Page 32 of Veiled Amor

But then, she felt pathetic for not being able to stand up to her father, and to be so damn happy lapping up these fleeting moments with Giancarlo.

How was it she couldn’t move past him?

Ah well, that was a question for a bottle of wine to answer.

“Don’t be nervous,” she heard. It was then she realized she was still clutching Capone’s hand. It was difficult letting him go, but she tucked her hand in her lap again.

“What’s going to happen now?”

“First thing is to get you some breakfast.”

Her belly grumbled like a lion at the mention of food, and she chuckled. “That would be good.”

“Come on, let’s get inside.”

On instinct, she stuck close to Capone. Her assumption had been the place would smell like men. Body odor, cigarette smoke, and beers. But it was pretty clean smelling.

“I don’t know what you’ll see in here,” Capone said, “every MC is different, so try not to be shocked if you see someone fucking.”

She nearly gave herself whiplash. “Sex? In front of everyone? At this time of day?”

Capone chuckled deep enough the sound slid over her skin like two rough hands.

“MC’s are a different world,nena. We make our own rules. But Shark, the prez who runs the place, is a good guy, nothing bad goes on here, it’s always consented.”

“Well, consider me warned.” She half-laughed, trying to appear braver than she felt. She was with Giancarlo, whatever his feelings for her, and they appeared to be as confused as a teen on prom night, he would never allow something bad to happen to her.

They didn’t see sex, or anything close to it, thank goodness. But there were many people around, and every set of eyes came their way. A few men grinned, coming over to slap his hand. “Good to see you, man. Thinking of putting in your papers to the better chapter?”

The man at her side smirked and said something in return, but she was so dazzled by the change in his demeanor she didn’t hear a word.

“And who is this?” The fair-haired, clean shaven man with a million tattoos across the top half of his body asked.

“Lucia, this is Vampire.”

Her lips twitched as the man grasped her hand to shake. “Your name is Vampire?”

He grinned toothily, tonguing his sharp incisor. “It’s a long story. Stick around, and I’ll tell ya it.”

Capone’s grin turns sharp. “Simmer down, Casanova. I gotta talk to Shark, and Lucia needs breakfast.” It was subtle and hardly noticeable if Lucia hadn’t already been pressed up against Capone’s side, but she felt him tense. It was probably nothing, certainly not territorial.

“You can’t have all the pretty ones,” Vampire stated, grinning at her. “Catch you later, pretty Lucia,” he winked and strolled off.

“He was friendly.”

Capone grunted and steered her down a corridor, a hand on her lower back.

It was a tall man who stepped out of an office, his arm around a pretty young woman, and he sent Capone a smile. She watched the pair slap hands, and then he introduced her. Shark introduced his woman to them both.

“Thanks for doing this,” Capone said. “We’ll only need a couple of days at most.”

“It’s no bother, brother. It’s what we do. Have you guys eaten? Spencer will help fix you something, won’t you, baby?”

“Of course,” she smiled at Lucia before kissing her man’s lips. “Let’s you and me grab a coffee in the kitchen and let the boys catch up. Do you like espresso mocaccino? I just bought this fancy machine. It’s so good.”

Even when Spencer hooked her arm through hers, Lucia’s eyes searched out Capone’s.

“You good with that,nena?”