Page 76 of Ruin

The annual New Year’s Eve gala again. They creep up faster every year, like time is sprinting past. This last year flew by with finishing law school, working nonstop with my brothers, and interning for Councilman Donovan.

I’ve been helping Vin as he quietly assembles a collection of evidence—videos, pictures, small betrayals—that will someday topple Aurelio. Some of it is the crimes he’s committed, but more powerful is the evidence showing him belittling or betraying his men over the years. This will help us to sway allegiances when the time comes, building our own army while simultaneously depleting his.

Brilliant. People don’t give Vin enough credit. He’s going to make a strong boss.

But tonight isn’t about strategy. It’s about networking, securing a permanent position with Councilman Donovan. And Giovanna.

She’s bent over the bathroom counter, slinky gold dress hugging her body, applying lipstick close to the mirror. Itake my heartburn medication then slip behind her, hands sliding down her hips. She ignores me.

Ignoring me is something she’s doing pretty frequently these days. She’s always busy. Busy with school, busy volunteering at the law center, busy hanging out with Lexi and her friends from school. Busy without me.

When I push the fabric up over her hips, she smacks my hand away. “Don’t, Tommy. I’m on my period.”

“You know I don’t care about that.”

“I do. I don’t feel like bleeding all over this dress.” She turns to me, eyes raking over me like I’m an unfinished project. “Wear the Armani I had made for you, the charcoal gray not the black.”

“I like the black.”

She’s on edge tonight. She’s been on edge for the last few months.

“It’s not black tie, Tommy. You’ll look like waitstaff. Can you just—” She impatiently waves me toward the closet, turning back to the mirror.

When I come out in my boxer briefs, carrying the charcoal gray suit, she hands me a gold vest that matches her dress. She tries tying the matching tie on herself for me while I watch.

“Fuck! Hold on.” The knot slips apart once, twice. Flustered, she hums in annoyance, her cheeks turning red. Her hair is done in a fancy twist, and pieces fall down when she rips it off her neck and tries again.

God, she’s stunning. Dark red lips against olive skin, her hazel eyes burning with flecks of gold and green. All I can think about is those lips stretched around my cock, that fire turned on me.

She’s yelling something at me, waving her hands, occasionally smacking my chest. I don’t hear anything she’s saying. All I can do is watch her with a small smile. Fucking gorgeous.

“Tommy! TOMMY.”

My hearing kicks back in. “Yes, sweet girl?” I reach out to touch her face, and she slaps my hand.

“In case you weren’t paying attention, I am freaking the fuck out here.”

“I noticed.”

She scoffs. “Oh, did you? Because you’re not…responsive!”

“The word you’re looking for is ‘phlegmatic.’”

Her scowl could set me on fire. “Is it? Or is the word I’m looking for ‘asshole’?”

I shrug. “‘Phlegmatic’ means unemotional, stoic, calm, while ‘asshole’ means—“

“I fucking know what the words mean, Tommy!” She bites in a sharp breath and speaks through teeth clenched tightly shut. “I don’t need a fucking vocabulary lesson. I need you to care. I am frustrated, and I need you to be frustrated with me. Everything is going wrong!”

Trying not to smile as I sense that will inexplicably make her more angry, I reach for her then stop, waiting for permission. I raise an eyebrow, and she rolls her eyes. I take that as consent and, dropping the suit, I pull her into my arms.

“You want me to get upset about a tie? I can’t do that, but I am upset that you’re upset. What you’re seeing is aplomb. Confidence.”

She bangs her forehead softly against my chest and digs her nails into my lower back. “Define one more word for me,Tommy Demonio, and I swear on all that is holy, I will…”

She trails off, and I gently cup her face and make her look at me. “Do that again.”

She narrows her eyes. “Do what?”