Page 74 of Broken Blood Ties

He grabs my wrist. “Oops. Didn’t see you there.”

I swallow at the slimy timbre of his voice, and my heart thrashes. He leers down at me, eyes dipping to the low-cut V in my dress. Creep.

He raises his head up to Penny, not sparing her more than a glance. “Elevator is this way. I’ve already paid us out.”

Rebecca smiles flirtatiously, a blush deepening on her freckled cheeks that nearly rivals her hair. “Thank you, Tim. That’s mighty nice of you. I mean I’m sure that filet I ordered was more than any other dish I’ve ordered before. Not that there were any prices on the menu. It’s a known fact that restaurants with prices on the menu?—”

I elbow her when Tim’s fist clenches at his side.

“Shut up,” I whisper. Rebecca gets the biggest case of word diarrhea when she’s around a guy she likes, and I’m pretty sure she likes Tim. Or at least, what he can provide for her.

When we reach the elevator, Tim pushes the button, and it’s then I notice the gold cufflinks with the initials EV. Huh.

The elevator dings, and a fit, muscular blond darts off that looks?—

Oh, no. No.

Tim pushes us on the elevator as a voice I never planned on hearing this evening inquires, “Bella?”

Luna’s surprise mixed with utter confusion would be almost laughable if I wasn’t panicking inside.

“Luna?” I plaster a look of indifference on my face, pretending I’m unsure of her name. The fact Luna Buscetta and Nik Balakin are here is a recipe for disaster. I definitely don’t want Tim to know my last name. Hecan’tknow my last name.

The Buscetta name is powerful and can provoke different responses from different people. Some can be terrified, willing to bend over backward to avoid the threat of having the Cosa Nostra on their backs. Others, well, they can see dollar signs. An opportunity to extort the family worth billions of dollars.

Luna’s eyes flick to Tim, then narrow on his black hair peppered with strands of gray that are a dead giveaway that he’s significantly older than me. She drags her gaze over Penny and Rebecca, both whom she’s never met. They don’t come over.

Tim seems to study Luna, and Nik stalks back into the elevator. He’s so intimidating, my expression startles when he approaches.

“Get out. We need to leave,” Tim barks. Rebecca flinches at this tone, and her shoulders cave.

Luna scowls, pointing at me. “I want to talk to her first.”

No, Luna.

I reach back, smoothing my ponytail that’s tightly pulled to my head. “No, I’ll see you in class on Monday.”

Honestly, it’s the best I got. She’s got to give it up, and I don’t want to jeopardize this new club because Tim gets spooked by my older sister and her husband.

She starts again. “I want to know?—”

“Get off or I will remove you myself.” I jump at Tim’s booming words, and they echo off the elevator.

“Touch her, and I will split you in half.” Nik offers Luna his hand, and he tries to coax her to leave.

Yes, leave please. Tim tucks me under arm, and I roll my eyes.

“I’ll text you,” I tell her, and I offer them both a smile.

The uncomfortable altercation shushes Rebecca and Penny. They both remain quiet as we move from the elevator to the front door.

“I have a car for us,” Tim says. He fondles the hem of my dress then bends down, his mouth grazing Rebecca’s ear. “I’ll be right back.”

He moves to the valet, while the three of us stay glued near the tall topiary bushes towering in sleek black planters that remind me too much of those at our estate.

It’s not long before a black town car pulls up, and where I expect Tim to get into the driver’s seat, he doesn’t. But I thought he went to the valet? An attractive Black man steps out, a tightly shaved goatee hugging his mouth and chin. His suit looks just as expensive as Tim’s.

Opening the back door, he steps aside while Tim gestures to the back seat. “Let’s go. We don’t have all night. This club doesn’t open to just anyone.”