Heat streaks across my cheeks and I want to strangle Matteo. I can see he’s loving this way too much, and I’m mortified.
However, Dominic remains cool and collected. “I see you brought your entourage with you Cipi. Well Matteo, we are going to go to the charity gala tonight, Cipi is going to help land some new clients, and then I will be bringing her back home.”
“I see you brought out the limo,” Matteo nods.
“Yes, for most of the attendees tonight, that will be the vehicle of choice. We want to blend in.”
Lucia takes the bouquet from my arms. “These are lovely. I’ll put them in water for you.”
Matteo grabs my fur coat out of the closet but Dominic takes it from him. “I’ll do it.”
Tension fills the air as he holds the coat open for me. Slowly I step into it, sliding one arm down the sleeve then the other. I pull the coat tight around me.
“Have her back by midnight okay, Dom,” Matteo commands.
“Will you shut up,” I hiss through clenched teeth.
Dominic smiles, “Of course.”
“Matteo is only teasing,” Lucia chimes in. “You two have fun. Enjoy yourselves and don’t do anything we wouldn’t do.”
“Ci vediamo,” I call as Dominic holds the door open and we step out onto the porch.
“Thank you again for the flowers.” I move quickly toward the limo parked in the street at the end of the driveway. I know Lucia and Matteo are watching from the window. “You didn’t have to.”
“It was my pleasure. I can’t imagine what you have been going through after getting shot and they are your favorite after all.”
I smile as he opens the door for me and helps me slide into the backseat of the running limo.
“I didn’t know you had a limo,” I look around as he sits down next to me.
“It’s a business write-off. Cartieri Investigations is a billion dollar company with very rich clients. When we investigate people, we have to blend in with their world.” Dominic closes the door. “We’re all set, Tom.”
The running limo begins to move. I can see the driver through the partition.
“And I wouldn’t dare show up to a gala in a regular car with a Capuano queen,” Dominic adds smoothly.
“Oh, now I’m a queen,” I tease. “I thought I was a monster in your eyes.”
“I shouldn’t have said that. I’ll admit, seeing you appear in my office after fifteen years was quite shocking. But you’ve always been a queen, Cipi.” His eyes lock with mine. “Especially in this outfit. No one would ever believe the number of men you’ve eliminated.” A faraway look appears in his eyes as if he’s remembering a different time. “You were always lethal with a gun.”
The air in the limo grows hot.
The space feels too small.
My skin feels like it’s on fire.
I knew it was a bad idea being in such close quarters with Dominic Cartieri.
What’s wrong with me!
I should hate him for abandoning me all those years right after my father died. I should be furious with him for choosing the law over me. Yet my body feels a completely different way.
I look out the window and focus on the glow of the city lights through the tinted glass.
“My father taught me well,” I whisper.
I can’t look at him.
