“Then, why the hell are we together on this bus?”
His jaw tightens, and his mouth pinches. “It’s the only way I could think of to see you without being seen with you.”
“Charming.”
“What did you say to your mother when you got back?”
I pull away from him, lifting his hand and dropping it off of me. “That’s why you’re here? My mouth is shut. Don’t worry.”
“Please don’t be like that.”
“What do you want?” I ask. It obviously isn’t just so he can see me.
“I need to find your father.”
“And I want answers.”
He grits his teeth and swears to himself before relenting. “The Lugazzi family is the one who put out the hit. That’s common knowledge. He’s been verbally upset for a while, and his men were quickly identified as the ones who had ambushed Villa Russo. Everyone knows, including your mother. And I think”—the hesitation in his voice is palpable—“it has something to do with you.”
“Me?” My voice is loud, too loud. “No. My mother even said women and children are off limits. It’s some sort of code whatever that means.”
He holds me close and hushes me as he looks over his shoulder.
When it appears safe that no one is listening, he continues, “It was code until one of those bastards walked into the Oak Bar and aimed his gun at you. Once that happened, all bets are off and I’m trying to find out why. There’s been some chatter on the wires. Your name and your job at DeLuca & Associates come up a lot. Do you know why?”
I strain my neck as I slowly lower it, taking in this information while wondering what the hell he’s talking about.
“Is that why my parents want me to stay with them?”
He shakes his head. “They don’t know any of this. Keeping you at their house is their way of keeping their daughter safe. A measure I support one hundred percent, by the way.”
I ignore his comment. “That doesn’t make any sense. I’m an auditor. That’s the least exciting job on the planet.”
“What about your father’s connection to the office?”
I look up at the gray ceiling, as if searching for the answer. “He knows my boss. They did business of some sort years ago.” Jesse is nodding like this is the link, and my eyes widen with surprise. “Wait. Do you think my father got me my job for his benefit? Jesse, I’ve worked hard for this position. I interviewed three times. My résumé is impeccable. My work ethic is insurmountable.”
“I’m sure it is. We’re just trying to piece the puzzle together.”
“We? Who are you working with? Are you part of the Lugazzi family? Another family who wants to wipe out the competition?” I start to stand, but he stills me. Might as well since the bus is now driving through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel into Manhattan. I’m trapped times a thousand.
Jesse senses my trepidation about being in the tunnel. He grabs my hand, as he did the other night. His scars are still there from when he pulled the grates. His skin is raw, as are the memories.
The primal lust is mixed with this sense of gratitude I have for the way he acted as a human shield for me. My own father has disappeared while my family is in need. He climbed out a window when I was in trouble, and Jesse literally threw himself over me.
He is also keeping something from me. It’s dark, I can feel it.
You never know how much you hate secrets until they’re being kept from you.
Days ago, I thought the Mafia was a thing of New York’s past. I’m learning it’s very much alive in the present. What happened Friday night merely skimmed the surface of the lies I’ve been told my entire life. It might have been for my protection, yet it led me into harm’s way.
“What were you doing as a bartender at the club for the past year?” My question startles him. He doesn’t answer. “You’ve been spying on my father. My uncles. You’ve been trying to get enough dirt on them for who? For what?”
“Amelia,” he sighs.
At his lack of explanation, I shake my head. “You slime. You cowardly piece of shit.”
“It’s not like that.”
The light to the end of the tunnel appears, and we’re now in downtown Manhattan. I stand up and hit the stop button to get off.
“This isn’t your stop,” he says as I climb over him.
He’s right, but I can’t be near him any longer.
“I know you won’t get off with me at the risk of being seen, am I right?”
He rises. “Please don’t do this.”
“Too late.” I turn as the bus pulls up to the curb.
“Baby—”
“I’m not your baby,” I cut him off and walk briskly to the front and down the stairs.
On the curb, I wonder if I just made a colossal mistake by leaving his side. He’s staring out the window as the bus takes off, and I turn toward the subway stairs. His fist bangs on the glass.
I’ve never felt betrayed like this before. My life has been fairly easy until this point. I’ve never been distrusting—never had a reason to. Now, I can’t seem to sit on a subway car without looking at everyone as if they were a criminal.
I grip my bag to my chest, reeling at what my father has gotten us into. When I talk to him, it will be with a sharp-witted piece of my mind. I can’t be the meek Amelia anymore. I need to be fierce. He won’t know what hit him. Amelia Sorrentino—the bad girl, the rule disobeyer—will shock him.
A lot of things I’ve done lately will shock him.
With the drama, I’ve still managed to mentally relive my moment with Jesse. His mouth on mine and his fingers inside of me have tainted me for the good and the bad.
Anthony Buonno was a good date. Jesse Grant is a great lover, and I haven’t even gone to bed with
