CHAPTER TEN: WINTER
I’malreadyinvolvedwith one unlawful group and I don't want to have anything to do with another, but it's clear there's no way out of this meeting.
I wring my hands together, staring at them as the car pulls to a stop. I look up, expecting the engine to cut, but it doesn't.
"Winter," Vito's soft voice draws my attention to him.
It’s almost imperceptible, but he still looks sickly. His skin is still too pale, his eyes drawn and tired. He clears his throat. There are creases at the corner of his eyes and his lips are pinched into a thin line. His gaze meets mine and it takes a while before he says anything.
"This is an important meeting and it's important that you don't say anything unless you're told to," he says.
I nod.
"No,” Giovani cuts in sharply, his eyes narrowed. He’s sitting beside me in the backseat and I watch as his hand crosses the distance, clenching my knee. He squeezes hard enough to leave a bruise and I flinch. “We need to hear you say that you understand.”
I swallow, pushing down my irritation and focusing on not reacting to his grip. "I understand," I say through gritted teeth.
Giovanni's gaze sweeps over my face for a moment before he gives a sharp nod. His tight grip releases, but a gentle sweep of his fingers across my skin quickly follows. Tingles dance along my skin. I peek from under my lashes to find Giovanni still watching me, a strange look on his face.
I turn my head away from him to hide my sharp inhale.
I try to forget the simple touch that felt way too heavy, choosing to stare out the window. I take in the scenery. We're in front of a large, brick building that is at least two stories. There's light coming from rows of windows up high. I squint, trying to read the sign, but half of the letters are faded.
It looks like some sort of shoddy hotel or a ratty apartment complex.
This is where Seven Quad handles business?
It’s not what I expected.
What I've seen from the Costa family speaks of wealth and it reflected in their buildings. I thought Seven Quad would be the same way. The one glimpse I got of the gang a few months back hadn’t given me much to go off, but I didn’t get the impression that the family involved themselves with people too far beneath them.
The car engine shuts off.
Enzo opens his door before making his way to Giovanni’s door and pulling it open. I slide out behind him. Vito is already standing next to his door, and I don’t miss the way he props himself against the door for balance. There’s a small bead of sweat on his forehead and when he catches me watching him, he hurriedly wipes at the perspiration and turns away from me.
I turn my head to find Giovanni watching Vito as well, a slight crease between his brows. He fires off something too quick for me to understand and when Vito responds in the same way, I realize they’re speaking Italian. It’s rare for them to do so and I try to pick up clues of what they’re saying from their body language, but I get nothing.
After a moment, Giovanni gives a nod and turns on his heels, heading for the building.
Enzo nudges me forward with a slight shove to the small of my back and I catch myself, shooting him a glare over my shoulder before following Giovanni.
The steel set of double doors open before we make it to them and two large men step out. One is almost the same height as Giovanni, but his shoulders are a lot wider and when his gaze snaps to mine, a sneer crosses his lips, causing my heart to beat a little quicker in my chest.
"Eyes over here," Giovanni snaps and both men redirect their gazes to him. Their postures straighten. "Take me to Maddox," he says dryly.
One of the men grunts, but that's it. He takes up the front and we move down a dimly lit hallway. The second guard falls to the back, and I glance behind me to find Enzo looking at the man before slowing down so they're walking side by side.
The first guard slams through a door and leads us up a set of stairs. We stop on the third level and move down another hallway. The walls are all nondescript, painted a plain white, some of the paint chipping.
The guard stops at the last door and gives a firm knock. The door swings open and I pause as a familiar face appears in front of us.
"About time," Diamond says, smiling and showing off his golds. The little diamond sitting on one of the gold canines glimmers in the dim room. His eyes move to me and his lips turn up further. "We were starting to think you wouldn't show." His eyes remain on me for a moment longer before flickering to Giovanni.
"We have no reason not to," Giovanni says stiffly. "Are you going to move out of the way so we can come in?" he asks.
Diamond laughs, but there’s something cold about the sound. He steps out of the way. "Be my guest," he says, holding the door open as we move inside.
My stomach drops when I move by him and his fingers brush along my side.