“No, I didn’t want to be drunk.”
Relief didn’t really set in.
“Let’s get you out of here. Do you need me to carry you?”
She flushed and shook her head quickly. My arm wrapped tightly around her waist, I led her into the hallway. The sounds from the party—music and laughter—drifted up the stairs. When we passed the guest bedroom, Samuel’s girl left the bedroom half-dressed.
Sofia cringed and I tightened my hold on her.
Santino came up the stairs, one of his hands under his leather jacket, ready to pull his gun. A skull mask was shoved back on his head.
I narrowed my eyes at him. If it wouldn’t have made waves and brought attention to what had happened today—something I couldn’t allow if I wanted to protect Sofia’s honor—I would have put a bullet through his head. I’d never liked him much. He was a good fighter, cruel and ruthless, but he was also reckless and arrogant. He looked at Sofia and grimaced.
“Where’s your ward? Did you allow her to roam the party without protection as well?” I growled, close to losing my patience. I’d always prided myself on my self-control, but in recent years, I’d often reveled in losing control, had feasted on the rush of adrenaline and anger. One glance at Sofia’s still terrified and lost expression made my protectiveness trump the need for an outlet.
Santino sneered. “Anna’s perfectly safe. Don’t worry. And she isn’t your concern, Mancini.”
I smiled, but it was as much a friendly gesture as a dog baring its teeth in a snarl. “But Sofia is my concern and you had obviously no problem taking her away from her bodyguards and leaving her on her own at a party with men of our nature.”
Santino’s lips tightened. “Her bodyguards should pay better attention, or I couldn’t have gotten her out of the lodge. Sofia snuck away to get cozy with you when I was making sure Anna was safe in the restrooms.”
“I don’t care what you were doing. You shouldn’t have brought Sofia and Anna to a party, which makes me wonder what forced you to take them here.”
Sofia glanced nervously between us.
Something flickered in Santino’s eyes. I chuckled, realizing my guess had been correct. “Does Dante’s little angel hold something in her perfectly manicured hands against you?”
Santino got in my face, but I didn’t back off. “Don’t you worry about my secrets, then I won’t worry about the secret you’d like to keep.” He glanced between Sofia and me. Of course, he’d know something had happened between us. Dante wouldn’t have picked him for his daughter if the man didn’t pay attention.
“My secret won’t mean my death, yours on the other hand . . .” I shrugged. I doubted Dante would give Santino another chance, not where his daughter was concerned. He’d make an example out of him—a very painful, public example.
“And yet you don’t want it to get out, so we’re on the same level.”
Santino was taking a big risk by provoking me, but he had hit the nail on the head. Protecting Sofia made keeping this secret crucial. She was a good girl. Her reputation shouldn’t suffer because despair had made her seek me out like this.
“I’m going to take her back to the lodge now,” Santino said, reaching for her.
I got in his way, shoving his arm away. “You’ll stay away from her. Do you really think I’ll allow her to be alone with you ever again? I’ll take her to the lodge myself and stay the night. Once Samuel is sober, I’ll ask him to drive there and make sure his sister gets back to Minneapolis safely.”
Sofia’s eyes widened and she tensed.
“This might lead to questions.”
“My men know when to keep their mouths shut, don’t worry, and Samuel will think I’m only being protective as usual.”
Santino glanced at Sofia again before he turned around and left.
“Anna will be worried sick about me,” Sofia whispered.
“She should have thought of that before she brought you here.”
“It’s not her fault. She just wanted to help me.”
I gritted my teeth. I didn’t want to let my anger out on Sofia, even if she was at fault. She’d gone through enough, thanks to me.
“Come on, now. Let’s get you into bed.” She stiffened even more, and I cringed at my own choice of words, but continued as if I hadn’t noticed her reaction. I handed her the cat mask. “Can you put this on? I don’t want someone to recognize you downstairs.”
She slipped the mask on, then peered up at me with her blue eyes.
I nodded, wondering how I could have been too blind to recognize those eyes. But I’d had a couple of drinks and had been starting to feel drunk when Catwoman approached me. I hadn’t paid attention to more than her curves and her blonde hair.
I still couldn’t wrap my mind around the fact that Sofia had mesmerized me with her body like that.
I led her out of the back entrance and to my car parked down the driveway. I never parked close to the party. Drunk people had a penchant for pissing against your tires or scratching your car by accident.
I knew I shouldn’t be driving, even if the recent events and the ensuing adrenaline had sobered me up and I didn’t feel drunk anymore, but I’d read up enough on intoxication to know that my judgment was impaired. Yet, I couldn’t risk calling my men to pick me up. Calling a taxi, which meant a public appearance, was out of the question, too. Even with a mask, I didn’t want people to see me and Sofia together.
I helped her into the passenger seat of my Jaguar, then slipped behind the steering wheel. I had been to the Mione lodge once before, a long time ago, so I didn’t remember the way. After Carlo sent me directions, I set out while the party was still in full swing.
The
