Page 22 of Dark Breaker

In his next story, I see topless women dancing in the same pool, but the video freezes. I think he deleted it when he realized who he’d just added.

“That asshole,” I tell Angela.

“What’s the next story?” she asks.

I swipe to the right but get nothing. “He’s deleted all his other stories.”

“Where do you think he was?” she presses.

“I only know of one house party going on tonight,” I reply.

Angela studies me. “Nunzio’s? You recognize the pool?”

“No…” I say. “But Nunzio purchased a new place shortly after breaking up with me. Hmm.” I pull up some stories from my other friends, and find a similar pool with women dancing topless in it. The overlay reads: “Nunzio knows how to party.” I glance at Angela. “Guess I’m going to Nunzio’s party after all.”

I can’t wait to see Fabio’s face when I barge in there and catch him redhanded. He’s probably fucking some random party girls at this very moment. I plan to film the whole thing on my phone and send it directly to Giovanni Amato and Raffaele D’Alimonte. We’ll see how eager the two of them are for me to wed after that. Once his father sees what he’s done, I’m positive he’ll not only call off the wedding, but he’ll also punish Fabio by explicitly denying him his war. My brothers will be safe and I won’t have to marry that arrogant, cheating prick.

“You coming?” I ask Angela.

“You bet I am,” she replies. “I have to watch over my sister-in-law.”

I glance at her swollen belly. “I was joking.”

“Just because I’m pregnant doesn’t mean I’m housebound,” Angela retorts. “Though I admit I was half joking myself.”

“If I let you come, Massimo would kill me,” I tell her truthfully.

She sighs. “I know. All right. At least get one of your friends to go with you.”

I nod. “I already have someone in mind.”

* * *

Me and Michelamake our way through the packed house. I have my phone in hand and I’m ready to film. I’m eager to catch Fabio cheating on his future bride.

“When Nunzio throws a party, he doesn’t hold back, does he?” Michela shouts into my ear over the loud music.

“Apparently not,” I reply.

I head toward the back and squeeze through the patio door to the pool area. The music isn’t as loud outside, but it’s still pretty blaring. It’s definitely wild back here, with topless girls dancing both inside and outside the water. I glance at Michela and she gives me a disgusted look.

“Alcohol and college parties are a bad mix,” she says.

I can only nod in agreement.

I scan the lounge chairs next to the pool, and then the bar, but I don’t see Fabio anywhere. I search the pool itself and the surrounding areas but again, no Fabio.

“Maybe he left,” Michela comments.

“No, he’s still here,” I tell her. “He wants to stay close to the action.”

“How do you know?”

“Because he was posting pictures of Cristal and topless girls,” I retort. “He’s fucking thrilled to be here. He wants to show everyone how much of a party animal he is.”

A label I tried very hard to avoid in my early months myself. For me, university is a place to learn, not to get laid. Though I’ve used the latter option a lot, admittedly.

I decide he’s probably upstairs. No doubt having sex with someone already. I should’ve checked there first.