Page 154 of Sins of the Orchid

Two days, one hour and thirty minutes since I ran into Santi and we shared that searing kiss. No, I wasn’t counting hours and seconds. My stupid heart was.

I haven’t heard from Adriano, and somehow it felt like I had lost both Russo men. Nothing seemed to be going my way lately. Dad was vigorously planning the wedding I didn’t want. Lorenzo was constantly meeting with the Russo’s, much to Dad’s dismay. Uncle Vincent and Maria started dating. Even Grandma was constantly throwing curveballs my way.

Like today, she decided she would have a company party at Santi’s nightclub. The Orchid. For Christ’s sake! Of all the places in this city, this is the best one she could come up with. Unbelievable!

The only one that was acting the same was Luigi. It didn’t bode well for this family at all. I loved my brother, but he could be so damn crazy and reckless.

DeAngelo and I arrived late by design. I wanted to spend as little time as possible there. I hadn’t been to The Orchid since my first kiss with Santi. I really had to snap out of this Santi coma.

The driver pulled up at the entrance of the nightclub, letting DeAngelo and I out. There was a long line of people waiting to enter the club, but we went towards the guard and the private entrance. He must have recognized us and immediately opened the door.

We walked through the dark club, DeAngelo’s keen eyes on our surroundings. Though considering the owner, I had a feeling this might be one of the safer places.

“This should be fun,” I muttered, my mood sour. The dance floor was turned into a makeshift walkway. It wouldn’t be a Regalè company party if a few models weren’t strutting around, showing off some designs.

“We just have to make it an hour.” DeAngelo didn’t look too thrilled to be here either.

“Anything on George?” I asked him under my breath.

He shook his head. “I’d bet my life he is here in the city. We destroyed everything he owns in Venezuela. He has nowhere else to run.”

My chest constricted at the thought of his betrayal. It made my stomach churn. He was the cause of Mom’s suffering. I could forgive him for everything but that.

I wished Grandpa would have given the bloody cartel to Anderson. Maybe Mom would still be alive. That business wasn’t worth her life. Nor my grandfather’s.

My eyes roamed the room. Uncle Vincent was here along with Maria, and I couldn’t help a big grin. I was happy for them. She was a good woman and Uncle Vincent seemed smitten. Though I did warn him if he hurt my business partner, I’d gut him. He chuckled like I uttered the funniest joke. I was rather serious. I liked her a lot and didn’t want to see her hurt.

“My favorite sister!” A pair of hands wrapped around me and lifted me off the ground. I threw my head back and laughed.

“Lorenzo, how many times do I have to tell you,” I said through a soft teasing smile. “I’m your only sister.”

He rolled his eyes. “Minor, insignificant detail.”

My gaze caught Luigi leaning against the wall, his hands in his black suit pockets. He was shooting intense glares across the room, and I followed his gaze to find Santi, Adriano, and Carrera standing together. The three were talking and it seemed Adriano was on better terms with his brother.

How good for them!I thought bitterly but immediately regret hit me. Adriano and Santi loved each other and despite their disagreements, they stuck together. It was the way it should be.

“Why is Luigi mad at the Russos?” I asked Lorenzo.

He shrugged. “Santi shot him.”

My head whipped around, searching my brother’s face for signs of a joke. He was dead serious.

“When? Why?”

Lorenzo looked like he wouldn’t answer me. Then a resigned breath left his lips. “Dad will shoot me if he knows I told you.”

“I won’t tell him,” I promised.

“It was a few months ago,” Lorenzo retorted. “Luigi owed Santi and surprise, surprise, our big brother didn’t deliver.”

I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion. “Like money?”

“No, not money. A favor.”

Involuntarily my eyes darted across the room to Santi again to catch him already watching me. His heavy gaze sent a warm rush down my spine and heat rushed to my cheeks. I prayed it was dark enough that nobody would see it. This reaction to him had to go.

“How about a dance with your old man?” Dad’s voice came from behind me, and I startled, spinning around.