by Ella Jade
“There you are.” Rita stood next to me. “We’re going to get a table.”
“Okay.” I tucked my hair behind my ear, wishing I could go home and read my book. I’d been in places like this with men like Bobby and his crew. They were more trouble than they were worth. After my last relationship, if you could call it that, I promised myself no more boys pretending they were gangsters. I had a great job that paid really well. I didn’t need any drama.
“What were you doing with him?” Bobby asked.
“Saying hello.” Was it any of his business?
“I consider it rude that you would leave me to go and say hello to Santino.” Bobby moved closer to me. “That’s not the best way to start the evening.”
“Why would you care?” Did he think this was some sort of date? “I can talk to whoever I want.”
His friends’ laughter encouraged his rude behavior.
“Bobby, she’s gonna be wild,” one said.
“I’m counting on it.” He took me by the arm. “Let’s get a table, just the two of us. I want to get to know that fiery personality better.”
“I don’t think so.” I tried to struggle out of his hold. “Let go of me, right now.”
“Or what?” He smirked. “Is your friend going to come over here and make me?”
“Not that I need his assistance but I’ll bet he’s more of a man than you’ll ever be.”
More laughter came from the group behind him.
“Give me a chance to prove you wrong,” he insisted. “You won’t remember his name when I’m done with you.”
When he tightened his grip on my arm, I yanked away, causing him to lose his hold on me and in the process his drink ended up all down the front of my sheer white shirt.
“Shit!” I instinctively covered my chest with my arms. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“He clearly has no manners but I can fix that.” Santino grabbed Bobby’s throat before I even saw him coming. “Isn’t that right, dirtbag?”
Bobby pulled at Santino’s hand that was firmly positioned at his windpipe, failing to get Santino to let go.
“Santino.” I placed my hand on his shoulder, trying to stop him. His rigid muscles bulged under my touch. “It’s okay.”
Dominick gently took my arm and guided me to stand behind him. “You’re not going to get him to stop.”
“He can’t breathe,” one of Bobby’s friends said but no one interfered.
“Maybe he should have thought about that before he put his hands on the lady.” Santino tightened his hold, causing Bobby to gasp for air.
“Santino,” Dominick ordered. “That’s enough.”
As soon as his brother spoke, Santino released his grasp. Staring down at Bobby, his voice was deep, almost menacing when he said, “Apologize to Luca.”
Bobby cleared his throat and without making eye contact with me mumbled, “I’m sorry.”
A strange exhilaration came over me. I wanted to say I was shaking because I was afraid but that wasn’t it. Watching Santino come to my defense made him all the more attractive to me. Am I crazy? This is exactly why I swore off men like these.
Santino came over to me as Dominick spoke to Bobby. “We’re going to consider this unfortunate event a misunderstanding. Santino could have overreacted but he didn’t. I could have let him overreact but I didn’t. Do you see how that works?”
Bobby nodded, looking a lot less confident than he had a few minutes ago.
“I want you to remember tonight very clearly.” Dominick glanced at Bobby’s friends. “Let this be a message to all of you in case any of you want to retaliate or come up with a stupid idea in the future. Luca should be considered an extension of the Marchelli family. That means from this moment on, unless she says otherwise, she’s off-limits. Are we clear?”
“Yeah.” Bobby ran his hand along his throat. “Got it.”
“Enjoy your night.” Dominick turned and motioned toward the door. “Let’s go.”
Santino removed his suit jacket and draped it over my shoulders. “Put this on.”
“I’m sorry.” I wiggled into the oversized jacket. “I didn’t mean to cause a commotion.”
“You’re good at it.” He took my hand and escorted me through the crowded bar area as people stared at us. “I told you he was bad news.”
“He’s a jerk.” I clutched his hand as we made our way out of the bar. Dominick held the door open for us. “Thank you.”
“Let’s not make it a habit.” His jaw tensed when he spoke. “I’d stay out of this place. These people aren’t the best company.”
“I was only here for my friend, Rita.” I turned toward the door but Santino stopped me from going back in. “I don’t think I should leave her here. She wanted me to come with her to meet one of those guys. I’m not sure if she wants to stay.”
“I’ll go in and see if she needs a ride home,” Dominick offered. “You text Art and have him come and get you. He can take Luca home too.”
“Are you sure you want to go back in there alone?” Santino asked.
“Do you really think they’re going to mess with me?” He laughed. “If it makes you feel better, Chaz is in there. We went back in to get you when you didn’t come out and he hit the bathroom. He’s probably wondering where the hell I am anyway.”
“Be careful.” Santino patted his shoulder. “Thanks for having my back.”
“Always,” he assured him. “Get Luca home safe or Vincenzo will kill you.”
Dominick went back inside before I could say anything else to him. He was as intimidating as I had initially thought. I didn’t know Salvatore or Gianni well. I’d met them once or twice but if they were anything like Dominick, Vince or Santino they were probably just as intense.
“Is he mad at me?” I asked.
“Dominick? No, he always has that mean look on his face.” Santino took out his phone and sent someone a text. “The car will be here in a few minutes.”
“Art?”
He nodded.
“Is he like your Tommy?” Vincenzo didn’t go anywhere without Tommy. He called him his driver but I had a feeling he was much more than that. “Do all of your brothers have a driver?”
“We do.”
“That’s convenient, especially in the city traffic.” Did I sound as stupid as I thought?
“Art has been with me most of my life. He’s cool. He used to buy me beer when I was underage. My friends loved him back in high school.”
“So, you’ve always been the bad boy?”
“What makes you think I’m bad?”
“I’ve never seen anyone grab someone by the throat before. He was turning blue.”
“I’m sorry you had to see that but when he put his hands on you, I couldn’t control my rage.” He shrugged. “I hope I didn’t frighten you.”
“Frighten me?” I shook my head because what I experienced when Santino took control that way wasn’t fear. I’d never been hotter for a guy. Another reason why I should stay away from him. “No, not at all.”
“Well...” He stared at me for a moment. “Were you really here for Rita?”
“She’s my hairdresser. She practically begged me to come with her. I couldn’t say no.”
“Maybe you need a new hairdresser.”
“Let me guess, I’ll thank you later.”
“You might.”
“She’s been doing my hair for years. She just makes poor choices when it comes to dating.”
“Her poor choices put you in the path of a predator.”
“Bobby?”
“He’s a low rent criminal at best. He thinks because he’s now a loan shark, he’s some big time boss. He’s not. People who get caught up with him regret it, especially women.”
“I got the message. I won’t hang out with him. I don’t want to.”
“Good.”
“I really didn’t need you to come to my rescue. I would have handled it.”
“I noticed what a stellar
job you were doing.” His lips curved into a half smile. “But I had a few minutes so I thought I’d step in.”
“You’re a true gentleman.” Behind that edgy exterior, there was a caring soul. I could tell even if he didn’t want me to see it.
“There’s my car.” He pointed as a sleek black SUV pulled up in front of us.
“It’s the same as Vincenzo’s.”
“We all have one. My father is into safety.”
I had a feeling he didn’t necessarily mean airbags and seatbelts. This thing looked like an armored car but with way more luxuries. It was probably bulletproof too. Was that supposed to make me feel safe? How many more reasons did I need to walk away?
A large man in his fifties got out of the driver’s side and opened the back door for us. “Sorry,” he said. “Traffic was congested.”
“You weren’t that long.” Santino took my hand and helped me into the seat. “Art, this is Luca. She works with Vincenzo.”
“Nice to meet you, Luca.” Art greeted me with a smile.
“Hello, Art.” I slid into the backseat as Santino spoke to his driver.
I took the few minutes to settle down. When I agreed to come here tonight this wasn’t how I saw the evening going. In less than an hour, I’d run into the sexy man who occasionally invaded my dreams, had a conversation with him, subtly kissed his cheek in an attempt to flirt with him, and then inadvertently had him come to my rescue. I just wanted to have a drink with him. Maybe get to know him a little better. I thought he was more like Vincenzo. A refined attorney with a solid education, manners, good looks, and a legitimate lifestyle. After witnessing him almost kill Bobby, I realized he wasn’t like Vince at all.
“Do you need my address?” I asked when they both got into the car.
“We have it.” Santino clicked his seatbelt.
“How?”
“You work with Vincenzo. You’re in our database.”
“Database?”
“I know where you live.”
“What else do you know?”
“Let’s say I’m well versed in a variety of subjects.” When he gently stroked my cheek with the back of his fingers, a tremor rolled through me. “Maybe I could teach you a thing or two.”
I’m sure you could.
SANTINO
Once we pulled up to Luca’s house, I unbuckled my seatbelt. I was disappointed the ride was over. Because I was enjoying her quick wit and our sarcastic banter.
“You don’t have to walk me in,” she said. “I’m fine.”
“I insist.”
“Of course you do.”
When Art opened her door, I stepped out onto the curb and took in the brisk night air. This evening had taken an interesting turn. When I’d run into Luca at the bar, I thought maybe a drink was in our future. Now, I couldn’t shake the feeling there was so much more to look forward to.
Luca joined me in front of the steps that led to her brownstone. It was an old neighborhood, lined with trees and quite charming. I’d always admired these types of homes. Maybe because they were so different from where I’d come from. I followed her up the steps and to the small porch.
“Thanks again for tonight.”
“It wasn’t a problem.” If Dominick hadn’t stopped me, it would have been a problem.
“I hope it doesn’t cause any problems for you.”
“With Bobby?” I snickered. “He knows better than to come after my family but do me a favor and stay away from him. I don’t need that kind of aggravation.”
I could see the defiance in her expression. Was she going to challenge me?
“Vincenzo doesn’t need that kind of aggravation,” I clarified, hoping that would drive the point home for her.
“Why would this come back to him?”
“It won’t as long as you keep that kind of scum away from my brother’s business.”
“I already told you I have no interest in Bobby but maybe we shouldn’t tell Vince what happened tonight.”
“I don’t keep secrets from my brother.” That wasn’t entirely true. I did kill his wife’s half-brother but that was to protect Salvatore. That was a completely different set of circumstances.
“I had no idea who Bobby was. I didn’t know he was an enemy of your family. I can’t lose my job.” She paced the small area between us, panic filling her voice. “I need that job.”
“Hey.” I took her hand. “Your job is not in jeopardy. Vince is always singing your praises. What you do on your own time is your business. I’m not trying to control you. I was trying to help you.”
“You did.” She smiled at me. “I could have handled him though.”
“I believe that.”
When the front door opened, she let go of my hand. “I apologize in advance.”
“For what?”
“Mom.” She addressed the woman who stood in the doorway. “I’ll be in soon.”
"Is this your lovely mother?” I asked. “I’m pleased to meet you, Mrs. Varelli. I’m Santino Marchelli.”
“No introduction is needed and call me Emily.” She shook my hand. “You look just like Vincenzo. So handsome.”
“Thank you.” I glanced at Luca. “I can definitely see where your daughter gets her beauty from but I would have thought you were her sister.”
“Aren’t you sweet?”
“Just being truthful.”
“How did you end up with Luca tonight?”
“We ran into one another in the city,” Luca answered. “I had a drink spilled on me and Santino was kind enough to drive me home.”
“That was kind,” she said. “Would you like to come inside? I’m watching Goodfellas.”
“Oh, my, God!” Luca covered her face with her hand. “Really?”
“What?” Her mother leaned against the door frame. “It’s a great movie.”
“One of my favorites.” I tried not to laugh at the reference but it was obvious she knew who my family was.
“I knew it!” Emily cheered triumphantly.
“Mom,” Luca said. “I’ll be inside in a few minutes. I’d like to say goodnight to Santino.”
“Sure.” Emily smiled at me. “She’s a really good catch, my Luca. I thought she’d end up with Vincenzo when she started working at the firm but when he married that beautiful woman, I thought Luca missed her chance.”
“Mom.” Luca pointed toward the house.
“Fine.” Her mother sighed. “I hope to see you again, Santino.”
“I’m sure you will.” I nodded. “Enjoy the rest of your movie.”
Once her mother was back inside and the door was shut, Luca relaxed her shoulders. “I’m sorry about that.”
“Don’t apologize. She’s fantastic.”
“She talks too much.”
“Did you have a thing for Vincenzo?”
“No!” She covered her face again and I wondered why she was so embarrassed. “My mother does.”
“Well, he’s quite the charmer.”
“And you’re not?” She set her hand on her hip. “I have a feeling my mother is going to be talking about you for days. She’s always been obsessed with...”
“Lawyers?” I smirked because we both knew she was going to say gangsters.
“Yeah.” She giggled. “She can’t resist a sexy, charming attorney.”
“You think I’m sexy?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“But you’re thinking it.” I tugged on the end of her hair. “I can tell.”
“You’re really smug.”
“It’s one of my best qualities.”
“What are some of your other qualities?”
“Have dinner with me and I’ll tell you.”
“We’ve gone from possibly having a drink to a full-blown dinner?”
“Are you free tomorrow evening?” There was more to this woman than I had initially thought and now I needed to know who she was.
“I could clear my schedule,” she teased. “Yes, I’m free most even
ings.”
“I’m having a difficult time believing a stunning woman such as yourself isn’t on a date every weekend.”
“Believe it.”
“I’ll have to fix that for you.” I took her hand and pressed it to my lips. “Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night?”
“I’d love to but you won’t try to kill anyone tomorrow night, will you?”
“That depends on you.” I stepped toward her, stroking her jaw with my fingertip. “You’re not going to need my assistance, are you?”
“Would it get the kind of reaction I witnessed tonight?”
“Is that the reaction you want?” I twisted my fingers in the back of her long, blonde hair and brought her lips close to mine. “Did you like seeing me that way?”
“I found it rather... arousing.” She bit her lip as she focused on my mouth.
“I can come up with a few other ways to arouse you.”
“I hope so.”
“Can I kiss you?”
“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.”
I gently moved my mouth along hers, tasting the strawberry lip gloss that glistened on her plump lips. Despite her brazen attitude, she was soft, almost fragile under my touch. I was surprised when she trembled against me and let me take the lead. Kissing her was natural but no less electrifying. When she whimpered into my mouth, something clicked between us. She had been bold and honest with me tonight but she’d also let me take control.
Could I have met my match?
She seemed shocked when I broke the kiss but there was far too much to explore between us and I didn’t want to do it on her porch with her mother lurking in the window.
“Luca,” I whispered.
“Yes.” Her breathless response revealed her satisfaction.
“Next time, I won’t ask. I’ll just kiss you.”
