and more hip rotation. His eyes held mine, the sexy infuriating smile on his face. Butterflies filled my belly at our proximity. This was the first time I sat on a guy’s lap, on Savio’s lap, and it felt good. I could feel his muscles through our clothing, the strength in his body, and his warmth. God, he felt so good. I wanted to lean into him, bury my face in his neck.
“What the fuck is wrong with you, Gemma? Get up!” Diego growled, grabbing my wrist in a bruising grip before he scowled at Savio. “And you take your fucking fingers off her waist or I’ll break them.”
Oh no. Tension shot through Savio’s body and his hold on my waist tightened further as he slowly sat up with me still on his lap. “Try it.”
The threat in Savio’s voice stunned me. I touched his forearm, fingertips brushing the scars there, and his expression, still fixed on my brother, became even harsher.
My eyes darted between my brother and Savio, realizing this had just turned dead serious for them. This was going to turn into a testosterone-fueled shitfest. And no offense to Diego, who was a nasty piece of shit in the fighting ring, but I had seen Savio in the cage. He was a Falcone, and fighting was in his blood, and so was a talent to destroy his opponents with words and fists.
If those two ever killed each other, it wouldn’t be because of me. I jammed my heel down on Savio’s foot. He grunted and loosened his hold on my waist, giving me the chance to jump to my feet and ram my fist into Diego’s stomach, causing him to groan and jerk back.
“You are idiots.”
I whirled around and stomped upstairs. I needed to get away from Savio before I did something even stupider.
Diego was breathing hard beside me as he stared after Gemma who rushed up the stairs. My eyes, too, followed her ascent, unable to tear myself away from the outline of her ass in those sweatpants. Gemma made even those look sexy.
She was a goddamn enigma.
In all the time I’d known her, she never said ‘fuck’. With everyone else, I’d have rolled my fucking eyes hearing the word ‘fudge’ as a curse, but she made it work. That girl loved to fight and could throw a mean punch, and yet at the same time, she loved to watch those vomit-inducing chic-flicks featuring those pussies claiming to be men and the color pink. I didn’t even know there were boxing gloves in pink.
Gemma was the hottest girl in the city and didn’t even realize it. She was the girl I wanted most and couldn’t have.
Diego narrowed his eyes at me, still standing over me.
I leaned back again, cocking a brow.
“Don’t ever touch her again.”
I rose slowly, stepping up to him. “Or what?”
Diego looked like he was considering murdering me. “If you don’t honor our values, if you don’t respect that our women are off limits unless they are your woman, then you can’t come over anymore. I’ll have to protect Gemma at all costs. If you pose a risk to her, our friendship has to end.”
“Pose a risk to her?” I scoffed. “She sat on my lap. I didn’t pull her down, and I didn’t touch her inappropriately, Diego. I wrapped an arm around her waist.”
“That’s already too much,” he mutter
ed. “Gemma doesn’t know what she’s doing. She doesn’t realize how you’ll take it if she sits on your lap.”
“How do I take it?”
“You’ll think she might be up for more or that she’s hitting on you.”
“She is hitting on me. We both know it.”
Diego tensed.
“Calm the fuck down, asshole. I know Gemma isn’t up for more. But you know as well as I do that she’s got a crush on me.”
“It doesn’t matter. You can’t have her—unless you marry her.”
I laughed and sank back down on the couch. Lifting my shirt, I clapped my hand on my bull tattoo peeking out. “This bull won’t ever be chained to one woman.”
Diego rolled his eyes but finally sat down as well. “Believe me, I know. Now only Gemma has to get it in her stubborn head. Maybe it’ll sink in once Dad’s found a husband for her.”
“He’s looking?” I asked, trying to determine why I felt the urge to crush something.
“Yeah.” Diego regarded me.
I relaxed against the headrest with a shrug. “He’d better know how to throw a punch or she’s going to bulldoze him.”
I couldn’t imagine Gemma with a guy, with another guy. Having her on my lap had felt fucking good, and her reaction had been cute, the way she’d tensed in shock when I’d wrapped my arm around her and then softened after a moment.
“Gemma won’t be allowed to keep fighting once she’s promised. Most men don’t allow their women something like that, especially Traditionalists.”
Diego shrugged, but he was looking at me in a way I didn’t like one bit.
Diego was already parked at the curb when Toni and I walked out of school on the last day before the summer holidays. I hugged her before she headed for her bike and I got into the car.
Diego drove off at once, honking when a few kids didn’t cross the street fast enough.
“Bad mood?” I asked.
“Not yet. But that’ll probably change today.”
He was referring to his training with Savio. Diego wanted me to stay away from him and in the last four months, he’d succeeded.