"Fuck," Elio murmured. "I didn't know he was going to be here."
He was, of course, talking about his twin. There was no feeling spared. He seemed angry.
"Is it that bad with you and your brother?" she had to ask.
"I wouldn't care if he hadn't threatened you." Savannah put her hand on his thigh, wanting to hear the story. She was already anxious to be around all of them so it really made no difference to hear one more thing that would be rolling through her mind for the rest of the night. If she was to last that long.
"Elio."
"My father wanted him to talk to you, see how much you know and whether I actually talked to you about our business more than I should. They didn't believe that you warned me out of fear. That was the reason why I kept my distance the week before you came to the gym. I couldn't show that they were, in fact, right about you having a totally different reason for coming to me. But he waited and caught me when I was leaving your apartment the other day after we had sex."
"So your father knows about us?"
He shook his head. "No, he doesn't. Fabro wants me to get in trouble on my own. He's a dick. And believe me, he's worse than me. Whatever you might actually think of me, Savannah. So please don't talk to him about anything. He is most likely going to bait you. Don't let him."
Savannah looked down. Her hands were shaking and Elio was not helping at all. If he hadn't driven her here, she would be on her way back home. She was terrified at this point.
He reached out for her, intertwining their fingers. "I'm here, okay? Nothing bad is going to happen to you. Just please keep in mind what I told you," he assured her before getting out of the car. Savannah unwillingly followed him.
Without looking, she could already feel eyes on her. But she tried to focus on Elio. It felt as if she was a stupid teenager about to introduce her boyfriend to her parents. When the reality was much worse. She was the one being introduced, and to freaking mobsters too.
"Conte, finally," yelled the guy dressed as if he were a part of a gang.
Maybe he was?
They all greeted each other with handshakes diving into a conversation about tonight's race right away. Only Flavio Falcone seemed bored and kept glancing disapprovingly in Savannah's direction. She was standing a few feet from them and wasn't interested in what they were saying either, however, she felt stupid just standing there and waiting for Elio to come back to her side. She knew it was risky and the man couldn't show that there was something more between them than a simple fuck-buddies relations but she still was angry that it had came to that.
After a few minutes when Elio was checking out the car that had been given to him fo the race, the younger Falcone took advantage of the moment and moved towards the girl. Her cheeks flushed deep red, scared of what he'd say to her. She remembered Elio's words that the man would ask questions but based on the determination written all over his face, she was no longer sure that was the case. He clearly hadn’t expected her to be there.
Well, an hour ago neither had she.
"I guess Elio shit on whatever I told him," he murmured for her ears only. His eyes were stone cold and threatening. More than Elio's. Perhaps, it was because she wasn't used to being around him. She had only really seen him two times before and never talked to him. It had only been him introducing himself to her.
She stayed quiet. She wasn't certain if there was even something to say to that. Besides, she was to limit herself.
Flavio regarded her and chuckled, shaking his head. "At least he warned you about us."
Still nothing.
"And now I need you to shove aside his orders. What the fuck is Elio's plan? Why are you here?"
He was supposed to not ask questions.
Savannah shook her head not answering him. Her eyes went behind Flavio's shoulder to get some help from Elio before she said something she would regret. But the man was too invested in looking under the hood to even acknowledge that something was wrong.
A shiver went up her spine. She had to deal with it herself. Just as she had always done before. She took a few deep breaths and looked up to Flavio's eyes that were still focused entirely on her.
"I'm waiting, Savannah," he grunted. "Tell me before you start regretting it. Showing no respect is a big no-go, sweetheart."
"I'm not sure what I'm doing here. All I know is that it's essential. He just asked me an hour ago to come with him," she said, gathering all her courage.
Fucking hell, if speaking to Flavio Falcone cost her that much energy, she didn't want to think what would happen if she faced his older brother. She would possibly start crying, vomit and then pass out.
Flavio snorted. "Classic. I told him to let it go and here he is about to fucking talk to my brother about you. If I were you, I'd run."
Then he walked away, back to the men. But right now, Elio was watching them and as soon as he saw the terrified expression on Savannah's face, he excused himself and walked towards her. As he was to bypass Flavio, he put a hand on his shoulder stopping him. They exchanged a few words which made Elio flash with anger, spit out a few more things and come up to her.
He kept a slight distance even if he longed to
