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“Okay,” I agree. It’s better than going into the parlor and having a bunch of them all over me.
“Stay close,” my brother orders before he steps away to join everyone else.
“I want to take you out so we can have some time alone to really get to know each other. See if there’s a connection,” Falco says. Even if we did go out, my brother would never allow it to be alone. There would be guards.
“I’m sorry. To be honest, I don’t feel a connection.”
“Maybe not yet. We just met. We need more time together. Besides, our families together would make a wonderful connection,” he counters as if this is a business deal.
“If this was about making a family connection, a marriage would have been arranged. I’m free to choose who I want to be with.”
The smile drops from his face. I’m sure he’s not used to women having free say in his family. Another reason to knock him off the list.
“Your brother gives you a lot of leeway. Is he also the one who taught you how to shoot?”
“What?” I ask, confused.
“Don’t play dumb.” He steps closer. “You’re far from it, Carina. You blew up my warehouse. Shot at one of my men.” My stomach drops.No.“Did you really think you wouldn’t be recognized? You’re quite stunning. Unforgettable really.”
“What do you want?” I’m not sure what else to say at the moment. I’m shell-shocked. How pissed would my brother be if he knew what I’d done? That I had stepped over into someone else's territory and didn’t know it? I thought I was fucking with some stupid nobody. Falco is making and selling ketamine and Rohypnol? Does his father know that?
“A date.” That stupid smile returns to his face. I want to slam my palm up into his nose and knock it right off his face. Instead I ball my hands into fists to keep control.
“And you think this is the way to get it?”
“We have things to discuss. Think about it. You are far more cunning than anyone realizes. We could be powerful together.” If he thinks I’m so cunning, why is he threatening me? This is a threat, isn’t it? Falco reaches out to touch my face. I’m about to step back when a hand comes out and grips Falco by the wrist.
“We don’t touch,” Gilly grits out before he flings Falco’s hand back.
That’s rich coming from him.
13
GILLY
Angelica and Antonio show the last of the little pricks out, Falco lingering longer than the others.
Carina watches them, but she isn’t engaging anymore. After I found her talking to Falco in the hall, she seemed to have retreated inside herself. The conversation died quickly, thankfully, and Antonio called the get-together to a close.
When Falco finally oozes out the door, Angelica and Bianca rush to Carina while Antonio shoots the Butcher and me a look.
I want to go to Carina, to ask her what the hell passed between her and Falco that spooked her so badly, but I can’t do that with Angelica and Bianca hovering. It’ll have to wait. She’s in good hands with the other women. They’ve already formed a bond, a strong one, and I have no doubt they’d protect each other with their lives. Not that we’d ever let it come to that.
Antonio and Butcher stride out, and I’m duty-bound to follow even though I’m desperate to speak to Carina. Something about her change in demeanor has unsettled me. It’s almost as if she’s … afraid? If that douchebag frightened her, I’ll–
“You all right?” Antonio asks as he closes his office door.
“I’m good. Just tired of these greased-up children pretending to be men.”
Antonio snorts a laugh and sits on one of his leather sofas. “Can’t disagree with you there, but I think a few of them showed promise, and Carina didn’t seem to mark anyone off her list.”
“Who showed promise?” I cross my arms and lean against the doorframe.
“That Falco kid.” Antonio keeps his gaze on me. “Well-spoken, polite, from a good family. The match would give Carina a life of ease and access to all the luxuries she could ever want.”
I do my best to keep my face neutral. But inside I’m going up in fucking flames. That kid is a verified piece of shit, and I want to stomp the life out of him. Maybe I will. Maybe I’ll leave this meeting, grab my keys, and go on a fucking suicide mission if it means that twat never sets a finger on my Carina.
“She talked to him.” The Butcher grunts out his answer. “More than others.”
