They both laughed and clanked their glasses together with loud cheers.
Castello was right when he suggested that I hadn’t seen all sides to him. Never in a million years did I think he would use drugs. I was shocked to the core, even though there was a little voice inside my head saying,“Really? You’re shocked because the man who kidnapped and tortured you is using drugs?Get a clue.”
Jorge casually leaned back in his seat. “So let’s talk business.”
Castello gulped down the last of his drink and held out the empty glass to the waiter. “I know Vico approached you. I know my little brother is eager to get his hands on your supplies. And I want to make sure you won’t be easily swayed.”
Jorge smiled. “I’ve done business with your family for years, Castello. And I have to admit, it’s a little weird now that the Fattore family has been split in two.”
“It shouldn’t be weird for you at all, Jorge. Just continue supplying me with what I need and all is well.”
Jorge stretched his arms out over the couch. “You should know that Vico presented me with a very good deal.”
Castello’s jaw ticked. “And you think my little brother can be trusted?”
“It’s not about trust in our line of business. It’s about money.”
I watched as Castello leaned forward, annoyance casting lines on his forehead. “You know that whatever my brother offered you, I can double. Vico doesn’t have the amount of support I do. I have more than half of the Fattore associates behind me. All Vico has is ambitious, reckless fuckers that have no idea how things work.”
Jorge shrugged. “That might be true, but you know money talks in our line of business.”
“And loyalty is everything.”
Castello glared at Jorge, his stance intimidating and threatening. I knew Castello had a gun tucked behind his back. I also knew there were probably more guns than men inside this lounge. But there was something in the way Jorge stared at Castello. It was like he knew he couldn’t go up against the rightful Fattore heir. It made me wonder if Jorge was just trying to play a hand, pretending he held all the cards when in fact…he had nothing.
Jorge slanted his head to the side and snapped his finger at the guy behind him. Within thirty seconds, there were two more white lines on the glass table in front of us. My gut was starting to sink all the way down to the soles of my feet.
Jorge leaned forward and sniffed up a line before snorting and wiping his nose. “Stop worrying, Castello. You know I would never betray you by doing business with your brother.”
“I hope not. I’ve buried enough men the last few weeks because they made the mistake of underestimating me.”
The threat was there, loud and clear in the menacing way his words left his mouth. Castello was alarmingly intimidating and confident, but I would lie if I said it didn’t make my spine tingle, seeing the way power exuded from him like rays from the sun. I felt proud. Proud that a powerful man like Castello loved me, protected me, and cared only for me.
Castello leaned forward and sniffed up the last white line on the table. I could do without the knowledge that he used drugs, without the images of him snorting cocaine. But I knew him, and Castello wasn’t a man who did things without having a fucking good reason. I had to trust that he knew what he was doing.
Besides, he did warn me.
When he sat back, he placed his arm around my shoulders, his focus still on Jorge. “Now that we know where we stand, I suggest we make use of the opportunity and enjoy our evening.”
Jorge clapped his hands together. “I couldn’t agree more.”
More rounds of drinks passed, and I sat in silence watching Castello and Jorge act like they were longtime friends who used to play football together in high school. Not once did Castello include me in their conversations, and the only acknowledgement I got from him was the occasional hand on my knee and the subtlest touch of his fingers on my shoulders. But at least I knew that even in his intoxicated state he was still aware of me.
The music was starting to play louder and louder, and the lighting dimmed. The pillar fish tanks looked amazing under the low lights. Exotic-looking lava lamps shined throughout the lounge, and everyone was seemingly having a great time. It was like the atmosphere of the nightclub that pumped downstairs had spread to the lounge. But through the semi-dark, I could see Giovanni and his security guards patrolling, scanning, searching. It made me feel safe between the crowd of strangers.
Castello leaned into me. “Are you doing okay?”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
He placed his fingers on my cheek and turned my face toward him. His eyes looked different. His face looked different. It was the mix of alcohol and drugs, turning him into someone I didn’t know. But when he placed his mouth against mine, his tongue gently passing my lips, I recognized him. He might be someone else tonight, but his kiss was still the same. His taste, even though tainted with bourbon, was still the same. He was still my Castello. But he was a man who had to wear a lot of different faces, I understood that. Just as long he never wore a mask when it came to me.
He pulled back just an inch, his dark eyes focused solely on me. “I told you.”
“Told me what?”
“That you would see a different side to me tonight.”
I placed my palm on his cheek. “I get it. This isn’t who you want to be. This is who you have to be.”