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The man—no, the boy, glances at something on Tommy’s body, his eyes flickering to his face and then to Jian’s and Vicente’s. When he doesn’t say anything else, Tommy pushes past him, leading the way for us to follow.
I angle my head and look back at him. He’s trying to get someone’s attention.
“Is there going to be a problem tonight?” I ask Vicente.
“No. Don’t worry about it. You’re with me.” He looks at me, a smile on his lips. “You know I’ll protect you.”
I grin and nod once, a small amount of relief filling my chest, but it’s not enough to compete with the concern.
Eyes snap in our direction as we make our way through the dining room. Every table has been moved to the edges, allowing a makeshift dance floor to take center stage. Music plays and people dance while others sit at tables with decadent dishes in front of them.
There are children here, running past their mothers and laughing as they chase a toy car through dancing couples.
“Gia! Stop it,” a mother calls out. “Get your brother and come back.”
I watch as the girl who can’t be more than six takes the hand of a boy about half her age and walks back to her mom. They are both escorted to a table with another woman and child.
Looks like this is a family gathering. A large family.
“Is this another…” I pause, my eyes focusing on the older men who linger near the bar with an air of self-importance. I notice the expensive suits and overhear people speaking in another language.
Vicente looks down at me. “Another what?”
I turn my back, getting closer so nobody can see my mouth when I say, “Mafia?”
His lips twitch, forming the smallest of smiles. “They are part of the Italian mafia,” he explains. “My family is different from what they’re used to.”
“You brought me to an Italian mafia event that you were clearly not invited to?” I ask, my voice rising in tone and panic.
“It’s fine,princesa,” he says in a gentle tone as his knuckles brush my cheekbone. “Nothing’s going to happen. I got you.”
Jian appears at our side. “We got a table.”
As we make our way to where Tommy sits, I’m more aware of the angry and confused looks aimed in our direction. I notice men in small groups, whispering bitterly. They’re not happy, but their families are here. This is why Vicente chose this venue. He’s banking on them not wanting a scene where their wives and children could become collateral.
We’re at a round table, each man sitting in a way that they have eyes in each direction. Nobody could approach us without them seeing it first.
My posture is stiff while my stomach rolls with nerves. Vicente is at ease, his fingers dancing along my thigh as Tommy and Jian continue to watch the room.
A waiter walks by with a tray of champagne and Jian raises his hand. “Right here. We’ll take four of those.”
The waiter turns back, but his eyes flicker to his right. I follow his line of sight and notice two men at the bar. One of them nods slightly and the waiter allows us to take a drink from his tray.
“Don’t hesitate next time,” Tommy tells him. “We’ll need another four soon.”
“Si signore,” the man mutters before scurrying off.
Tommy scoffs and downs the whole drink in one gulp.
Vicente holds his glass up, waiting for me to do the same. “To us, to the future—”
“To settling debts,” Tommy murmurs on the other side of the table, eyes focused on the man at the bar.
Vicente shoots him a look for interrupting before turning his gaze back to me, leaning in close to grip the heart of my necklace, “and to making my girl’s every fantasy come to life.” His lips touch the skin under my ear. “What does my little slut think of that? You have any other fantasies besides being mine to use?”
I clench my thighs as a shiver runs up my spine. “I could probably think of something.”
He grins. “I bet you could. Tell me who you belong to.”
