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Suddenly, metal slid against my throat, and I gasped as I took in the lovely white gold chain, with a pretty charm dangling from its end in the shape of a starburst. Ty kissed the back of my neck and I watched my expression flicker between adoration and anguish, my eyes taking on a fierce, terrible glint.
“Beautiful brat,” he said and smoothed his hands up my bare arms. “Make sure you grab a coat.”
I nodded and hastened over to the bed, glad that I’d opted for low heels. For a second, my hand hesitated over the bag I’d picked. A bag with a long strap always feel too clunky for a night out.
But the text message on the burner had said,bring a bag big enough to hide a gun.
Throwing on my coat, I grabbed the bag and told myself not to think about it.
Ty didn't comment, only took my arm as we went down the stairs and out into the night. To my surprise, there was no driver. Instead, Ty brought me over to a dark blue Maserati and helped me in.
“I wanted to drive,” Ty said after climbing in. He picked up my hand and brushed a brief kiss on it. “Have you all to myself.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Are you going to be able to keep your hands all to yourself, as well?”
“You should know how good I am at multitasking, Lia,” Ty growled and we shot off into the cold night.
The stars were bright above us and the music soft, neither of us talking, but Ty kept holding my hand. I kept sneaking glances over at him, wondering if he suspected me and was taking me somewhere to kill me but then he looked over and winked.
“You can look,” Ty said, all rugged male arrogance and Michaelson pride. “I’m yours, after all.”
Pain lanced through me and I nodded, somehow managing to smile at him. It hit me that this was the last night I’d ever have with Ty. Part of me didn’t want the drive to end, and rebelled and screamed at the thought of hurting a single hair on his head.
The other part of me was already grieving because I knew I'd never stop loving him.
The night blurred by us as we hurtled to the city's outskirts, then Ty swept me inside of a gorgeous restaurant, past the glittering tables and laughing people, all the way to the back where a giant function room with a dance floor where a live band waited. Candles and low lighting barely illuminated the gorgeous room,drawing the eye to the Charles River glimmering as it wove through the city, the skyline rising in the distance.
It should have been perfect.
To my shock, several of Ty’s men were here with dates. I didn’t see Daniel but I saw Heavy, Artie, Pasquale, and several others crowded around us, exchanging greetings, hugs and swapping double-cheek kisses.
But nothing compared to the shock of his men and their dates when Ty introduced me as his girlfriend, grinning and saying that I was an up-and-coming artist.
From the way they exchanged glances and took a second too long to hide their surprise, I took it to mean that Ty had never brought a girlfriendanywherebefore.
If I’d had any doubt that Ty wasn’t serious about us, it was gone now.
As we made the rounds, my guess was both correct and incorrect. It turned out that Ty had never broughtanywoman to meet his crew before, girlfriend or escort. One of the other mob bosses said as much, and Ty rolled his eyes before pulling me away.
“Are these people all Mafia?” I whispered, and Ty gave me a look then nodded.
“It’s neutral ground,” he said. “They’re… allies, for lack of a better word. Although…” Here he paused, and his face twisted into a scowl. “Sometimes enemies show up too.”
I didn't have to look to know the name of the man walking towards us. My skin prickled, and my blood ran cold while something in me screamed,Run, run, run.
Turning around, I took him in. The handsome man was somewhere in his early forties, he was tall and built, with flawless and artfully styled brown hair, in a black-on-black suit and wearing a grin that didn’t quite reach his cold green eyes. A redhead simpered on his arm, pouting and preening, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but think she looked uncomfortable, maybe even terrified, and had put on a sexy look to hide it.
“Michaelson,” the man drawled as he stopped in front of us. “Pleasure to see you here tonight. Business good?”
“Business is always good,” Ty said and I glanced up, noting the harsh lines of his face even as he smiled at his enemy. It was a sharp and lethal smile that sent most people running. “Now, did I hear something about you running Russian imports?”
Hendrix gave Ty a studied look of confusion, and my stomach twisted even more. This man was a flawless actor. If I hadn’t known who he was or sat across from him yesterday, asking him to help me get my revenge, I’d think he was a polite businessman.
“Afraid I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Hendrix said. “Then again, don’t weallhave Russian connections?” He chuckled. “I just like their vodka.” Now his eyes lit on me, and he leaned over, whispering something in the redhead’s ear that made her shoot me a glance and then flounce off. “Sorry, she was getting too antsy. Introduce me to your interesting friend.”
Ty stiffened next to me, and he took half a step forward. “This is my girlfriend.” There was a bite of warning in his voice, a glimmer of the monster underneath, and Hendrix raised an eyebrow. “That's all you need to know.”
“She doesn’t have a name?” Hendrix looked me over. “You look familiar.”
