“Jesus Christ,” he muttered as he looked me down. His disgust for my acid-washed, ripped jeans and boots was clear on his face. He, like always, was in a gray suit. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and nodded to the officer and then to me. “Get him the fuck out of there.”
The officer moved swiftly. He fumbled with the keys and apologized profusely for the misunderstanding.
“Damn right, it was. You’ll think better next time you try to drag an Amato down here on a bullshit charge, you got it?” Gianni glared at him until the cop looked away.
“Yes. Of course. Apologies, we just thought—” He slid the bars open and I walked out and joined my brother.
“Thought what?” Gianni asked. “That you could convince him to talk? Nice try. We’re leaving.”
I followed Gianni out of the station. We didn’t speak to anyone else, despite them either glaring at us or continuing to apologize. I was waiting for him to scold me once we were in the car about getting in trouble for such a ridiculous thing, but he surprised me by asking about something completely different.
“Care to explain why they picked you up, shirtless, at some human woman’s place?”
“No. I’d really rather not.”
He put the car in gear and peeled out of the parking lot. “We all have urges, Desiderio, but duty comes first. You are no exception. Do you know what will happen if the Linotti family finds out you’re—”
“I’m what?” I interrupted him. “Like you don’t cheat on your wife? I call bullshit.”
“I don’t sleep with humans. The police said this isn’t the first time you’ve been there. Are you seeing her regularly?”
I didn’t respond, which was a response all on its own.
“You know they watch us. You can’t keep doing this.” Gianni turned to take me back to my house. “Next October, you will be marrying a vampire.”
“Or what?” I asked. I felt like a petulant child, but I couldn’t marry Aleida. Not anymore.
“What do you think?” He laughed dryly as he turned into my driveway. My blood ran cold as we stared at the car parked in front of us.
Gianni grinned as Aleida opened her door and climbed out. “If the Amato family doesn’t kill you, the Linottis will.”
