Page 29 of Sins of the Orchid

Santi’s eyes observed me. “You’ll burn like a tomato,” he remarked, referring to my fair skin tone. Unlike my father, my brothers, and the Russo men, I was fair skinned. There wasn’t a hint of olive skin on me, but thankfully, I tanned to a light golden.

“Well, there is this thing called sunscreen,” I retorted dryly.

His lips twitched into a smile. It was weird because Adriano told me Santi barely ever smiled and though he was always serious, he’d always smiled when I challenged him.

“Amore is probably looking forward to some freedom,” Mr. Russo chimed in, with a knowing look in his eyes. “It will be good for you and Adriano to get some space from each other.”

I frowned at the odd comment. “I’ll miss him. He’ll come and visit.” Turning my eyes to my best friend, I asked, “Right, Adriano? We said October.”

“Yes, we did. I’ll chase all those Italians away.”

I shook my head. “Aren’t you Italian too?” I mocked him lightly. He just shrugged. “Now go get your helmet. Or don’t, I don’t care. I want to drive, and I’m not depending on you or any other man for the rest of my life.”

“Ahhh, Amore. Now you sound like your grandmother.” Mr. Russo sounded amused.

I shook my head. “Somehow I have a feeling that is not a compliment,” I joked.

“Your grandmother might be a stubborn woman, but she is incredibly strong and smart.” It was the first nice thing any man of the Cosa Nostra uttered out loud about the great Regina Regalè. Mr. Russo chuckled at my widened eyes. “We might not like her, but it would be foolish to discredit her.”

“Hmmmm.”

“You know, Amore, most women in our world don’t drive,” Adriano muttered, pushing his hand through his hair. He was trying desperately to get out of his debt.

“Well, I’m not most women,” I reprimanded him. “And I won’t marry into this world, so I have to drive. Now pay up, Adriano.”

“How do you know you won’t marry anyone in this world?” Santino asked curiously.

I smiled. “Because my grandma would never allow her fortune into this world. I didn’t grow up in this world, and I won’t die in it either.”

Santi raised his eyebrow. “You seem sure.”

I shrugged. The only man that I’d stay in the world of the Cosa Nostra for was Santi. “I am.”

Adriano put his hand on his heart. “Oh my heart! You wouldn’t marry me?”

I chuckled at his goofball ways. “If you teach me how to drive, I might.”

“Ah, sneaky, sneaky.”

“And take me to have some ice cream,” I quickly added.

“Well, now you are getting greedy.”

“Kind of a downgrade from sneaking into parties,” Santi retorted sarcastically, and I glared at him. Adriano and I still attended parties but usually with DeAngelo’s attendance to ensure I was safe.

“We could do that too, you know,” I challenged, tilting my chin up. “After all, we are older and wiser now.”

Amusement flickered in his eyes; his stare slightly condescending.

“You are playing with fire, kiddo.”

He fucking insisted on calling me kiddo, and I hated it. He knew I disliked it. My chest and face warmed, anger itching my skin.

Santi is a jackass and didn’t deserve my girl crush.

Turning my eyes away from Santi, because staring at the man for too long wasn’t good for my health, I focused on my best friend and Mr. Russo.

“You better make the girl happy, Adriano,” Mr. Russo chimed in, probably sensing the silent battle between his eldest son and me. “Go get your helmet and teach Amore how to drive. Then take her to have some ice cream.”