Page 59

“It looks like it’s just you and me taking a break from the madness,” Kevin says, flashing me a bright white veneered smile. “The suites are better on the ears, I promise.”

I return the smile. “That’smusic to my ears.”

While I love all music, I tend to lean more toward girlie pop.

Gripping my mojito, I follow Kevin. Eventually, I grab his arm so I don’t lose him in the crowd.

When we reach the VIP area, a group of men is huddled near the entrance. Kevin raises his chin in their direction, but none return the gesture. As we get closer, my gaze lands on a recognizable face.

The face of the man I thought could replace my fixation on Julian.

Unsure what to do since it’s been years, I keep my head down.

He doesn’t let me off that easy, of course. As we pass the men, he snatches my wrist, stopping me.

Kevin halts, peering at me over his broad shoulder.

“I need to talk to this one,” Luca says to Kevin.

“Chill out,” Luca tells Kevin in irritation. “We own this club, and she knows me. I won’t hurt her.”

Realization of who he is dawns on Kevin.

Luca Marchetti.

Just like with Damien and Julian, he’s dangerous and very much Mafia involved. He’s also a killer and a man who only plays by Cristian Marchetti’s rules—most of which aren’t legal.

“It’s okay,” I assure Kevin with a smile, tightening my hand on my mojito. “I’ll come to your section in a few minutes.”

Luca draws me away from the crowd toward a lit area. The other men return to their conversation, and Kevin walks away. When we’re around the corner, Luca swings me around to face him.

I smile, taking in his dark hair, beautiful tan face, and strong jawline.

We were only sixteen and at a restaurant when Melissa pointed him out to Darcy and me. She said while all Mafia families are violent, the Marchettis were the worst, and Luca and Benny were just as cruel as the lineage before them. She also told us Luca was very much a noncommittal heartbreaker who swore to stay single forever to prevent himself from being pushed into an arranged marriage.

He was also the Marchetti closest in age to us. I stared at him in fascination, my eyes following his every move, but I didn’t think he noticed me.

I found out he very much was when I left the restroom and he pulled me to the side. Shutting my eyes, I remember our first conversation and how sure of himself he was.

“What’s your name?”he asked, smirking wickedly.

“Genesis.” I could’ve lied, but I had a feeling he’d know I was.

“Cute name.” He crowded me closer. “Where are you from, Genesis?”

I frowned. “Why?”

“I’d like to know how accessible you are to me.”

I stood on my tiptoes to better meet his eyes. “Who says I want to be accessible to you?”

“The way you looked at me said it.”

“How did I look at you?”

He seemed entertained by my sudden attitude. “Like you wanted to fuck me right then, right there.”

“Wow,” I said, drawing the word out. “Someone sure is cocky.”