His father was right; she was stupid to think she could save her father. It didn’t matter whether she did or not; the risk was too high to even try.
Dante was a man you shouldn’t fuck with. His moral code had died a long time before when his wife did. If his dad hadn’t been there, Lake would be six feet under in a casket, not in a casino.
‘She fucking dropped twenty grand in front of Dante like it was nothing and said it was her whole college fund.’ Finding out that Lake wasn’t planning on leaving anymore was bittersweet. It was selfish and wrong for a part of him to be happy that she wasn’t leaving, but the other part of him hated the fact that she had made the decision. Giving Dante that money was like throwing her life away, and he doubted she had even thought twice about it. Not only that, but she owed a dangerous man thirty thousand dollars. The minute she’d agreed, she was owned by the Caruso boss.
Vincent got off the elevator and headed down the hallway. Knocking on the door, he was let in a moment later. His eyes searched the room until they landed on a sad pair of hazel eyes. Lake was smiling, but he could see how she truly felt.
Nobody fucking owns her but me.
Going to the wall, he stood between Nero and Amo. “Anyone fucking touch her?”
Amo crossed his arms as he leaned back on the wall. “Do you think we would be standing here if they did?”
“Yeah, I think you fucking threatened us enough before you left. What did you find out?” Nero asked.
“Her dad owed yours fifty grand, so your dad wanted to kill her dad. She decided, like a genius, to take her college fund of twenty grand to him and work the rest off. Sooo, my dad suggested she work down here for several fucked-up reasons, such as her being worth more alive than dead because, let’s face it, your dad would have killed Lake and her dad if he didn’t.”
Nero thought for a minute, trying to digest what he had said. “Well, she and Elle do have one thing in common—my dad wanting to kill them.”
“Damn, I didn’t think she could get any hotter. She really fucking did that?” Amo continued to stare at Lake, not pulling his eyes away to fully engage in their conversation.
“I told you to fucking watch the men to see if they try to make a move on her, not stare at her ass,” Vincent growled.
Amo averted his eyes. “Exactly how do you plan to fuck her after she caught you in the bathroom with that bitch?”
Vincent heard a small laugh escape from Nero.
“You don’t think I can fucking win her over?”
Amo looked back at Lake’s long legs. “I never thought I’d say this, but I think she just might be out of your league.”
Vincent felt offended. Out of my league, really? He was Vincent fucking Vitale the Third. No girl—or woman, for that matter—was ever out of his league.
He watched Lake sweep her bangs off to the side. Fuck.
“I need you to go make sure her fucking car doesn’t start tonight.”
Nero started to laugh. “So, you’re forcing her to be with you.”
“Yeah, like you didn’t force Elle?”
“I didn’t say it was wrong,” Nero agreed.
“Can I watch her attempt to fix it?” Amo asked sincerely.
“No!” Vincent was beginning to wish for the death of one of his best friends.
“What if she fixed it in that outfit, though, man? You would benefit from it, too.”
Vincent decided to give Amo a warning. “You better quit fucking staring at her.”
Amo turned his head to the side again as Lake bent over the table to give someone their drink. “You know how I said you owed me for watching Adalyn? Don’t worry about it; I think I got rid of all my nightmares.”
Vincent began to laugh hysterically. Suddenly, he flipped a switch and went silent.
Amo finally turned his head away from Lake. “Are you ok—”
Reeling back his fist, his knuckles pounded into flesh. “I am now.”
Nero shrugged. “He kind of deserved it.”
Chapter Thirty
Russian Roulette
Lake came out of the dressing room, feeling normal once more. She had washed off her makeup, put on her jeans and hoodie, and then put her mass of curls in a bun. Throwing the curtain behind her, she saw Vincent, Amo, and Nero waiting.
“What are—” Lake covered her mouth when she saw Amo’s gruesome black eye. “Holy shit, what happened to your face?”
A big sneer appeared on Vincent’s face.
“Jesus, are you okay?” Lake went up to Amo to examine his eye.
I wonder what the other guy looks like. He had to either be ginormous or in a hospital.
“Not really.” Amo lowered his head so she could have a better look.
Vincent’s smile disappeared. “You’re gonna fucking get another one here in a minute.”
“You did it, didn’t you? Why the hell did you do that?” She didn’t think whatever Amo had done had made it necessary for him to be hit that hard.
“Because he wouldn’t quit staring at your ass.”
“Well, in that case”—she looked back at a guilty Amo and gave his black eye a love tap—“suck it up.”
Amo grabbed his face. “Ow!”
Vincent and Nero cracked up with laughter.
Lake quickly started walking to the elevator, hoping they wouldn’t follow her. When the doors finally opened and she got in, they all joined her.
Staring at them then at the buttons, she froze. Damn it.
The guys curiously watched her, wondering what she was doing.
Quickly, she hit the code to take her to the top.
Vincent reached out and grabbed her hands too late, and the elevator began moving.
“What the fuck are you doing, Lake?”
“I need to see Dante.” She tried to pull her hands back.
“That is the last person you need to see! How do you even know the code?” Vincent screamed at her.
“I memorized it.”
Nero coughed and motioned his head toward the camera before Vincent could do anything.
Vincent let go of her hands to grab the back of her hair as he pressed his body against hers, pinning her to the wall. He leaned his head down to whisper in her ear. “What is it with you? Do you want to fucking die? What you are doing is basically putting a gun to your head and playing Russian roulette. You only get to see the boss when he asks for your presence, not when you please. Do you understand me?”