I give a wry smile. “Do you mean is my ass okay?”
“No, I mean us. Are we good?”
“Because you just railroaded me into what you want?”
He winces.
I inch closer to him, even though we’re standing toe to toe. “I don’t know. I feel a bit raw.”
He immediately wraps his arms around me and pulls me against his chest. “Yeah, me too,” he whispers against my hair.
I lean into his strength, wondering how I became the biggest coward on the face of the Earth. Why do I have so many barriers up? What am I afraid of losing—my heart? My pride? Are they so damn important?
“You want me to help you pack?”
“Like you personally? Or you’ll send someone over?”
“Me personally. Me and you—packing your shit together.”
It sounds great, actually. A pain in the ass, but great. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
He releases me from the hug to stroke my hair back from my face. “Okay. Let’s go.”
* * *
Stefano
I’m cheerful as hell packing Corey’s shit that afternoon. Yeah, I was an asshole about it and I feel bad, but I won. She’s giving something more of herself to me.
And yeah, I still know our relationship is complicated as hell considering who our fathers are, but I don’t want to worry about that now. All I care about is getting closer to Corey. Getting into her head. Having her near me at all times.
At four o’clock I get a text from Junior, my oldest brother.
Che due coglioni! I groan when I read it.
Corey twists from where she’s standing. “What is it?”
“My fucking brother.”
“What did Nico say?”
I growl and stuff my fingers through my hair. “Not Nico. Junior—the oldest stronzo. He says he’s bringing all the guys to Vegas this weekend for Nico’s bachelor party.”
Corey straightens. “I didn’t know Nico was having a bachelor party this weekend.”
“Yeah, he wasn’t,” I grumble.
Fucking Junior.
“Ah. It’s a surprise ambush.”
I flick a glance at her, surprised she gets it. “Exactly. And I’m supposed to set everything up.”
“This is the brother who tried to kill Nico when they were in Chicago?”
“Not tried,” I correct. Junior doesn’t try. He doesn’t fail. He gets done whatever the hell he wants to get done, just like our father. “Threatened.”
“I’m sorry,” she says simply. “Family sucks.”
“Understatement.” My family lives and breathes by La Famiglia. Blood is important. Only family can be trusted.
Supposedly.
And it was family money that funded the Bellissimo, helped Nico generate millions. But when you’re afraid for your life just because you want to marry the woman of your own choosing?
That’s just plain fucked up.
So Junior bringing everyone out for a bachelor party isn’t to help celebrate with Nico. It’s using him at best. They’ll turn the wedding into every form of business tactic they need it to be. PR for the family, greasing wheels, a deadline for people who owe them money.
Nico will be expected to perform like a trained monkey. Act the jovial host to everyone, make a stand when needed. He’ll take it fine. He’ll do his part. And so will I, of course.
Because really—what other choice do we have?
Chapter 12
Corey
I stand in one of my red dresses, shuffling cards, waiting for the party to start. We’re in one of the conference rooms on the third floor, but it’s been set up as a private lounge tonight, with couches and tables. A buffet table of party food is set up against one wall and a bartender stands at attention behind a bar.
Nico called me last night, after Stefano and I finished moving all my clothes and personal items into one of the penthouse suites.
“I need you to do something for me,” he said, without any preamble. Stefano was out on the floor, working and I was still unpacking and arranging things. Nico hadn’t called me before, except when Sondra broke up with him and went home to Michigan. Then he rode my ass non-stop trying to get me to tell him where she was.
“Okay. What is it?”
“I need you to deal for a private gig tomorrow night. A bachelor party.”
“Your bachelor party?”
“Yes.” He sounded exasperated, but I didn’t think with me.
“Well, you’re the boss. Tell me when and where and I’ll be there.”
“I’ll text you the details. I haven’t told Stefano yet, but I need you to be there.”
I try to read between the lines. Why does he need me? Oh. That’s freaking sweet.
“To put Sondra’s mind at ease?” I asked.
“Right. It won’t be pretty: strippers and prostitutes and cigars. I don’t want her worrying. Capiche?”
“No problem. I will be her eyes and ears. She can count on me.”
“Atta girl. Now just don’t let Stefano change your orders. I need you there, I don’t give a shit if he objects.”
He hung up before I could question why Stefano would object. It better not be because he wanted to party with strippers.