Finding Beauty in the Darkness

When we get to the elevator, Mr. Lorenzo—I can’t, for the life of me, remember his first name—tells the guard we’re going up to see Mr. Valentino. The guard scans his license before patting each of us down. I’m still not sure which brother we’re going to see, but I keep my mouth shut.

When the elevator dings on the top floor, the four of us get out. Johnny’s standing there and when he sees me, his eyes visibly widen for a half a second. “Mr. Lorenzo, Giovanni and Nico are waiting for you, but I don’t believe they were expecting guests.”

Mr. Lorenzo laughs and glances around him. “I was on my way up and found these beautiful women looking for Mr. Valentino. I thought I would do him the favor and bring them on up.”

“I’ll let them know you’re here.” Johnny walks to the desk behind him and picks up the phone. He speaks in a hushed toned for a few seconds before setting the phone back down. “Giovanni is on his way.” Not even thirty seconds later, Gio comes barreling down the hallway. If it were possible, smoke would be steaming from his ears. His body is visibly tense and his jaw is ticking. His eyes are trained right on me and Mr. Lorenzo, where our arms are entwined. Shit!

“Sebastian, I suggest you get your hands off her if you want to keep your limbs intact.” That’s his name! Sebastian!

Sebastian removes his arm from mine and puts his hands up in a placating motion, his body shaking with laughter. “No need to make such violent threats, Giovanni.”

“Johnny, take Sebastian back to the conference room while I speak to Aria.” As he says this, Nico comes down another hallway, and once he takes in the scene in front of him, curses under his breath.

“This way,” Johnny commands, but before Sebastian lets him guide him down the hallway, he turns to me, and taking my hand in his, lays a wet kiss on the top of my knuckles.

“Until we meet again.” He gives me a smarmy wink and a shutter rips through my body. When he turns to follow Johnny, I wipe my hand down my jeans, trying to get his grossness off me.

“What the fuck were you thinking coming here?” Gio barks as he stalks over to me, getting in my face.

My defenses go up, ready for a fight. “Whoa there, buddy. Back the hell up.” My hands come out and I push him slightly back. “We came to say hello. I didn’t know your hotel was off limits.” I spent months being treated like garbage and I’ll never allow that to happen again.

Thankfully, he visibly calms before he speaks his next words. “You can’t be doing shit like this.”

“What my brother is trying to say,” Nico takes over, “is that as much as we love seeing you pretty ladies here, this is business only. It’s not safe to be seen around here.” Nico wraps Amber up in his arms and gives her a kiss, and she melts into his arms, smiling up at him. “Next time, call me first. Okay, babe?” Amber nods and kisses him back.

Natalie rolls her eyes. “I’m just along for the ride. I didn’t even want to see either of you.”

“I’m sorry, Gio. We’ll go.” I turn to leave, the feeling of rejection hitting deep, but he grabs my hand and pulls me toward him, until my back is flush against his front. Natalie smirks as I screech at his assault.

“I need to keep you safe, cuore mio. I’m sorry for yelling.” His cool breath hits my ear, sending a completely different kind of shiver down my spine than the one Sebastian sent. “I’ll see you at home tonight…” His lips press against the sensitive skin behind my ear. “I want you back in our room.” My lips part in protest, but he murmurs, “Don’t argue. Second floor is for employees. I want you in our bed.”

I nod in agreement, and tilting my head to the side, Gio gives me a soft kiss on my lips, his tongue sliding in quickly before he lets me go. “I’ll call you guys a car.”

“We’re shopping on the strip.”

Gio smirks and turns me around to face him. “Anything for me?” He waggles his eyebrows.

“What would you want?”

“Anything you buy for yourself is technically for me. You should pick up a few items for our trip.”

I give him a quick kiss and Nico shows us out.

“I’ve never seen Giovanni act like that!” Natalie laughs once we are out of the hotel and walking back down the strip. I look behind me and see Rome following us. He must have been following us earlier, yet he didn’t warn Gio. I turn and give him a soft smile and he nods once. I’m not one hundred percent sure, but if I had to guess I would say he didn’t warn Gio because his job is to protect me, not rat on me.