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I debate bringing upVitalenwith her. We're supposed to be tapping prime contacts to get the drug out quickly to the public under the nose of state powers. It probably wouldn't harm anything to tell her about the life-changing substance since I trust Mandi, more than many in my own family, but I still decide to hold off on that for now. She doesn't need all the details right now—and the sooner I can stop talking about Roberto fucking Giovanni, the better.
"Long story. I'll have to see him a few more times at meetings, and that's it. He's just a pain in the ass and making everything difficult—which I expected, given his family. But still."
Mandi considers that, twisting her lips to one side. "But he's still hot, right? You thought you wouldn't have to see this guy again, but if you'll have to be around him…who knows, right?" She bounces her eyebrows.
I am sonotgoing there. "If that guy knows what's good for him, he'll stay the hell away from me whenever we're not actively working together."
The door chimes right as I take another sip of my cold coffee. I choke on it when I glance over.
Speak of the fucking Devil Smirkhimself.
Never in my life have I wanted to duck beneath a cafe table to hide, but I'm ashamed to admit that I consider doing precisely that. Unfortunately, before I can decide, Roberto's eyes skim the uncrowded, aesthetic little cafe until he sees me. He winks.
Ofcourse, he winks.
I grit my teeth and look away quickly, back to Amanda, oblivious about the annoying Giovanni who's just come in. I hope against hope that he'll display a semblance of manners and leave me to my lunch in peace with my friend, but Roberto proves what an ass he is when he saunters over to our table.
He sits right next to me and slings his arm over the back of my chair, making me stiffen. Then he grins at me. "Hi there, cutie."
Amanda's mouth drops open, and I would laugh at the astonished look she turns on me if I wasn't so annoyed. Both by the nickname he refuses to let go of and by his presence entirely.
I'm going to fucking attack him. With pliers. Or maybe with my bare hands…
Nope—skin contact between us is a bad idea. Too volatile.
Instead of acknowledging Roberto's smug expression, I scoot my coffee cup until it's away from him and in line with one of the Talavera tiles the tabletop is made out of. "I'm at lunch if you didn't notice."
"Oh, believe me, I noticed. That's why I'm here. I couldn't miss a chance to see you outside of work. What's good here?" Roberto muses, leaning back to peek at the menu at the front of the cafe. "Do they have anything with spiced vanilla? A latte or something? I've just been craving that lately…among other things."
He flashes a devilish, toothy grin at me. Mandi's eyes flicker between us quickly, and then to my horror, she stage-whispers to me.
"Is it just me, or does he match your description of…you know.That guy?"
Roberto raises his brows, leaning across the table with a bright smile. "So she told you about me, huh? What'd she say? Please tell me she gave my dancing skills some justice."
My best friend gapes at me again. "Youdancedwith this guy? Hang on. I'm confused. Who is this, exactly? Is he…you know, Devil Smirk, or just some creep?"
"Just some creep," I insist at the same time that Roberto laughs, "Devil Smirk?"
He's amused, she's confused, and I'm just ready to drag Mandi away from the cafe and this annoying mafioso. But then, that wouldn't stop her from pelting me with questions about him, and Roberto would probably think I was running away from a situation with him.
As a rule, I don’t run away from any situation. I'll handle this like I do everything else: calm, cool, and completely unbothered.
"Yes, I danced with him," I reply to Mandi, ignoring that Roberto is examining the side of my face with heat clear in his eyes. "Roberto, this is Amanda Peterson, a dear personal friend of mine. If any of you or your men come near her while you're here in California, I will track you down, break your kneecaps, and show you what else pliers can do besides yanking out a few fucking teeth."
Roberto smiles slowly at my real threat like I'm charming, but Amanda shrinks back, eyes widening a little. She's seen me intimidate many people, but this is the first time she's seen me openly act like I am.
"I hear you loud and clear, cutie."
I glare at him but speak to Mandi. "Mandi, this is Dickhead. Also known as Roberto Giovanni."
I see it all click together in her head, and my best friend sends me a look that clearly says we'll discuss this at great length later.
"God. You were right about the 'chiseled by Michelangelo part,'" Mandi says, and then she stage-whispers again. "Am I supposed to pretend to be nice to him since you already threatened him?"
Before I can reply, Roberto extends a hand across the table for a handshake. He was also blessed with charm and easy manners, along with his gracefulness.
"Don’t worry about Giulia's threats, Amanda—she wouldn't hurt me or my teeth. She likes mydevil smirktoo much for that."
