I smirk at her and set down the salad tongs to lift my own glass, clinking it against hers. “Cheers, leannán. Here’s to you freeing yourself of puny, entitled men.”
She laughs and nods. “And here’s to you not being one of those.”
The clink of glass echoes throughout the room again, sounding like a promise.
13
Amy
An hour after Kerry served us breakfast, or whatever you’d like to call that meal, we’re sitting in the beautiful atriumof the house. All of the greenery calms my frayed nerves, the sunrise a hazy orange outside the large windows of the room. Kerry has my feet on his lap and is rubbing them, something I would’veneverasked him to do. It’s another reminder that he isn’t what I expected from a mafia lord. Now he’s telling me about his meeting with a member of hiswork organization.
Lily’s missing. Maybe that’s why Kerry started rubbing my feet, he knew he had bad news for me. I’m glad it’s not because of me, but her mom’s past haunting her isn’t much better.
I’m being pampered, safe and sound inIrelandof all places, while my best friend is missing, being treated like who knows what. It makes me sick, thinking of her abused while I’m here, sleeping the day away, drinking champagne, and getting a foot massage.
“But we’re certain that she’s alive,” Kerry assures me. I know he’s just trying to help, so I nod. Unfortunately, her being alive or not being in question at all makes me ill. And even if she is alive, that doesn’t mean she isn’t suffering. “We’re doingeverything we can to find her. There’s a plan, and you alerting us to her existence and disappearance was very helpful.”
It’s meant to soothe me, to make me feel useful. It doesn’t work. But I force a smile anyway.
“The leader of my organization is coming for a personal visit. I expect either today or tomorrow, but I don’t know for certain. And when he comes, I’d like for you to join us for the meeting, as it pertains to you.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Why would it have anything to do with me?”
Kerry sighs. “Because…one of my rivals knows of your existence, so I’ve asked for their help in keeping you safe. That’s what the meeting is about. As such, I think I’d like your input and for you to be aware of how we’re going about it. He’s coming personally and not just sending a messenger, which makes me think it’s…sensitive in nature. I want your approval before we go through with it.”
His thoughtfulness is both astounding and a bit scary. I suspect I might not like the solution to keeping me safe.
I chew on my bottom lip. “All right…I can be there.” Talk about layers of social conduct I have no idea how to manage. Conversation between mafia leaders? About a different, rival mafia leader? And somehow I’m expected to navigate this? “Is there anything that I should know?”
Kerry arches a brow at me, as if sensing my anxiety. “About Alessandro? No. He’s charming and will be respectful of you, don’t worry. And on the rare chance he isn’t, I’ll fecking kill the eejit, understood?” He reaches out and cups my cheek, brushing a thumb over my skin repeatedly. “I’ve got you, leannán. Just follow my lead, all right? Trust me.”
I take a deep breath. “I do trust you, Kerry.”
Kerry’s estimations were right.It’s later that evening, just when I’m getting tired, that he gets the call that the leader ofThe Namelesswill be arriving soon.
Kerry is dressed in one of his finest suits, pressed and starched. He insisted I’m fine to stay in my cardigan and black stretchy pants, though, so I’m not exactly sure what the point of him dressing up is.
I rub my hands together as I look around the kitchen, feeling like I should be ready to play the part of hostess since that’s how the women in my life always operated, but…this isn’t my house and I’m not that familiar with it. I’m kind of a terrible hostess anyways. I’ve never had the easy, graceful finesse of it that my mother and grandmother always exhibited.
I guess some things aren’t passed down biologically.
When the doorbell rings, I think I’m ready. But I’m wrong. I’m nowhere close to being prepared to handle the firestorm of Italian ego that steps into the room.
He’s tall. That’s the first thing I notice. His presence takes up the whole room. His suit is beautiful, a bold blue that contrasts with his dark hair. The man starts chattering about Ireland and Kerry’s property as soon as Kerry opens the door practically. Golden earrings glitter in his ear, catching the light. He’s talking so fast and his Italian accent is so thick, his hands waving about, that I struggle to understand what he’s saying. My brain is having to fill in a lot of gaps in the words I do catch here and there, and I’m not sure all of them are English.
But Kerry doesn’t seem to be having any difficulties. He responds back as smooth as silk. “Yes, the weather in Ireland is usually like this. I’m sorry it caused a disturbance in your flight.”
Flight?Okay. So I didn’t understand what the man was saying whatsoever.
I look between the two men, wringing my hands. Do I interject and introduce myself? Or would that be rude?
I don’t have time to decide because the man’s eyes turn to me, crinkling at the corners as he flashes me a stunning smile. Like, actually stunning, I feel dazzled for a moment. Kerry has an undeniable presence, but this guy is a different beast entirely. Charming in a totally different way, intense like a beautifully crafted cathedral. “You must be this Amy I keep hearing so much about.” His voice is soft, almost sultry. He’s slowed down his words, making him much easier to understand.
I give a polite smile and hold out my hand for him to shake. “Yes, that’s me. You must be Mr. De Matteis?”
He laughs, a low and rumbling sound, and takes my hand. But instead of shaking it, he lifts my hand to his lips and kisses the back of it. I’m pretty sure he’d be maintaining eye contact the entire time, but I break it pretty early on. There’s a strange sound from Kerry, a low grunt from the back of his throat, and I realize that he’s glaring at De Matteis, hands clenched at his sides. “Oh, please call me Alessandro,piccola signorina.”His accent is so heavy on his own name that I doubt I can even come close to replicating it.
I nervously chuckle and pull my hand back as soon as it’s polite to do so, just as Kerry steps in front of me, getting in between us. “Okay.”
