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“You’re supposed to keep us safe,” Carlotta added.
Nevio snorted. “Lotta, everyone knows you’re here with us. You’ll be safe, even if all three of us lie passed out in our own vomit by the end of the evening.”
Carlotta sent Massimo a critical look. “That won’t happen,” he said. “I don’t make a habit out of getting drunk or stoned. That’s Nevio’s job.”
“Alessio gets drunk too,” Nevio said as he parked on the lawn in front of a massive mansion. I didn’t even know whose party this was. A rich kid from Las Vegas who was probably buying drugs from the Camorra.
Everyone got out of the car, but Nevio stopped me when I wanted to climb out too.
“If I see you drinking too much, I’ll have Massimo drive you and Carlotta home. End of story.”
My eyes grew wide with surprise. “What?”
He opened his door and jumped out before he faced me again. “You heard me, and I’m being serious, so be a good girl, Rory.”
This was the first time Carlotta and I went out with the Unholy Trinity, and I hoped it would be a memorable experience. The guys let us enter the building first. The white marble lobby was already crowded, people mingling with drinks, laughing and chatting. Though it was loud, the source of the ear-splitting music came from the living room where people were dancing and crammed together like sardines. Despite this being a huge house, the number of people attending this party surpassed even its capacities.
While Carlotta’s and my entrance was met with mild curiosity or assessing looks from the girls, and appreciative or even flirting looks from the boys, the atmosphere shifted the second Massimo, Alessio, and Nevio stepped in close behind us. We became invisible to the boys, especially when Nevio pulled me against him to murmur, “Remember to behave. Massimo will keep an eye on you and Carlotta.” He pressed a kiss against my temple and was off.
Another one of those annoying friendly kisses!
He left me a little dumbfounded once again, and before I could retort, “Only if you do.”
Nevio headed straight for a room at the end of the big lobby, a kitchen from the looks of it, and the admiring and nervous gazes of almost all the girls followed him.
Alessio chuckled dryly, still beside me just like Massimo and Carlotta. “He’s like a black hole.”
I gave him a blank stare, my brain not catching up, especially as the droning bass made clear thoughts difficult.
“He’s referring to the strong gravity of a black hole.”
“Even light doesn’t have enough energy to escape its pull.” Alessio gave me a meaningful look, then he followed Nevio. Maybe he didn’t notice, but his pull wasn’t so much worse.
Massimo stayed and led us past the gawking masses toward the kitchen. By the time we arrived, Nevio and Alessio were already gone, probably with alcoholic provisions, of which the kitchen had an almost unlimited array. Massimo went over to one of the fridges that must have been set up for this occasion since they barred part of the kitchen counters and took out a can of 7up for Lotta and a can of Mountain Dew for me before he grabbed a Corona from a basket filled with ice for himself.
Because of her heart, Carlotta never drank. She’d once tried a sip of champagne at a wedding, and Diego had gone completely berserk. Since then, she steered clear of it. I didn’t usually drink either because I just didn’t like the taste and didn’t tolerate much, but I guessed that had more to do with my lack of training when it came to alcohol than my general taste.
I took the can from Massimo and took a gulp. Maybe I’d have a drink later, but to start, it was probably a good idea to keep my wits about me. I wanted to get a feel for the party first before I risked getting tipsy.
The other people in the room gave us curious looks, especially Massimo’s presence as our massive shadow. He ignored them and stoically drank his beer. His black polo shirt revealed the tattoos on his arms, which seemed at odds with his nature. Then again, it didn’t.
“You don’t have to play our bodyguard if you prefer to hang out with Nevio and Alessio, orsomeone else,” Carlotta said.
I leaned against the counter, allowing the beat to fill me up and watching my friend’s interaction with Massimo. The way she had said someone else had made it clear she meant someone female, at least for me.
Massimo narrowed his eyes slightly and glanced into the living room, which could be seen through the round arch connecting the two rooms. “I know most of these people, but I don’t want to spend time with any of them, nor do they appreciate my company. Alessio and Nevio can entertain themselves and usually do in an annoying way.”
Carlotta nodded toward a group of girls who were watching us, and especially Massimo through the open French doors of the kitchen. “They seem interested in your company.”
I was distracted by something in the living room, so I stopped listening to their conversation, which would probably soon end in a debate anyway. Nevio chatted with two girls, sipping from a vodka bottle. He looked utterly bored, but the girls were definitely interested. Alessio danced with a girl, though she did most of the dancing, and he mostly nodded along with the music. I wasn’t sure how he wasn’t suffering a heatstroke in his hoodie.
Maybe I could get Nevio to dance with me since even Alessio was on the dance floor, doing what could be generously labeled as dancing.
I gave Carlotta a look, my eyes darting to Nevio, and she answered with a small nod, knowing my plan even if she probably disapproved of it, considering her wariness of Nevio. I pushed away from the countertop.
“Where are you going?” Massimo asked.
I rolled my eyes. “Into the living room to dance. People saw me enter the party with you, so I doubt anyone will bother me, and if they do, Alessio and Nevio are there to protect me.”
