Finding Beauty in the Darkness

I arrive at Lush, and after giving my name to the bouncer, I’m let through immediately. The music is thumping and the lights are dimmed down low. I search for the women in several areas but don’t see them anywhere. Just when I’m about to send a text to Nico to see where he is, a blur of peach catches my attention.

On the dance floor, shaking her ass like it’s 1999, is Aria. She’s surrounded by her friends and they’re all dancing, but my eyes are locked on her. Her arms are in the air and her head is thrown back as she laughs. Her body is swaying to the music, and in this moment, she looks so young, carefree, the way a woman of her age should look.

Instead of going to her, I stand on the sidelines and observe her. I watch as she lights up the darkened floor with her natural brightness. The other women gravitate toward her, feeding off her energy. And I wonder if I have ever really seen her smile like that. Was my mom, right? Would being with Aria mean destroying her? She was supposed to be safe at La Stella’s and look what happened. What if the next time my guys can’t get to her in time?

Before I can give it any more thought, Aria’s eyes land on mine. Her smile falters slightly, and it hits me dead in my gut, I want to be the one to bring her smile back, which raises the question: what if that means having to let her go? I push the thought down and give her a small wave. She tilts her head slightly and crooks her finger in a come-hither motion, granting me with a gorgeous smile.

Bridging the gap between us, I take her into my arms—noticing her face has more makeup than usual to cover the bruises Weston left on her—and even though the song booming through the club is a fast, pulsating number, I pull her body close to mine as she dances seductively against me. My knee parts her thighs and she grinds against my leg, giving me access to feel her heat against me. Leaning down, I whisper into her ear, “I’m sorry.”

She looks at me and nods, her arms coming around my neck as she pulls me down to her, her lips brushing mine. The kiss starts off tentative, but quickly becomes more fervent—hungry. It isn’t until her tongue finds its way in, that I taste the alcohol on her breath.

Looks like I’ll be apologizing again once she’s sober.

Chapter Twenty-Six

ARIA

After I accept Gio’s apology—though, we’ll definitely be talking more later—we spend the rest of the night dancing and drinking until the club closes. As we’re walking out, Benjamin stops us to say hello, welcoming us back any time and mentioning he’ll be opening a club in LA next month, if we’re ever in the area, we should stop by.

“Come home with me, baby. Please,” Gio says, once we’re outside. He pushes me against the side of his vehicle and his hand goes to the curve of my hip, descending past the hem of my dress and landing on my bare skin, as he peppers kisses along my hot flesh, down my collarbone, and over my shoulder. When he licks my earlobe, I visibly shiver, making him chuckle.

“We need to talk,” I say, trying to stay focused. His kisses are an aphrodisiac, each and every one of them going straight to my core.

“Come back home and we’ll talk. I promise.” Rests his arms above my head, he cages me in and plants a kiss on the corner of my mouth. His lips move to my throat, then to my neck.

“What happened this morning?” I ask. “Was it because Weston touched me?”

Gio’s body freezes. His thumb and index finger go to my chin and he raises my face so I’m looking at him. “Ari, I can’t keep my hands off of you. Nothing he’s ever done to you could change how I feel about you. How much I want you. How much I love you.” His lips come down on mine for a kiss.

“Then what was it?” I murmur against his lips.

Gio lets out a sigh and backs up, taking his warmth with him. “I didn’t keep you safe.”

“You couldn’t have known Cecilia would work with him.”

“I should have been more on top of it. It happened under my roof. The life I live is dangerous. Cecilia has lived that life right alongside me. She’s watched people get killed, get beaten to death. She’s watched threats get made and those same threats be followed through.”

“I could get into an accident driving and be killed. You can’t predict the future.”

“No, but I can keep you from being put in harm’s way. My biggest fear is that by loving me, you’re signing your death wish.”