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The whole situation we’re in is fucked up. I can’t let that hot ass kiss distract me from my mission.
I need to find out who’s setting me up, and Oliver Grotto is the key.
I know he is.
The house is lit with sparkly lights and against the starry sky it looks like quite the extravagant event. This isn’t your typical family get-together. No, they went all out to impress some people. And I realize I am most likely one of those people.
It reminds me of the type of events Mia plans back in New York. She’s always so good at it all. Me, I wouldn’t know the first thing about how to throw a party together, but Mia has her little planner and always does such a great job.
So far, everything’s played out just as I’ve expected. Tonight, I need to be on my game, making sure I find out where Oliver is hiding.
Lucia and I step inside the house, smiling at all the people we pass. They have converted the house to a party zone. All the furniture has been pushed to one side of the living room and they’ve brought in high-top tables draped with white linens. Everyone appears to be having a good time, laughing and chattering over cocktails a bartender makes behind a makeshift bar in the corner.
“Don, over here. There’s some people I want you to meet,” Mario says with a smile. He’s got a cigar in one hand and his arm around a tall lanky man. “This is Sal, he’s the chief of police. He’s a great man.”
I shake Sal’s hand, telling him my name. “Nice to meet you.”
“I’ve heard everything about you,” Sal says, continuing to shake my hand like there’s money that’ll dispense the harder he shakes.
He’s a weasel of a guy, and everyone smiles at him like he’s king of Italy or something. I’m about to respond when my attention is pulled to the front door by a woman in red.
Mia.
She’s a flame of sultriness in a strapless dress that begs me to take it off and not worry about whether I’ll get burned. My mouth waters at the sight of her breasts swelling above the silky material that stops inches above her knees. And the shoes. Fuck, the strappy heels are sexier than the dress. She hangs on the arm of Enzo, and my chest tightens when I see the proud look on his face. Men are staring at her, and it makes me want to cover her up and hide her away so only I can look at her.
“Who is she?” Sal asks, nearly drooling out of his mouth.
It makes my skin crawl. “That’s my daughter.” I step away from the sliminess that is Sal, and find the bar, ordering a glass of red wine. It really is a delicious wine, and I enjoy the taste while I stare at Mia from across the room.
Is she remembering the kiss we shared?
Because I can’t seem to shake it from my mind.
Lucia appears at my side. “I lost you there for a second.”
I laugh a little as she orders a glass of wine. “Let me ask you something.”
She smiles, sliding closer to me. “Ask away.”
“Your brother. The one not here. There’s a story there, huh?”
Lucia’s eyes widen. “He made my father angry a few weeks ago, and he’s banned from the house.”
Game time. I lean even closer, my eyes meeting Mia’s a second before they return to Lucia. “Ah, what did he do?”
Lucia steps a smidgen backwards and loses her seductive smile. “It’s silly. Family bullshit.”
“Sounds like an interesting story.”
Lucia brings her glass of red to her mouth, taking a small sip. “He hurt the family name.”
“Badly?”
“Enough to get banned.”
I rub my chin. “What did he do?”
Lucia leans in, like she’s got the biggest secret in the world, which I know she does. “He disrespected my father when he told him he was leaving the business.”
“Ah, I see.” My mind digests the information, wondering why Oliver would quit the family business. Is it because he’d stolen enough to go out on his own?
I think I know the answer, but I’m still not sure. “Where is he?” I ask Lucia.
She shrugs. “He has a place in Rome. I’m sure he’s hiding away.”
“Rome? Excuse me a moment, my daughter needs me.” I walk away from Lucia, making my way toward Mia.
Mia’s eyes sparkle as I step closer, like she’s been waiting for me all evening. Like that kiss between us is everything she’s had on her mind like me.
“Hi,” she says, as I pull her away from Sal and Enzo, who slobber all over her.
“Oliver has a place in Rome. He’s upset the family.”
She smiles. “Yes, Enzo says Mario won’t even discuss Oliver, and he banned him from the family. Do you think he’s the one who framed you?”
