Page 29

Lost.

I was lost in my own reflection, staring at the woman in the mirror in awe. There were many nights before my turn on stage when I’d sit and question my life and the events that had brought me to this club. But tonight was different. I wasn’t sure I remembered what hope felt like, but maybe this feeling of weightlessness was just that. Or the flutters in my belly.

I didn’t recognize her.

The woman with light in her eyes.

And a smile carved on her face.

I used to know her.

Soft knocks at my dressing room door pulled my gaze from the stranger in the mirror. But my smile only widened when Santino walked through. He said nothing and lifted me out of the chair, only to sit and reposition me over his lap.

“I’m not ready yet. And I have to perform in twenty minutes. ”

“No,” he said, shaking his head and leaning in for a kiss. “You have the night off.”

“Santi, you can’t just re-block. We’re still down a dancer. Two, actually, because Star didn’t show.”

He shifted the hair on my shoulders and kissed behind my ear, causing me to squirm and giggle. I immediately regretted the noise the moment it left my body. But Santino wasn’t fazed and held me tighter.

“I don’t care about any of that. I owe you a date, remember?”

“I’m off tomorrow night.”

“I know. You’re also off tonight.” He pushed to his feet. “Come on. I want to take you somewhere. Down to the beach and the pier.”

Santino carried me out the door and through the shadowy corridor toward the back exit.

“Wait, my shoes.”

“You won’t need them,” he said with a cunning grin.

“Okay, but you’re going to have to put me down. What will people think?”

“That I’m the luckiest bastard.”

Those butterflies had wings made of hot embers. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, still in disbelief at what was blooming between us.

The salty night air was breezy but warm, whipping my hair into Santino’s face and catching in his mouth.

“I’m sorry. My curls get a little wild sometimes,” I laughed, gathering them in a bun.

“Leave it. I love it.”

I froze, slowly releasing my hair, and it fell around us.

Reaching for his cheeks, I used my thumb to caress his stubble and flashed him a smile as we walked to the ocean’s edge. He sat and I nestled between his legs, leaning on his chest while his arms curled around me. Being with this man was strangely and unexpectedly easy. Even as fear filled my heart.

Life had shown me that I shouldn’t become complacent when things were good, because fate always caught up, tearing me from every ounce of happiness I had ever known.

“ Preziosa , can I ask you something?”

I nodded.

“If I offered you another position here, would you accept?”

Shifting around, I looked up at him, confused. “Why would I need another position?”

“Amara, when you’re on that stage, I want to commit mass murder.”

I opened my mouth in rebuttal, but he held my chin, silencing my words with his thumb. “I need you to understand something. You’re mine now. I don’t want to stop you from doing this if it’s what you love, but I can’t guarantee I’ll hold back. And sooner or later, the feds will come knocking when people walk in but never make it out.”

Despite being blindsided by his admission, I couldn’t help but smile because somehow I knew he wasn’t just being facetious. Did I love shaking my ass on a pole for perverted bastards every night? No, not even a little. But I felt conflicted.

You’re mine now.

His? Was I his?

Was he mine?

And if I gave in to this, what else would I have to give up?

“I’m going to Philly for revenge, Santino. That won’t change.”

“That’s not what I’m asking of you.”

“Yet?”

“Do I worry about you? Yes, always. Especially after Tarasov.”

I rolled my eyes, and he chuckled lightly and continued.

“I trust you know what you’re doing. I’m just here to help you reach that goal faster.”

Breaking eye contact, I stared beyond him, tracking the couples walking along the pier. Is that what we were? A couple.

My thoughts drifted back to when he spread me open on the bar and made me come in his mouth. And the unforgettable night I’d let down the walls around my heart. But more than that, his gestures and caring words …

My chest warmed, and I found his beautiful dark eyes again.

Mine.

“Are you in need of a waitress, Mr. Leone?”

He leaned in and grinned wide against my mouth. “No, but I could use an assistant.”

Turning around, I threw a leg over his thighs and straddled him. “Deal.”

His lips were soft, his kiss slow and tender. Flames lit the pit of my stomach, and for the first time, all I could think about was being his, feeling him inside me. I craved it. But to my disappointment, the beach was extra crowded tonight. Santino’s rock-hard cock let me know I wasn’t alone in my misery.

“Come over tonight,” I said, tipping my head back as he kissed along my collarbone.

“I’m there, but what must I do to get you in my bed?”

“Yours or mine…I don’t care. I just need you.”

“ Preziosa , I’m yours.”

I raked my fingers through his soft waves. “You know, I owe Luca a thank you.”

Santino’s brow furrowed. I laughed, smoothing out his frown with my thumb. “If he weren’t such a fuckup, his father would have left him the club, and you and I would have never met.”

“You think this is just by chance? You and me. Nah.” The way this man cradled my face and gazed into my soul sent goosebumps across my skin. “ Tu ed io eravamo destinati .”

“Destined?” I whispered.

He nodded. “I nearly passed up on this trip. I’d planned to relinquish my half from the comfort of my home in Naples but changed my mind at the last minute. I felt a strange pull, the need to come pay my respects to Uncle Lorenzo in person, even though we hadn’t seen one another in years.”

A small gust of wind blew my curls in his face and again into his mouth. We laughed as he tucked the loose strands behind my ear .

“I know now I came here to find you, Amara. But this trip was never meant to be permanent. That’s why, one day, I’d love for you to come back home with me.”

Santino had this way of making my insides do backflips. He made me crave things that had once seemed impossible. Maybe they still were, but it couldn’t hurt to delude myself, even if just for the moment.

“Italy? But I…”

Again, he silenced my words with a kiss.

“You don’t have to decide now. Having you in my world is a privilege, and I don’t want to pressure you. But in the meantime, when we’re in Pennsylvania, I want you to meet a good friend and his wife. Silas is who I told you about. And I must say, I never understood the love he had for his wife, especially after she tried to kill me twice .”

I grimaced and locked my legs around him a little tighter as feelings of protectiveness rose inside me.

“His wife tried to kill you?”

“Helena is one of the best at what she does—or the worst, if Silas is anything to go by,” he said with a hearty laugh. “No hard feelings. We’ve moved past that. I think.”

“Can’t wait to meet her.” My tone dripped with sarcasm as I fought to suppress feelings of hatred toward a woman I hadn’t met, especially the wife of a man he viewed as family. I needed a distraction.

Possibly feeling my irritation, Santino stood without relinquishing his hold and started toward the water.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“I thought we could go for a swim?”

I gasped. “No, you wouldn’t.”

“It’s a little warm out here.” His tone was full of mischief as small waves lapped at his ankles.

“Santi, no. I’ll kill you.” No matter how hard I attempted to sound serious, I couldn’t erase my smile.

“I’m so far gone for you, preziosa . I might just let you. But first…” Water splashed my legs, climbing higher the farther he walked until he wa s waist-deep, my feet submerged in the dark water.

“And here I thought you wanted to get laid tonight, Mr. Leone.”

He tipped his head and laughed. “That’s cruel.”

“I’m an expert at cruelty. Don’t tempt me.”

“Yeah?”

His hold tightened, and I sensed his intentions.

“ Santino .”

“I love it when you say my name. But I love it even more when you scream it.”

Water swirled in my ears when he submerged us both, allowing our bodies to drift for several seconds before breaking the surface and bursting into laughter.

With my hair plastered over my eyes, I arched back and dipped my head again, smoothing the wet curls from my face.

“You’re dead,” I squeaked, scooping water into my hand and splashing him.

He trudged farther where I knew it was well over my head, and I suddenly remembered I’d never been a strong swimmer. I clutched onto his wet shirt and buried my face into his neck.

“Santi, don’t let go, please. I can’t swim.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

He kissed my forehead and walked us back toward the shore, guilt souring his handsome features.

“It’s okay,” I assured him with a smile before slapping another handful of water into his face. I hadn’t meant for him to swallow it and choke, but I was too busy laughing to feel torn up, so I wriggled free and ran for the shore. When he caught me, we tumbled to the sand.

“I’m sorry.” I laid on the innocent tone, making him hesitate for a moment, but he grinned and flipped us over, pinning me to the sand, his muscular body over mine.

“I don’t think you are. Not even a little.”

“You’re right,” I said, pushing back dripping hair strands from his forehead. “What are you going to do about it? ”

Santino pitched closer, brushing my lips. “Everything.”

I could barely take a breath before he crushed my mouth in a heated kiss. His tongue caressed mine, teeth catching my bottom lip. Sand particles smeared over our skin as I ran my hand along his back and into his hair, fisting his shirt and rocking my hips. Maybe waiting until we were home was out of the question; I wanted him right here, right at this moment. And I knew I wasn’t alone in my desire.

Santino thrust into me and groaned into my ear. “Tell me to stop, Amara, or I’ll take you here on this fucking beach.”

Was I capable? Or better yet, was I capable of saying no? One time with this man was all it took, and I was hooked.

“This is crazy,” I whispered, ripping open his shirt.

A crooked grin pulled at the corner of his mouth as I stuck out my tongue and caught a droplet of water that had rolled over his lip and trickled over me.

“I suddenly love crazy.” He dipped to kiss me again, but before our lips made contact, a shrill scream startled us, piercing the once peaceful night air.