“What’s going on?”
“It’s nothing.” I put the concealer back in her bag. “Let’s go back to dinner.”
16GIOVANNI
Ifind the seat I left before I see the fucking bartender trying to flirt with Nina. Amber sits next to me, her eyes filled with questions I really don’t have the patience for right now.
Amber wore the most stupid fucking dress I have ever seen, and of course, Nina had to wear the most beautiful one.
I made sure I ruined it because I don’t want her to wear that shit again, tempting other men.
The way her soft skin feels like fire against mine . . .
Ana leaves the table in a hurry, and I know exactly what for. I made sure Nina won’t be able to walk back out here. I can’t have her near me; I lose my control.
The way she calls me “Gio . . .” No one does that anymore, only her.
My mother used to call me that all the time as a child. I close my eyes as the thought of her clouds my mind. I need to remember what I came here for, and why I am still here.
I lie on my stomach, trying to look through the vent to make sure my mom hasn’t gotten into a situation she’ll be helpless in.
The men at the door are wearing all-black, with guns three times the size of mine. As if my mom is the most dangerous person in the world.
“Puoi aiutarci con qualcos’altro,”one of the men says, pulling on my mom’s hair. I knew exactly what they mean by that—they’re threatening to touch my mom without her consent.
My father’s words fill my head instantly. Rule number two: never touch another man’s wife, or you will die.
Does this mean I need to kill these men? My hands begin to shake, just like my mother’s did only a moment ago.
I close my eyes as the men argue over her.
My mind goes blank when a gunshot fills the house like a firework on New Year’s Eve. The realization of what just happened sends a wave of shock straight to my heart, turning it black.
“Andiamo!”one of the men says to the other, leaving him behind.
There is only one man. I could crawl out of my hideout and do exactly what he did to my mom.
And I do.
“Giovanni?” Amber pulls me out of my own poisoned mind.
I look down at her.
Her filled-in eyebrows frown at me. “What?”
“I asked you when you wanted to leave.”
“I’ll drop you off whenever you want to leave.”
“Can we go now?”
“Sure.”
She gets up from her seat, not even saying thank you to the man who bought everyone dinner and drinks.
As she walks out the door, I say goodbye to everyone. I walk over to Rolando and pat him on the back. “Thanks for having us.”
“It was my pleasure. Are you heading back to our house, or are you going back to your place?”