Page 43 of Aldo

She sighed. “Relationships have to progress, or they die, Aldo. I know how I feel. I’m not sure you do—or if you’re capable of expressing it.”

Anger took over, fear driving it. Part of me worried about how she would feel if she knew everything. The violence of my past. That my future would always contain more of the same. That being with me, really being with me, meant she would be in danger. How thoughts of anything happening to her because of me niggled at me with worry. How the feelings I had for her frightened me. They were unlike anything I had ever experienced. She had become more than I ever expected.

And being an idiot, instead of expressing my fears, I let anger get the best of me.

“Relationship? When did this progress to a relationship? We’re fuckmates, Vi. We agreed to that. Just because I look after you doesn’t mean I’m looking to marry you—or even ‘progress,’ as you stated, into something resembling a relationship.”

She stared at me, and I saw the flash of hurt she tried to hide.

“If I’m just a fuckmate, Aldo, you need not expend so much energy on my behalf. I can look after myself quite well.”

“Yes, so well. Your boyfriend ripped you off and you never noticed that your best friend was sleeping with him before they stole everything you owned, if I’m not mistaken. Then you have to mouth off and anger an already pissed-off patron so he comes after you. I had no choice but to try to keep you safe. You’re my employee.”

There was no disguising her hurt this time. My words hit her hard. Her voice was thick when she responded.

“And that is all I am? An employee you enjoy fucking?”

“Stop putting words in my mouth!”

She stood. “Someone needs to help you talk, Aldo. You have no idea how to express your feelings. I guess being a tough guy is easier for you than being real.”

I flung my napkin down and stood as well. “I’m done with this conversation.”

“Of course you are.”

“I’ll see you later.”

“I’m going to my place tonight.”

I hated that. I detested she had a place to go. I was furious we were fighting. That her words struck something inside me. I despised the fact that she was right on so many levels. And I really loathed the fact that I wanted her to stay and make me talk to her.

“Whatever. Terry will escort you to your car and follow you home.”

And I walked out.

CHAPTER 14

ALDO

My phone rang as I was leaving the high-roller area. One of our VIPs was upset over his missing parking pass, insisting it had been in his pocket when he’d left home. He informed me a man had bumped into him on the street, and he was certain it had been stolen. I assured him we would cancel it and provide him a new one, and I was on my way to arrange it so I could get downstairs and see Vi before she left. I didn’t want her to leave still angry. I wanted a chance to talk to her.

I answered quickly, seeing it was Gordon from the security area. I had been in a shitty mood all day after my fight with Vi. I’d had to stop myself from going to the suite a dozen times during the day and talking to her. I’d been short with Roman and everyone around me. I hoped I could keep my temper for whatever situation Gordon was calling about.

“What?”

“The facial recognition just picked up on Morton’s face. He was trying to avoid cameras, but we caught him.”

“Where?” I snapped, picking up my pace. Roman glanced my way, matching my hurried footsteps.

“He was on the main floor, but he stepped into the elevators. He went down.”

The parkade. The missing pass. It was too coincidental to be an accident.

Vi would be getting off in ten minutes. I had to stop her from going to her car.

I hung up, calling the deli. Wanda answered, sounding chipper. “Rolling Dice, how may I help?”

“Wanda,” I barked. “Violet. Don’t let her leave.”