AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Laugh on cue.
Smile and be polite.
Don’t drink too much.
Never speak out of turn.
My father had coached me through many events over the years. It was the first time he wasn’t here with me. He ran and didn’t even care about the consequences for me. I would have been dead if the Luciano brothers hadn’t liked me.
People whispered as I passed them. Some offered fake smiles when our gazes met. Were they talking about Dante or me? Or were they gossiping about my father? My skin was seconds from bursting into flames from their heated stares.
I’d never seen Dante with a woman on his arm. So perhaps they were whispering about him and how this was somewhat out of character. And as he made his rounds, I felt like a queen on the arm of a king.
A Boardwalk King.
One day, Dante would take over for his father and become the most important man in Atlantic City. He was already the second most important. Being with him drew a lot of attention to me. Women pursed their lips. Some even shook their heads in disbelief. Men stripped me bare with their eyes.
“That’s Ava Vianello,” a pretty brunette said with her hand in front of her mouth. “She’s beautiful.”
I couldn’t hear her friend’s response because Dante went straight to the bar.
Dante ordered our drinks and then turned to look at me. He dipped his head down and whispered in my ear. “John Zabatino is here.” His lips brushed my earlobe. “Turn your head slowly to the right but don’t stare.”
I did as he instructed and spotted a tall, dark-haired man with a scruffy beard. He was dressed in a black suit, appearing out of place beside men like Dante, who wore tuxedos.
“Did you know he would be here?”
“No one invited him,” Dante said in a deep but calm tone. “Fucking bottom feeder. Men like Johnny Z are leeches.” Then he moved his hand to my waist, pulling me closer. “Don’t leave my side tonight. Do you understand me?”
“Okay,” I bit out. “But what if I have to use the bathroom?”
“Then you tell me, and I’ll ensure it’s safe.”
The glass in my hand shook from my nerves. “Why are you acting like he’s going to kidnap me?”
His jaw clenched as he let his eyes wander around the room for a moment, trying to act casual. “Because I don’t trust him.”
I read the truth in his eyes, saw the concern on his face. He was worried about Johnny Z touching me. Even Stefan feared he would find out about me.
“Suddenly so protective for a man who pretends to hate me.”
“I don’t hate you, Ava.” He clutched my chin, those golden-brown eyes searing through me. “If he were to touch you, I’d lose my fucking mind.”
Dante snapped his fingers at two armed men in suits. He moved away from the bar and muttered for them to remove John Zabatino from the event. They rushed across the ballroom, and each grabbed one of John’s arms.
His gaze went straight to Dante. He struggled to get out of the security guards’ grasp, but it was a waste of time. The men were taller and more muscular, forcing him out of the room. Guests stopped talking and tipped up their noses at the commotion.
“That’s not going to be the end,” I said to Dante. “Is it?”
He shook his head and sipped from his glass. “This is the start of another war.”
I extended my hand to Dante, and he looked at it, eyes narrowed. “You promised me one dance.”
“Not now.” He put his empty glass on the bar and angled his body to scan the room. “I have more important things to worry about at the moment.”
I wiggled my fingers in front of his face, not giving up without a fight. “Dance with me, Dante.” I flashed a sexy smile. “It will take your mind off things.”
“Johnny Z is the least of my problems.”
