Three Little Mistakes (Blindfold Club 3)

“What the hell are you doing here?” he demanded.

“We should talk outside.”

“Get the fuck away from my daughter.”

“Dad,” Noemi said. “He’s my boyfriend.”

All that did was make him angrier, and his swift approach had me preparing for a punch to come flying my direction. He didn’t know me outside the club, and didn’t know me well there, either. He had to assume I was scum, unworthy of his daughter, which was true.

“Please,” I said, although I put force behind my words. “Let’s talk outside. Noemi has a concussion.”

His face was flushed as he grabbed the front of my shirt and hauled me into his face. “Did you do that to her?”

“No.”

“Dad, stop! He saved my life!”

Her panicked words brought him to a halt. Wild, dangerous eyes glared at me. Hazel, like hers.

“I was in a car accident in a cab,” she continued, “and he came and got me. If I’d gone home alone, I’d probably be dead.”

There was a stab of pain in my chest at her words, and Rosso turned, shoving me back. He positioned his body between us, trying to block her from view.

“Get out,” he ordered.

She was breathing hard and her head had to be pounding terribly. “What is going on? Are you that upset because of Katzenberg?”

Rosso glanced at her, confused. “What?”

“No, Noemi.” My voice was resigned. “This doesn’t have anything to do with Katzenberg.” I should have told her, right from the start.

“I don’t understand,” she said.

“I don’t, either,” Rosso snarled. “Do you know how bad it would be if this got out, Noemi?”

“No. She doesn’t know.” I moved to the right so I could see her. “I’m sorry. I was going to explain.”

Her expression was cautious. “What don’t I know?”

“He runs a whorehouse.” Her father sneered. “That’s where all his money comes from.”

I glared right back at Rosso. Most of it’s yours, asshole.

“Or so I’m told,” he added, his voice wavering, but I doubt she noticed.

Her first reaction was this was a joke. Her lips curled into a faint smile, the word ridiculous probably on her lips, but the smile slowly died when I didn’t deny it. She stared at me, silently demanding my rebuttal, but I had none I wanted to do in front of her father. Please, baby girl, let me explain. Don’t judge me until you hear all of it.

There was no upside to revealing how her father knew about the blindfold club, other than bringing him down with me. Petty revenge, but she adored her father. I didn’t want to hurt her more than I already had.

Her voice was severe. “Joseph. What is he talking about?”

I kept my posture stiff despite the desire to sag my shoulders. “My wine club . . . it’s a front.”

Jesus, this was too much to put on her damaged mind. Her eyes blinked and tears rolled down her cheeks, but there was no soft cry. Her shoulders didn’t move. She brushed the tears away like they were a minor nuisance.

“Payton,” she said, her voice barely a breath. “You . . . Oh, God. She was one of your whores?”

That was a word we didn’t use at the club, an unspoken rule. When Dominic said it to Payton, it had made my blood run cold. “She worked for me, yes.” My gaze burned into Rosso, who refused to meet it.