"You like it, don't you?"
"What?" I managed to breathe.
"The fear, Miss Night," he mused, "you crave it."
_______________________________________
Sabina Night owes Antonio Marafi her life.
But when he asks her to spy on the Russo crime family, Sabin...
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Could any sane person stand steady on two feet when Giovanni Russo whispered words in their ear and stroked circles into their skin? Because, if so, I wanted to meet them and ask them how the fuck they managed to do that.
"That's good to know," I managed to say.
Because it was. Because it meant that he was even closer to giving me what I wanted.
"I'll be sure to keep that in mind."
Gio was about to respond, something flirty if his face was any indication, but Damian's approach distracted him. If the other bartender was surprised by our proximity, he didn't show it on his face. Rather, he looked more serious than I'd ever seen him and he kept his eyes locked on his boss. Not on me.
"Your four o'clock is here, boss," Damian said, not meeting my eyes. Gio's brow furrowed, but he didn't step away from me.
"My four o'clock? I don't have any meetings scheduled until seven. Who is it?"
Damian hesitated, and finally his eyes flitted to my face unintentionally. They snapped back to Gio and he cleared his throat.
"A business associate. Says it's a regularly scheduled meeting."
Gio scowled, clearly irritated that he was going to have to ask the question again. Taking pity on Damian and his clear discomfort, I tucked a finger into the waistband of Gio's trousers so his eyes drifted toward mine. His expression softened.
He must've really meant what he said about control if such a simple touch could settle the anger I saw rising on his face. But it did.
"Who is it, Damian? I need a name."
"It's uh..." Damian swallowed. "Sir, are you sure—"
"A name. Now, please."
"Vittoria Andriosi. She's in the lobby waiting for you."
Gio's fingers finally stilled and my stomach tightened uncomfortably. Damian's reaction made sense now, his hesitancy. A woman here to see Gio. Damian didn't want to out his boss's affair in front of his alleged girlfriend and risk his boss's wrath.
I sidestepped out of Gio's embrace and picked the DJ paperwork back off the counter. Her name sounded familiar for some reason. A celebrity? An heiress, maybe?
Gio contemplated something for a moment. "Tell her I'll be there in fifteen minutes."
Damian took a deep breath in relief and turned to deliver Gio's message. I busied myself with the collection of the paperwork and brushing imaginary crumbs off of the counter with it.
"Are you jealous, il mio leoncina?"
I rolled my eyes before turning back toward him. He smiled victoriously and I realized that was a ploy to get me to engage with him. I'd made my mind up to ignore him about his guest but he'd gotten through with just one sentence.
