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Giovanni
PLAYLIST: ? SHE WILL BE LOVED - MAROON 5 ?
Shit.
The first moment I’m certain I’m alone, I stop long enough to calm down and suck in a deep, steadying breath. I should’ve known Falynn’s presence would be maddening.
So affecting, I could barely keep it together.
My poker face is unmatched when I want it to be, yet being in the same room as her was enough to crack my facade.
I should’ve known what I was getting myself into when I insisted on coming with Louis. Did I really believe I’d be able to be around her and not be driven wild by her presence?
Nobody can know what an effect she has on me. My muscles feel twitchy and I’m dealing with a heartbeat that refuses to stop thumping like I’m in the gym and not in a tailored suit at a luxury hotel. I push a hand to my hair and slick it back some more, reminding myself how unlike me this behavior is.
I don’t get nervous. I’m the Don of the Sorrentino crime empire. People piss their pants when around me. The level of cockiness I have has never allowedroomfor nerves. This isn’t something I’m supposed to feel.
But it’d been uncontrollable the second we knocked on the door and Falynn answered.
How is it possible she’s gotten more beautiful in the months we’ve been apart? Her brown skin was glowing, and her spiral curls were full of life. The sundress she wore was simple and breezy, yet the way the delicate, brightly colored fabric draped her body was like art in itself. I wouldn’t look twice if it were any other woman, but with her, it was different.
It’ll always be different.
The barest hint of skin was enough to have me ready to risk it all.
The barest hint of herscentwas no easier. I became a dumb fuck basset hound sniffing it out as discreetly as I could manage—the sweetest honey that rendered my brain incapable of proper function.
Doesn’t she understand how crazy she makes me?
Her spark, her softness, her little quirks like biting her lips and avoiding my gaze. All of it makes me a madman.
I don’t know what was going through her head, but I could tell she was affected too. She’d avoided looking my way for as long as possible, her skin flushing with warmth.
Does she still love me as much as I will always love her?
“Fucking dipshit,” I swear to myself. “Don’t delude yourself. It’s over. You promised you’d leave her be.”
I’ll chop my hand off if it means keeping myself in line. I gave her my word. Imeantit.
She will never have to worry about me disregarding her wishes.
Falynn has made it clear she doesn’t want me near her. So I will force myself to stay away.
After I’ve given myself enough time to regain composure and arrange for a suite to be set up for Falynn and Tasha, I return to the other three. Louis has helped Tasha pack and carried their luggage out to be taken down.
The divide is palpable—Tasha’s pissed with Louis. Falynn’s avoidant of me.
It’s an awkward situation.
We ride to the Vittoria in silence. Louis helps them to their suite while I go off to the penthouse. I told Falynn I was going to respect her boundary, and that’s what I will spend the evening doing. I’ll have to find some distraction in work. Maybe even a third trip to the gym in the last twenty-four hours.
Expend some of the pent-up energy that’s been flowing through me since the moment I came into contact with her.
I decide on work first, phoning up Rosenbaum to discuss more details regarding the production company.
“Good to hear from you again, Giovanni,” he says over the phone. “How’s Vegas?”
“Always with the distractions, Saul. I called to discuss the construction efforts on our headquarters, not to tell you about my time in casinos.”
