Page 21 of Sins of the Orchid

Santi relaxed his shoulders and though his face remained tight, his voice was gentle. “I’ll run his history, and we’ll see what we find out. Coincidences like this don’t happen. You know that, kiddo. Right?”

There he went again, calling me kiddo. Why couldn’t I be more than a kiddo?

I just nodded my agreement. He was right, it wasn’t a coincidence.

“Now, let’s go,” Santi ordered his brother and me.

“Hold on, I’m not ready to—” Adriano tried to take over, but it didn’t take a genius to realize Santi would shut him down.

“Then stay,” Santi growled. “Amore is going to her grandmother’s, and I’ll drive her.”

Adriano didn’t want to leave. It was written all over his face. He probably hadn’t gotten into that pretty girl’s pants yet.

“Where is Savannah?” I asked him.

“She’s waiting upstairs.” I guess he made her wait while he came to check on me.

I cleared my throat, uncomfortable with the meaning of it.

“Should you go say goodbye to her?” He pressed his mouth into a thin line, and I knew the answer. He wouldn’t leave her yet. On an exhale, I suggested what I knew he wanted to hear. “Why don’t you stay and ummm…. talk to her. I think Santi is right. I should go to Grandma’s now. Besides, we are leaving for Italy early in the morning.”

Adriano’s eyes, similar to his brothers, flashed with hope. “Are you sure?”

My heart sank a tad bit that my best friend would so easily be persuaded, but I tried not to take it personally. I’ve seen firsthand with my brothers that men were horny douchebags. Except Santi. I had yet to see him with a woman, although I heard plenty of stories of his heartbreaker ways.

I nodded. He hugged me and pecked me on the cheek, just as Renzo came into the bathroom. He must have not expected me here, his eyes roaming over the three of us.

“What happened, Boss?” he questioned Santi.

“Venezuelan in the last stall. He tried to get Amore. We’ll need to get more info.”

He nodded.

Renzo’s gaze shifted to me.

“Where were you, Adriano?” Renzo asked, his eyes on me. “You two are always joined at the hip.”

“He was busy showing off his dick,” Santi gritted out, and Adriano flinched at the accusation.

“There is too much testosterone here,” I murmured, my mood swinging from scared to annoyed and agitated.

“You okay, kiddo?” Renzo asked and suddenly I’d had enough. Anger, fear, and annoyance flared within me at everything.

“Would you all stop calling me kiddo!” I exclaimed, my chest heaving, and I knew angry blotches probably marked my neck. Being a fair skinned, red haired girl was a bitch. “Y’all are driving me fucking nuts! We should get going before the police come.”

The three of them looked at me weird, almost as if expecting me to burst into tears. Maybe I would later, but now… I wouldn’t. I needed to get my mind off everything, get to Italy and focus on things I could control and change.

Disbelief lurked in Santi’s dark eyes, and his soft chuckle followed. “Calm down, kiddo. Renzo will handle the situation here, Adriano will go chasing pussy, and I’ll take you to your princess tower at Regina’s.”

Regret hit me immediately. It was a terrible time to dwell on endearment titles. He just saved my life, and I sounded like a spoiled brat complaining about thekiddotitle. It wasn’t as if I acted like an adult, sneaking into the college party.

None of this was anyone’s fault but mine, and maybe Adriano’s, for the way tonight ended. “You won’t tell Dad and my brothers I was here.” I held Santi’s dark gaze. I didn’t need to beg Renzo because whatever Santino decided, he’d go with it. “Please, Santi.”

A few heartbeats passed before Santi finally caved. “I’m too old for this shit,” he grumbled. He nudged me forward. “I won’t say anything.” He paused, then added. “Now, let’s go, Amore, before I change my mind.”

Relief washed over me. Dad would put a stop to my trip with Grandma if he heard about this. I was safe with her. She kept a team of bodyguards, and DeAngelo was the best.

I gave Adriano another hug, relief washing over me. Santino was known for keeping his promises. I’d heard Father and my brothers comment on it on more than one occasion.