Page 132 of Ruin

The vise around my chest loosens, and I kiss her temple, clinging to her. “I love you, too, sweet girl.”

Then she sighs. “As much as I don’t want to… we should get back. Can we meet later? I’d really like to talk to you. Just not, you know, in a bathroom.” She laughs, her full, light happy laugh, and it sounds like music to me.

I don’t want to let her go. “No. Blow this off. Come upstairs with me to my suite. I need the time and space to really take care of you. We have a lot of time to make up for, baby.”

She tilts her head at me, traces my jawline with her fingertip. “God, you are so fucking gorgeous, Tommy. I missed you so much. How can I say no to you?” She kisses me softly, and I kiss her back, then kiss her harder and she laughs again, pulling back. “Let me get my bag, and I’ll meet you at your suite.”

I frown. “I’ll go with you, and we’ll go upstairs together.”

She groans as she stands up, my cock sliding out of her. “I don’t want anyone to see us together yet. I have a lot to tell you, Tommy, and I need you to have time to process it all before we are publicly together.”

Publicly together. Holy fucking shit. I scramble to my feetas she pulls her dress back on and fixes her hair.

I grab her shoulders and make her look at me with those big hazel eyes with the fiery green flecks that I love so fucking much. “Tell me you’re coming home to me. Tell me you’re home, Gi. Please.”

Her eyes darken slightly, and my heart along with it. “That isn’t a decision that I can make. It’s something you need to decide after I tell you everything. I’m not saying no. I’m saying not yet. Okay?”

Not yet. Not yet means hope. Not yet means we’ll find our way.

We finish getting dressed, and I kiss her again, a long kiss, a soft kiss that quickly turns hard and hot, leaving both of us breathless as we slip out of the bathroom and down the hall together, stealing glances at each other.

When we walk back into the ballroom, I go left, and she starts to turn to the right, but out of nowhere a spotlight turns on, blinding us. She freezes, and I look away, slipping into the crowd, hugging the wall, a bad feeling clawing up my spine.

Someone is speaking, a microphone amplifying their voice. Antonio, saccharine and smug.

“When I first fell for Giovanna, I knew winning her heart wouldn’t be easy. There were…obstacles. People who didn’t think we’d last. Maybe even people who thought they knew her better than I did. But despite our ups and down, we made it here, to where we are now, together. Stronger than ever. And I can’t imagine going into this new year—or any year—without you by my side. So, before all of our friends, our families, and this city that never sleeps, I want to ask you to be mine. Forever.”

My blood turns to ice as he drops to one knee, pulls out a ring box.

What the fuck? Did she lie to me? Play me? Use me for sex?

No. The last hour with her flashes through my head. Gi doesn’t lie to me. If she were with him, she would have told me.

I watch her carefully, my heart stopped waiting for her to answer. But she doesn’t. She is flustered, her skin pinking. She smooths her dress, fiddles with her hair, gives a small fake laugh and blows out a breath, making the crowd laugh lightly along with her.

My heart claws against my ribs. Maybe she’ll say no. Maybe she’ll tell everyone that she’s with me, that she doesn’t love him—

Antonio shoves the ring on her finger and stands, jerking her into a kiss as the crowd erupts and I freeze. Lorenzo claps hard, walking toward them and claps Antonio on the shoulder.

I push forward, ready to grab her, throw her over my shoulder and drag her out of there, when her eyes lock on mine. She gives me the faintest shake of her head, and the air blows out of my lungs like she slammed me in the chest with a bat.

“God fucking damn it.” Vin’s voice is low and hate-fueled behind me. I turn to look at him, dazed, and see Matti next to him, watching me, his expression grim.

I surge forward, ready to tear Antonio apart, my brothers right behind me, but Aurelio steps into my path and stops all of us. His voice is calm, cold, deliberate. “Beautiful moment, no? It would be a shame for Giovanna to remember it withblood on her dress. Especially if that blood is hers.”

He bares his teeth in what passes for a smile and clamps his yellowed teeth on the butt of his cigar. I can barely breathe as he says, “If you’ll excuse me. I should pay my respects to the father of the bride.”

My vision tunnels. My fists clench. The sea of people parts to make way for Aurelio, and she’s standing there, the ring glittering on her finger, drowning in congratulations. Her eyes searching the crowd for me.

But I can’t get to her. Not now at least. Not without destroying her.

60

Giovanna

Aurelio’s breath hits my cheek before his words do, thick with cigar smoke and sweat. When he leans in too close and speaks next to my ear, I work hard not to cringe as his spit dots my skin.

“Smart girl,” he says, his voice oily. “Very smart move. I worried for your safety when you left Mr. Abbiati to go travel the world, but it looks like he has convinced you to play the game.”