“Today’s the day, bitch.” The skater’s voice was loud and angry, getting louder and louder the closer he got. “I want my board back, and I’m going to steal your bitch, too, when we’re through with you.”
“Vincent!” Lake yelled when he let go of her hand and started raising his fist. “You promised you would stop getting into figh—”
Vincent sent the prick flying to the concrete, knocking him out cold in one precise punch to the face. The sound of the skater hitting the ground had his friends freezing in place before they all slowly backed away, seeing the crazed look in Vincent’s baby blue eyes.
“Goddammit.” Lake just shook her head as Vincent took her hand again and they stepped over the lifeless body.
Adalyn and Angel stared down at the skater for several moments in silence. When she finally looked at Angel, she could see it written on the bad boy’s face—he had severely misjudged Vincent, not seeing the split personality and certifiable craziness.
Nodding, he wrapped an arm around Adalyn again, seeming to approve Vincent’s not-so-pretty-boy side. “That works for me.”
I knew it’d be more fun to let him find out on his own.
“Hey, lovebirds.” Maria’s voice sounded from behind them as she also headed toward the car with her bodyguards.
Her comment didn’t stop Angel from keeping his arm around Adalyn.
“There’s a surprise party tonight for Vincent’s dad’s birthday. We’re having it at my house. Everyone’s invited.” Maria started to pass them. Even in her stilettos, her long legs took her places. She looked back and raised a manicured brow. “That includes you, Luciano.”
Adalyn narrowed her eyes at Maria as the blonde walked away. She knew she had seen something behind Maria’s eyes that told Adalyn the mafia princess was up to something. She didn’t know what it was yet, but she did know Angel going to the consigliere’s birthday would get the blonde what she wanted.
Not knowing how she felt about him going into a lion’s den full of Carusos alone, she prayed his answer would be no when she asked, “You’re not going, are you?”
His gray depths told her there was something in it for him as well. “You never turn down a good party, sweetness.”
“What are you doing here?” Lucca came over to Vincent and Nero. “I told you that you’re banned from my home.”
“It’s my fucking dad’s birthday; you expected me not to come?” Vincent looked at him like he was crazy.
“Yes,” Lucca said coldly.
“Come on, Lucca; I’ve told you my face just looks like thi—”
“Then keep that fuckin’ face away from Chloe.” The underboss didn’t let him finish.
Nero shook his head at his friend when he looked to him for help. “Dumbass, I’ve told you a thousand times that’s not an excuse.”
He rolled his eyes, then they landed on a tatted body. “What the fuck is he doing here?”
“Unlike you, he was invited,” Lucca spat.
Vincent couldn’t believe it. “You mean, you invited him over me?”
“Yes.” Lucca’s response was harsh as he looked for Chloe, seeing her talking to Maria and Leo in the corner of the room.
Both boys knew why he had done it—to see if Angel distressed her. However, she hadn’t seemed to notice him walk in.
Throwing back the water in his cup, Vincent wished it was hard liquor as he watched Angel walk up to a welcoming Adalyn, Lake, and Elle. “I hate him.”
Turning back to the pretty boy, the underboss was interested in what he had to say. “Why?”
He almost couldn’t get the heinous words out. “Because I think he might be better-looking than me.”
Lucca looked at Nero before leaving to go to Chloe’s side. “Keep him the fuck away from me.”
Twenty-Eight
Dead and Gone
The party had been going just fine. Maybe she had been worried for no reason?
I’m sure Lucca put the fear of God into every Caruso here not to touch Angel in any way.
It was reaching the end of the party when the front door was opened and Amo walked into the room.
It had been a while since Adalyn had seen him last. Every time she had asked about him, everyone seemed to change the subject. It was very strange considering Nero, Vincent, and Amo had been inseparable their entire lives, yet now she never saw him around.
Getting up from the huge couch, not about to let anyone change her mind, she walked right up to the huge giant. “Hey, Amo.”
“Hey.” He didn’t even bother to look up from pouring himself a drink.
A coldness came over her, just from looking at him. She hadn’t seen it until she had gotten up close. He wasn’t the Amo she remembered. There were dark circles under his eyes, and a certain presence around him that hadn’t been there before. A presence that was very dark and even more haunting.
She started to regret coming over to see him, now understanding why everyone had changed the subject when she had brought him up.