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I turn, my hand darting for my gun, when there’s a knock on my window. It’s Colt, holding his hands up in a sign of peace. The man has a smile on his face I never would’ve imagined when I first met him.
Rolling down the window, I say, “You trying to get yourself shot?”
“It’s not usually so easy to sneak up on you,” he smirks. “I saw you sitting out here. What’s up? Building up the courage?”
“Just wondering what I’m doing here, I guess,” I tell him.
“That’s easy… having fun as a valued member of the Marino Family.”
“I think I preferred you before you were happy.”
Colt laughs gruffly. “You didn’t know me when I was really miserable. When we met, I’d found my woman again. If we’d met when I was arealcold bastard, even you would’ve found me depressing.”
“I doubt that.”
“Come on.” He nods toward the house.
I climb from the car. “Listen, Colt. My ma basically begged me to come here. She wants a photo from the party for proof. Will you?—”
“No damn way,” Colt cuts in.
“You don’t even know what I’m going to say,” I snap.
“Yeah, I do. You want me to snap a quick photo so you actually don’t have to spend any time at the party. Am I wrong?”
“Goddamn it,” I grunt.
Together, we walk across the lawn toward the house.
Then, something breaks in me. What the hell? My heart is pounding so hard, with far more intensity than it does when I’m on a job, hurting people and smiling like a mad, broken thing.
A woman stands at the front door, greeting people. Her curves are the kind that makes me think of old Hollywood, like a pinup girl: a comparatively thin waist with big hips and big, tempting tits, her shape highlighted by the blue dress she’s wearing.
Her tights make me want to rip them, revealing her curvy legs and her thick thighs. She’s the gold standard for beauty ideals, dammit. This isstrange. I’m hungry, for her. I should leave. I’m meant to die alone. I never found that depressing before. I never cared, but now…
She looks up and spots me. Her hair is light blond and wavy down to her shoulders. Her eyes are bright and friendly.
“Hello,” she says, handing me a small gift bag. “Welcome to the Marinos.”
I take the bag; our hands brush. Something like electricity buzzes up my arm and makes my hair stand on edge. I’m struggling not to grab her hips, pull her right up against me, kiss her, own her.
“Uh, hello,” I say awkwardly.
“Have you two met?” Colt asks, looking between us.
I shake my head.
“You really are antisocial, eh, Dante?” Colt smirks. “Dante, this is Mia Marino, Luca and Elio’s cousin. Mia, this is Dante Bianchi, a friend of the Family.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Mia says quietly, looking down as if my staring is making her uncomfortable.
“Uh,” I say, then apparently lose the ability to speak. “You too.”
She nods, still staring at the ground. I almost want to reach over and gently touch her chin—as gently as I can, anyway—and guide her gaze to mine. Make her look at me. It doesn’t make sense,mywoman not wanting to meet my eyes.
My woman?Mywoman?
Quickly, I walk by her through the door, almost running into the party so I can get away from Mia.
