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“Vinny, hey.” The officer he identified as Mikey greeted him.
“You guys can go. I assure you I’ll handle this.” Vincenzo offered me a small scowl of disapproval before continuing with them. “I’ll give you guys a call tonight.”
With only a single nod in unison, the policemen vanished into the active beach crowd. I let out a sigh of relief, relaxing my stiff posture. Soon, that feeling was replaced with panic when the realization hit me, he would most definitely tell my father. From what I knew, they told each other everything.
Sliding his hands back into his pockets, he lifted his chin to the cooler. “Get that shit out of here and leave.”
I took a step toward the mess to help, but he grabbed my wrist. Face ghostly, I whirled around. My eyes met the inked hand curled around my arm before they flickered to his.
Vincenzo huffed. “I’ll take you—”
Aiden spun around, clutching my other hand. “I’ll take you home.”
Their eyes met and Aiden let go, taking a step back. “With all due respect Mr. Falz—”
“I’lltake her home.”
Aiden’s gaze met mine. “You can stay with me tonight if your dad flips out.”
I nodded, apprehensive to say more since Vincenzo was undoubtedly angry.
He surveyed the beach, his frown narrowing on a group of nearby guys, before bowing his head toward our belongings. “Just get your shit and get out of here, kid.”
I swallowed hard, trying to wet my still dry throat.
He lifted his chin to me. “Which stuff is yours?”
I leaned over to grab the Champagne-colored beach bag with a turquoise shell on it, but he bent down to pick it up before I could. He held it at his side. “Let’s go.”
Without a doubt, my father was going to murder me. I scooped up my sandals, looping my fingers through the straps as we trekked toward the boardwalk. Vincenzo was wearing polished black designer shoes and black neatly pressed slacks. He wasn’t dressed for the beach at all. My father had already found out and sent the scariest man he knew to bring me home. He must have been the same Vinny my father answered the call from earlier when I was in his office. It all made sense now.
“Where did you park?” He finally muttered through a tightened jaw.
“Aiden picked me up.”
“Your boyfriend.”
I didn’t have the strength to defend that title right now. I was more focused on planning my funeral and fuming at my father for having me followed. Stopping, I brushed the sand off my feet and slipped my shoes on. It was uncomfortable with the residue of the grit still stuck to my skin, but I didn’t want to walk many places in New Jersey barefooted. I stumbled a bit. Vincenzo grasped my hand, stabilizing me, then placed my palm on the railing. Once finished, I offered a faint smile, hoping it would translate to a silentthank you.
Annoyed, he led me to the parking lot. He slipped his free hand into his pocket and moments later the Portofino-blue Jaguar in front of us remote started. He opened the passenger door, then strode to the trunk, tossing my bag in it. When I was settled, he appeared again and closed my door before marching to the driver’s side. He yanked it open and glided in.
I deeply exhaled, positive it was because I’d been holding my breath as much as possible since he appeared. As I buckled myself in, I braced for any lecture from the man who’d always taken my breath away. I had so many questions. Though he was my father’s friend, he was like a stranger to me these days.
It was so hard not to stare at him. He’d aged so…wellif at all. Dare I say, he was even sexier than he used to be. Or maybe I saw him much differently now that I was an adult. But God… he was so gorgeous. His hair was still mostly black, with tiny hints of grey appearing throughout. It suited him.
He rested his right arm on the center console, circling his thumb on his fingers as if he were thinking. “Are you hot?” He broke the silence.
“What?” I snickered, my nerves growing by the second.
He darted his eyes toward me, then back at the road. “The temperature…in the car, I mean.”
“Oh. Yeah, a little.”
He adjusted the air conditioner, and a blast of cold air circulated the aroma of his cologne and the new ebony and tan leather interior. Closing my eyes, I breathed in the intoxicating scent, my nipples hardening.
“Are you okay?”
Startled, I jumped, glancing his way. “Yeah, just have a lot of questions.”
