He swallows the contents of his glass, glances around nervously. “I need another drink.”
The lights go down and the music changes. I check my watch as spotlights illuminate the stages. It’s almost time for the meeting and the entertainment has begun. I need to get this idiot out of here.
“No drink. Club’s closed tonight.”
I signal one of my men over. “Get Ben a taxi.”
“Yes, sir.”
I have to physically take hold of Ben and walk him toward the exit. “Why? Why’s tonight such a big deal?”
“Because I said so.” I check my watch. The guest of honor will be here soon.
“Christ, I’ll go,” he says.
Hugo’s beside me in the next minute. Cilla’s still not here and I see a couple of men walking into the meeting room.
“I’ll take care of this,” Hugo says, relieving me of my cousin.
“Kill, what the fuck. We’re family—”
I don’t bother to answer. Just as Hugo opens the doors to escort my cousin out, Cilla steps into view with John a few steps behind her. I swear every eye in the place turns to the doors when she sweeps in wearing the dress I bought her, looking stunning, more beautiful than I’ve ever seen her. Her hair is swept off her face and her makeup is heavier than usual and fuck if I don’t want to go to her, wrap her in my arms and steal her away. Never let her out of my sight again. Never leave her alone again. Not after Florida.
Her gaze finally falls on me. We stare at each other from across the room and it’s so fucking cliché and stupid but something shifts inside me and it’s like this instinct to protect, to guard, to rescue—fuck, maybe to be her hero—it’s like they take over every fiber of my being and she’s all I can see, all I can think about.
I go to her, stop just a foot from her. Her eyes are searching mine, and I know the question she wants to ask. But I don’t want to talk about Callahan right now.
Drawing her to stand beside me, I address my comment to John, the driver. “You’re late.”
“An accident, sir. I took the fastest route I could.”
I nod. Dismiss him. Turn to Cilla. “You look beautiful.”
“Is it done?” she asks.
I nod once.
She doesn’t say a word, just keeps staring up at me and I want to know what’s going on in her head because I can’t read her eyes. She’s too guarded. Too careful. She’s had to be.
A waiter passes with champagne. I stop him. “Get me two whiskeys.” I don’t want champagne. This isn’t a celebration.
“Yes, sir.”
Cilla puts her hands over her face, rubs it, then her neck. The waiter returns and I take the tumblers, hand her one. Her hand is trembling when she takes the drink and I watch her swallow it. All of it.
“Easy, Cilla.”
“Why?” she looks around, locates a waiter with a tray of full champagne glasses and signals him to come over. I watch her. “Get me a bottle,” she says, then points to me. “On him so make it a good one.”
“Cilla.”
“Sir?” the waiter asks me as my cell phone rings. I ignore the call and the look I give him dismisses him, but not before Cilla swallows what’s in the glass and takes another from his tray. She turns to face me and gives me a ridiculous smile.
“I’m celebrating,” she says, holding the glass up. “To justice. Cheers.” She swallows what’s in there too.
People are looking now. I take her by the arm, turn her away. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” My phone starts up again. “Jesus!” I take it out and, without looking at the screen, silence it, shove it back into my pocket.
“What’s wrong with me? Nothing. I’m the happiest woman in the world tonight. Look at me. All of this?” She spins around, stumbles. I catch her. “A very expensive gift from my dragon slayer.” She turns in search of a waiter. I force her attention back to me. “My hero,” she adds on, the sarcasm in her tone biting.
Hugo walks toward us. “Santa Maria’s here.” He gestures to the entrance. It’s Giovanni Santa Maria, Dominic Benedetti’s cousin, and the second most powerful man on the east coast. He’s standing in for Dominic tonight. This is why Ben had to go. This meeting tonight, it’s secret. A new alliance is being formed. One that will rock organized crime in North America.
Giovanni scans the room. I’ve only seen him once before. He’s a big guy, as big as me. He’s dressed elegantly in an expensive suit and two men flank him. Soldiers. I get the feeling he can handle whatever the fuck comes his way, though.
I give him a nod when he sees me.
The phone starts to vibrate with a call again. “Fuck.”