Page 9 of Vincenzo (The DiMaggio Crime Family #3)

AMALIA

V incenzo’s threat has been on my mind for the past couple of days. The crazed look in his eyes tells me he would follow through with it in a heartbeat, but I can’t help but wonder where the sudden anger came from.

He was pissed at our meeting when I proposed an alliance, but he was still a cocky son-of-a-bitch by the end of it. Yesterday, there was no humor in his tone or his eyes. What set him off this time?

Even though I have no doubt Vincenzo would follow through with killing me, the stubborn side of me wants him to know his threats mean nothing.

I gave him the courtesy of coming to him to form an alliance.

I tried to make it easy, have a discussion like the professionals we are.

So if he thinks he’s going to force me to run back to my uncle with my tail tucked between my legs, he has another thing coming.

I will not be disrespected like that. He wants to try and push me?

Well, let’s see just how much he likes being pushed back.

The image of Vincenzo in the alleyway flashes through my mind.

I saw the way he looked at me. He was fucking livid, but there was also a hint of desire running through his dark eyes.

It might’ve been minuscule, but I saw it, and I know he felt it.

Messing with him might just be a good source of entertainment and just the right amount of fuck you I can give him.

Carlos walks into the kitchen and gives me a hesitant smile. “Hey,” he says, and I give him a smile back. “Want a water?” he asks, opening the refrigerator.

“I’m good.”

I’ve been avoiding Carlos since the phone call with my uncle. How I’ve managed to do that when we’re staying in the same suite is beyond me, but I think he understood I needed the space or I would’ve shown him exactly how pissed I was at him.

Turning around, he opens the bottle of water and takes a sip before setting it on the counter. “We haven’t talked much.”

“We haven’t talked at all.”

He lets out a small defeated sigh. “What have you been up to?”

I give him a loose shrug. “Nothing much. Went on some walks. I’ve had a lot to think about,” I say, not wanting to get into any details. I plan on keeping my run-in with Vincenzo to myself.

“Look, I know you’re upset?—”

“I’d really rather not, Carlos,” I say, holding a hand up to him. “What’s done is done.”

I’m still weighing my options, trying to figure out how I can avoid doing what my uncle wants me to do, but I don’t need to fill Carlos in on that.

“We need those ports, and this is our best bet at getting them,” he says.

“Yeah, I know,” I say, not wanting to continue this conversation.

I was hoping my indirect threat to Vincenzo the other night would help us avoid this situation, but it seems the DiMaggios are adamant about keeping us out.

I’m still not giving up, though. There must be something the Velascos can give to convince the DiMaggios of this alliance. I just need to figure it out.

“So are you done avoiding me now?” Carlos asks, drawing my attention back to him.

“That depends, are you going to continue working against me?”

“I’m not working against you.”

“Well, you’re sure as shit not working with me.”

“Hey, you have to admit, I saved our asses yesterday. Your uncle was about to rip us both a new one.”

Carlos is right about that, but I think I would’ve preferred that over what I’m having to deal with now.

“Just don’t do it again, or I’ll add your name to my hit list.”

“Oooh, don’t tempt me with a good time, hermosa ,” he says, and I just shake my head, a small chuckle escaping my lips.

“You’re so ridiculous,” I mutter.

“There she is,” Carlos says, and I furrow my brow at him.

“I know the shit you’ve been through and the line of work we’re in can be a lot, but sometimes, you can be fun, Amalia. You should let that side of you out more often than not.”

Fun.

Now there’s an idea.

I raise a brow, and a smirk tugs at my lip when the idea of what I can do to push Vincenzo comes to mind. Something that tells him he can throw all the threats he wants at me, but I’m not going anywhere.

“How about fun Amalia comes out tonight?”

Carlos’s brows shoot up, then a sly smile takes over his bearded face. “What did you have in mind?”

“I’m in the mood to dance, and I think I know just the place to go.”