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Hopefully, they feared his wrath more than they hated me.

CHAPTER 24

Emilia

After her third game, Ama slid into the booth reserved for Alessio on her fifth or maybe sixth margarita. They were delicious and refreshing, a dangerous mix. I stopped a few rounds ago when I offered to get refills and asked the bartender to make mine virgin.

I leaned against her and kissed her cheek, letting everyone around us believe I was as far gone as she was.

“Has Alessio asked you anything recently?” She rested her head against mine while we watched her brother and Pedro take on a new pair at pool.

“Hmmmmm.” I pretended to think it over. “He asked if I was having fun a few minutes ago.”

She giggled and lightly smacked my arm. “No, silly. A real question.”

Even slightly more sober than her, I was confused. “What do you mean?”

“What a little chickenshit,” she burst out laughing, earning looks from all the men. Alessio grinned and winked before going back to the game.

I sat up and turned so I could look at her. “What are you talking about?”

“Shhh.” She put her finger to her lips. “He doesn’t want me to tell you.”

I leaned in. “Tell me what?”

“He wants to ask you to––”

“Ama.” Alessio was suddenly at the end of our table with a wary smile aimed at his sister.

Her eyes widened. “Oops!”

He shook his head with an exasperated sigh before smiling and looking at me. “I was planning on talking to you tonight, maybe with some wine and candles.”

My throat tightened. What was he talking about? It sounded like a proposal, but it couldn’t possibly . . ..

“Millie Torres, will you be my girlfriend?”

Ama squealed and grabbed my hands. “Please say yes!”

As if I had any choice.

I laughed with her, then smiled at Alessio, playing into my role. “I thought I already was.”

He blushed, the stone-cold murderer once again embarrassed because of his sister. “Just wanted to make sure we were on the same page.”

I cocked a brow. “I don’t spend the night with men who aren’t mine, so as far as I’m concerned, we’ve been official since that first time.”

His smile turned wicked. “Then happy almost two-week anniversary.” He leaned across the table, and I met him, sharing a quick kiss before he went back to the game.

“That was the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen.” Ama put her hands over her heart. “I’ve never seen him like this, Millie. I swear.”

I kept my smile in place even though I wanted to run. I didn’t want to hear how real this was for either of them. It stung.

Instead of patting myself on the back for being so damn good at my job, I wanted to throw up. Purge all the lies and deception from my body and disappear.

“I’m going to miss you so much.” It was the only honest thing I could say. I didn’t want to talk about her brother and our relationship.

Lying to him was one thing. He put himself in a position of power and crossed lines into Velez territory. He knew what he was doing.