Page 17

Chapter Seventeen

FIAMETTA

One Week Later

M y heart still flutters every time I think about how Crue handled my father, when he was trying to intimidate him. It was a risky move that has sent countless men to an early grave, and my green-eyed stalker did it without flinching.

What else should I have expected from the man who killed so many Napoli soldiers?

“Excellent work tonight, ladies. Keep it up,” Joe Davis says as he passes Simone and me. He comes to a stop, resting his lower back against the counter, and inhales deeply. “Last push. Our night is almost over.”

“You doing alright, Joe?” Simone scoops a ladle full of soup into a mother and her two kids’ bowls.

“Tired, Si-Si. Long day at the office with a whole lot of meanness. You know how it goes.” Sadness resonates through his words, but he gets back to his feet with a shake of his head and starts walking down the line. “But ain’t nothing gonna take away my smile. Not when we’re doing the good Lord’s work.”

“That’s the spirit,” Simone adds, before he’s gone on to the next person. She tilts her head and scans my face before speaking.

“Speaking of doing alright , what’s got you so bright and smiley tonight?”

“Whatever are you talking about?” I feign ignorance in a flimsy attempt to sound mysterious. I’ve been dying to talk to Simone about this all week, but we’ve both been too busy to get together.

The soup kitchen isn’t really the place I want to share my news, but I don’t think I can hold myself back any longer.

“Okay, now I know something’s going on. Are you having a stroke? Do I need to call a doctor?” Her mock concern comes with a sinister grin that makes me giggle.

I grab two bread rolls off a serving tray and set them on the next guy in line’s plate. He moves to Simone for his soup, and we do three more before I get a chance to speak again.

“I think I met someone.” After weeks of being followed around and multiple break-ins. But saying it out loud, making it real, makes my cheeks burn.

“Woah.” Simone stands dead still, and stares at me as if I've just revealed the secrets of the universe. “You’re telling me you managed to meet a guy while you’ve had...” she gestures with her head toward Tomas, keeping his name out of her mouth in fear that it might summon him closer like some sort of demon. “Him, following you around? How the heck did you pull that off?”

“It was at my father’s place.” Telling her about Crue is one thing, but adding too many details won’t go over well.

If I’m being honest with myself, I shouldn’t have brought it up in the first place. The details of our entanglement aren’t exactly a savory topic of conversation. Between the late-night intrusions into my bedroom and his vicious use of my mouth in Father’s bar, he isn’t exactly giving me a Cinderella story.

But I’ve kept this to myself for weeks. I have been constantly on edge and fearing for my life, only to find that Crue doesn’t want to pull the proverbial trigger. I have to share my excitement with someone, and who better than my best friend?

“He’s one of your dad’s soldier’s?” Her eyes narrow in a mix of concern and frustration.

I don’t blame her for feeling this way. She knows how much I despise the family business, and chasing after some forbidden love with one of Father's men is something I would probably do.

Luckily, I don’t have to disappoint her this time.

“He isn’t. He’s an outsider who joined a meeting, and we hit it off.” While he hit the back of my throat with his throbbing cock.

“Need I remind you that a meeting at a don’s house isn’t exactly the sort of place you meet nice guys?” She focuses on the last group of three, who arrive to collect their meals.

We serve them, before removing our aprons and heading into the back to wrap up for the night. Someone else is on clean up duty, so all we’ve gotta do is return the aprons and give Joe a rough total of how many people we served tonight.

“I’m just trying to look out for you, Fi-Fi. I don’t want you falling in love with the wrong guy and getting hurt. You’ve kept your distance from that side of things for a reason,” Simone sighs as we step out the back door of the soup kitchen and make our way through the parking lot behind it.

Tomas is already waiting, leaning his ass against the trunk while he rolls a cigarette between his fingers.

“I understand.” This isn’t how I expected Simone to react. Part of me believed she would be ecstatic and elated, the same way I feel. But that’s a silly thought, considering the circumstances.

Had Crue been anyone else, or had I told her we met somewhere completely different, I know she would’ve been jumping with joy for me. Maybe her reaction is a good thing. A wake-up call to how far I’ve fallen into insane depravity.

“Did you two have a good night?” Tomas asks as we reach the car, and my eyes instantly narrow in suspicion of the kindness he is using. What the hell am I thinking? It isn’t kindness, he’s merely being civil, but it’s so out of place for this monster, I can’t stop myself from searching for a hidden meaning.

“Yup, but glad it’s done.” Simone plays along, but she’s also approaching him with apprehension lacing her words.

“Great. At least you can get some rest now,” Tomas adds. “Ready to go, Fiametta?”

Who are you and what have you done with my father’s consigliere?

Unless it was Father to begin with. Having had enough of Tomas’s disrespect, Father could have put him in his place, and this is Tomas’s desperate attempt at making things right.

I nod my head and get into the backseat. Just because he’s playing nice, doesn’t mean I’m going to change my view of him. He’s still a bodyguard and chauffeur, above all else.

“Wanna stop for something to eat on the way to your place?” Tomas starts the engine.

“No, thank you. I’ve still got leftovers in the fridge.” I stare at him through the rearview mirror, trying to see if his facade will crack. It doesn’t, the whole drive home. He doesn’t speak much, either. Which is something I’ve never been against until this ride. I might be skeptical about him, but I’d rather hear his false niceties than have time to think about what Simone said about Crue.

Because she’s right. She hit the nail on the head without even trying.

I don’t want you falling in love with the wrong guy and getting hurt . Her words repeat in my head.

Well, I don’t think Crue’s going to hurt me. He doesn’t seem like the kind of man who would, after all he’s done so far. But Simone never said anything about being killed.

And that’s a threat Crue keeps making.