“Hey.” Mariano tugged on my arm as I was about to climb the steps to the Hill House. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay with what happened in the library today.”
“I’ll live.” I shrugged, annoyed. Why was he bringing it up now and not earlier when we were getting ready at his place? It took three hours for me to get my head back on straight and the shakes to stop. I was a strong person, but not as strong as I wished I was. “I would prefer not to have another gun pointed at my head.”
“Me too.” He stepped closer. “That really frightened me.”
“Did it?”
“Of course it did.” He pulled back, confused.
“You just seemed unfazed.”
“Look, babe…”
I cringed. “Babe?” I shook my head. “When did we start to use nicknames?”
“It’s cute, and it suits you.” I started to laugh, but he held up a hand. “I know those guys well. I knew that if I flipped out, you’d have a bullet in your head right now. They’re ruthless.”
I didn’t comment that earlier he had said they wouldn’t have hurt me. “Elio did,” jumped from my mouth, and I wished I could rewind the moment I saw his face flicker with anger. “I mean, he got them to leave.”
He rubbed his nose and cleared his throat. I apparently hit a nerve.
“Elio is a different breed, Sienna.” He shifted his weight from side to side and his eyes widened, and I knew he was holding back something. “He doesn’t care like I do. He’s a shoot first and ask questions later guy. That man has killed more people in the worst ways. He would make your worst nightmare look pretty.”
I flinched at the comparison, but it really didn’t sound like the Elio I knew.
“It’s no secret that we carry guns and deal with lowlife scum in our business. We are in an industry that runs side by side with organized crime. I was playing it cool so they would leave. So,” he brushed my wavy hair off my shoulder and left his clammy hand on my skin as if I wanted it there, “you need to be careful, Sienna. Elio dresses as dark as his soul, and he’s always watching.”
“And on that note…” I muttered as he left me and ran up the stairs and opened the door.
“Good evening, sir and miss,” a woman at the door greeted us and waved us in. “Everyone is in the living room.”
“Thanks.” Mariano forged onward while I fought to catch up in my heels. We passed a games room before he finally slowed, and his shoulders went back as he entered the room.
“My, my, Anna, don’t you look pretty tonight.” He greeted a woman with a kiss on the cheek and stepped back to study her little dress, while I stood awkwardly in the entrance.
“Mariano, you didn’t call.” She batted her eyes at him, and when he smiled, she continued flirting. I stepped back out of the room and decided to look around.
I wandered into the kitchen and watched the staff fuss over the appetizers. One of them looked over at me and smiled.
“You must be Sienna.” He wiped his hands free of flour and offered one to me.
“I am.” I shook his hand. “And you are?”
“Donte.”
“This all looks amazing.” I let the delicious odor take over my senses and felt my stomach grumble.
“Nothing but the best for the boss.” He winked.
“Do you like working here?”
“Best job I’ve had yet.”
I eased onto a stool at the massive island and watched Donte roll out the pasta dough.
“That’s nice. Can I help with anything?”
“Well, if you like.” His smile grew as he handed me a roller and some dough. “But one moment.” He came behind me and draped an apron over my outfit. “It’s not often that we have guests wanting to help.”