Twisted Hearts (The Camorra Chronicles 5)

“That dress was a gift as well,” I said teasingly.

For a moment, she seemed to consider taking it off, but then Gemma whirled around and stormed away.

What did she think? That I was going to turn into a monk because of our engagement? I picked up the purse and pumps from the floor and followed after her at a leisured pace.

18 months later

I stared down at the obnoxious ring, how Diego put it. The cursive S and the F held the diamond between them. Diego was absolutely right. This wasn’t a heartfelt engagement ring. For Savio, it had been a joke, a game. It hadn’t changed anything for him. He’d staked his claim, and everyone backed off.

When in the past, everyone in school had whispered behind my back because of my modest dresses, they did it now because of who owned me. It wasn’t really more than that. Not for Savio. He’d wanted me for himself and so he’d staked his claim.

Then he’d moved on. He didn’t wear a ring. Nothing in his life showed that he was mine like I was his.

Feeling eyes on me, I looked up to where Diego leaned in the doorway to my room.

“I told you it was a bad idea,” he said.

“Thanks.”

He walked in and sank down on the bed beside me. “Savio is a player, Gemma.”

“At some point he’ll have to stop. I’ll turn eighteen in two days and he hasn’t even talked to Dad about a possible date for our wedding.”

“Because he doesn’t want to give up his man-whoring ways anytime soon. He enjoys his bachelor days.”

I swallowed down my hurt, embracing my anger. “Has he slept with half of Reno?”

Shortly after our engagement, Remo Falcone had sent Savio and Adamo to Reno. For one, the designated Underboss was still a teenager, so it was Savio’s job to keep everyone in line up there because he didn’t have a family to take care of yet. Since that day I’d hardly ever seen him. I wasn’t allowed to go up to Reno, unlike Diego who’d spent a couple of weeks at a time there over the last sixteen months.

Diego avoided my eyes. “There’s a reason why Remo sent his brother away, and it wasn’t only because of the teenage Underboss. He wanted Savio away from you because even Remo didn’t trust his brother to keep his hands to himself.”

I huffed. “It’s not as if it was only his choice. Trust me, I wouldn’t have let him touch me after all the girls he’s been pawing.”

Diego gave me a look. “Maybe now you wouldn’t. Back then you were still more infatuated. Now you see him for who he is: a player.”

That was true. I was still infatuated. However, being engaged to the man of my dreams was far from the fairytale I’d hoped for. Savio kept sleeping around. Maybe I should have seen it coming. We weren’t in a relationship yet. An engagement in our circles was a formal statement, nothing emotional, especially for the men.

“He’s coming back to Vegas tomorrow,” Diego said suddenly.

My heart sped up. “What?”

Diego regarded my face with blatant worry. “Like you said, you’re almost eighteen.”

“What do you mean? Is he going to agree to a wedding soon?”

Diego groaned. “Gemma, that’s not why. Savio thinks you’re ready to be plucked now. Remo didn’t want that to happen as long as you were still too young, but now he won’t stop his brother anymore. Savio will amp up the charm to get into your pants.”

“Good luck with that,” I muttered. “How many girls has he been with while you were around?”

Diego got up. “Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answer to.”

“I want an answer, believe me.” I needed an answer because I needed my fury as armor against Savio and my still simmering crush.

“Too many to count, and I doubt he’ll stop now that he’s back here. Not unless he gets it from you, but even then…”

I jumped to my feet, too agitated to stay still. “He won’t get anything before we’re married. If he thinks this stupid ring entitles him to anything, I’ll kick him in the balls.”

“Oh, he won’t get a chance to try anything. I’ll make sure of that.”

“You don’t have to hover all the time, Diego,” I muttered. “I can handle myself even against Savio.”

Diego hesitated. “The Falcones are powerful. Remo is my Capo and Savio is my boss, too. He might think he can break the rules of our world and do things before you are married. Savio knows how to sweet talk girls into doing what he wants.”

“I hear you aren’t bad at sweet talking girls into your bed either,” I teased to lighten his mood. His constant worry about me and our financial situation had turned him way too serious.

Diego let out a groan. “Don’t listen to stories about me. They’re not meant for your ears.” He became serious again, leaning forward to stare in my eyes. “I’m serious, Gemma. Dad and I gave you a lot of leeway when we allowed you to fight, but I need to make sure you don’t cross other boundaries as well.”