16
Aleksandra
Three days later…
“Is it over?” I ask Mario. The mafia families pack their bags and head out into the garage to be shuttled to the regional airport.
“It will be soon,” he says.
While I’m allowed throughout the house, he’s been my appointed bodyguard if I leave the premises.
I haven’t left yet.
Not until I feel it’s safe for me to leave the premises, will I venture out. I understand my brother is still being held downstairs.
Is he alive? The basement prison is soundproof. I’ve heard no screams, no shouts, not a peep from downstairs.
Which should bring solace to my mind. But the mafia doesn’t take a bratva leader and give him spoils. No doubt he’s suffering, but I don’t want to think about what they’ve done to him. The bratva would be crueler in their punishments and interrogations.
He helps carry the luggage for the guests to the vehicles. I wait inside near the living room, watching the twins as they stack wooden blocks as tall as themselves.
I shouldn’t care that the guests are leaving. It’s not like we became friends, but Nikki had been warm and open, comforting.
And now I’m going to be alone with Antonio and his men.
I run a hand through my hair, my stomach in knots.
“You’re going to miss them,” Antonio whispers as he comes up from behind.
He doesn’t touch me, but his presence still makes me shudder. I silently pray that he doesn’t notice the reaction he elicits.
“It was nice to have someone to talk to,” I confess.
I spin around to face him.
“You know,Tesorina, you can invite friends over. Just not of the male variety.”
“Worried you’ll have a little competition?” I smirk.
Why does he care about me inviting a man under his roof? Unless he’s the jealous type, which fits with being a don.
My stomach is topsy-turvy as I stare up into his eyes.
It’s like I’m in high school all over again, except this time, the stakes are much higher.
“No, because I respect the rules you’ve put into place,” Antonio says.
There’s a tinge of disappointment that flutters through me. I shouldn’t care whether he dates another woman or the entire city of New York.
Except I don’t want his sights set on anyone else. I pinch my lips together. “Are you saying that I don’t respect the rules?”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,Tesorina,” Antonio says. His breath teases my lips. He’s so close that I can practically feel his warmth against mine, his body grazing my skin. “And when I said no men coming into the house, I also meant that you aren’t to shack up with one of my men.”
I pretend to pout. “Shucks, you figured out my grand plan. I was going to invite Mario into my bedroom and—”
“I swear you’d better be joking,” Antonio seethes. He’s not the least bit amused by my sense of humor.
Not even a hint of a smile grazes his lips. Gosh, he is the jealous type.