Now I got why it was called sweet sixteen. Fuck me. I wished I wasn’t so fucking addicted to sweets, because Gemma, without a doubt, would be the sweetest thing I’d ever tasted. And I wanted that taste.
I straightened, bringing more distance between us. “Get in the car and send Toni a text.”
She sank down on the passenger seat. “I still have my jean jacket and my purse inside.”
“I’ll get them, and you’ll stay here.” I threw the door shut then locked the car. Gemma gave me an exasperated look.
I turned on my heel and stalked back inside. I’d get her fucking things, but first I’d have a word with Roger and Toni. Mick crossed my way on my way to the bar where Toni was running around like a headless chicken. “Hey, where’s everyone gone? Diego disappears with Dakota, then you’re gone as well.”
“I can’t stay. I found someone to fuck, but I might be back later.”
Mick rolled his eyes. “Really? Going out with you two is a joke.”
“Go find a girl for yourself and stop bitching.”
“What about the madman from L.A., aren’t you supposed to keep an eye on him?”
Fuck. “There’s still another fight before his. I’ll be back before then.” Next time my brothers could play babysitter for their crazy-ass Underboss.
I left Mick and headed for Toni, who grimaced when she spotted me.
“What can I get you?” she asked when I arrived at the bar.
“Your father,” I said, walking around the bar.
“This area is restricted to staff.”
I glared down at her. “Take me to your father now, Antonia.”
She turned and led me through the door into the back area. “Where’s Gemma?”
“In my car.”
Toni threw a curious glance over her shoulder. “You know she isn’t supposed to be alone with guys.”
“She isn’t supposed to work in a fucking bar with dozens of leering fucks either, or is she?”
Toni flushed and turned back around. She knocked at her father’s office door. My patience was running thin, so I reached past her and shoved the door open. Inside, Roger was talking animatedly to Nestore Romano, the man I was supposed to keep an eye on. Nestore looked my way, then he just left Roger standing there and walked past me with an almost non-existent tilt of his head.
“Antonia, I was in an important conversation,” he said, the hint of disapproval in his voice.
“Didn’t look like that to me,” I drawled. “Nestore seemed to bore himself terribly.” Not that it was an unusual occurrence with the Madman from L.A.
Roger gave me a small-lipped smile. “Savio, what can I do for you?”
“You can pay attention to who’s working your fucking bar for one.”
Roger frowned. “Antonia handled the staff today.”
I got in his face. “It’s none of my business if you let your teenage daughter prance around all the kinky fucks, but you better pay attention to other people’s daughters.”
“What are you talking about?” Roger glanced at his daughter who seemed busy trying to stare at the floor as if it was the most interesting thing in the goddamn world.
“I’m talking about Gemma Bazzoli. You know Daniele and Diego. They both won’t be happy if they find out she tended to the bar because you don’t pay enough waitresses.”
Roger’s face was turning increasingly red. He still had trouble letting me tell him what to do. He’d known me when I was still a little shit. But now I handled our business alongside my brothers, so he’d better get his shit together.
“I don’t want to see Gemma in this place again unless she’s with me or her family, got it?”
Roger narrowed his eyes in contemplation. “What’s the girl to you anyway? I thought you’d be the first to appreciate a new piece of ass in the bar.”
I grabbed his collar and got in his face. “Careful, Roger.” If Toni hadn’t watched with wide, terrified eyes, I might have gone a bit harder on him. “That piece of ass you’re talking about is off limits, and remember she’s your daughter’s age.”
Roger nodded. “All right, all right. I didn’t know she was even here. I’ll make sure she stays away.”
I released him then turned on my heel and left. On my way out, I grabbed Gemma’s stuff from behind the bar. She was slumped in the seat but straightened the moment I got into the car. “Did you talk to Toni?”
“I did.” I started the engine, trying to focus on the street and not the way too tantalizing girl beside me.
“But you didn’t tell Diego, right?”
I chuckled. “If I’d told him, he’d be the one driving you home, not me.”
“Yeah,” Gemma agreed with a mirthless laugh. “He’d be chewing my ear off. What the fudge’s going on in your head? How dare you have a fudging life? Yadda yadda.”
I shook my head. “I seriously doubt Diego would use a sweet treat to voice his displeasure.” I slanted her a look. She was smiling in a very Gemma way. Unguarded, honest, not in a way that was meant to make her look pretty, even though she did.
“He tries not to swear in front of me, but that’s my version of events.”
“Fudge, really?” I said. “What’s wrong with a healthy fuck?”
Gemma flushed, and I realized my wording could be taken a different way as well. “I don’t like the word.”
“You’ve never tried it, so how can you know?” Apparently, I was the king of double entendres today.
Gemma looked down at her lap, frowning, and I was starting to worry that I’d upset her when she darted her eyes up once more. “Were you hitting on me in the bar?”
I considered my options. Lying and not get kicked in the balls by Diego, or the truth and seeing Gemma’s delicious blush deepen.
“Yes.”
As expected, she turned a darker shade of pink. “Why?”
I gave her a look. Did she have to ask?
“So,” she said curiously. “You wanted to get me into bed?”
I chuckled. “I wanted to get the
