Anna laughs. “Sorry, I forgot you know Ric so well,” she says sarcastically.
“You knew Blu well enough to have sex with him,” Eva points out.
“You’re really gonna judge me with your history?” I snap. “I’m marrying Ric because Vinn chose him. I’m doing it for the family.”
“Blah fucking blah,” mutters Anna. “What happened to marrying for love?”
“I don’t love Blu,” I say quickly. I feel a blush on my cheeks again. Damn, I need to stop all the blushing. “My mum and dad didn’t love each other. Their parents arranged their marriage and look at them now. They are so in love, it’s sickening. They’ve lasted for years. It can work.”
“Your dad is a mafia kingpin. Could she have left him and lived?” asks Anna and I scowl.
“My dad wouldn’t have my mum killed,” I insist, but the thought does creep into my mind and weighs heavily.
“Just look at him out there, looking all sad,” whispers Leia, adding a pout. All the girls turn to the large window and stare out at Blu, who’s resting against his bike, staring down at his phone.
“Jesus, stop looking at him,” I hiss. As the words leave my mouth, Blu looks up and I groan. “Great, now he’ll know we’re talking about him.”
Leia raises her hand and gives him a small wave. Eva does the same, but I slap her hand down seeing as I’m right next to her. “Ouch,” she mutters, rubbing the back of her hand like a wounded puppy.
There’s a loud bang from outside and we watch in horror as Blu drops to the ground and presses his head between his knees. “What the hell?” gasps Anna.
“It was a car backfiring, wasn’t it?” asks Leia. I don’t wait to find out. I’m already rushing to the door.
There’s not many people around, thankfully. I drop to my knees in front of Blu and place my hands gently on his wrists. I’d read up on PTSD and researched what sufferers of the condition find helpful.
“Blu, it’s Gia. You’re okay. It was a car backfiring.”
His pulse races underneath my fingertips. “What’s wrong with him?” asks Eva.
“PTSD,” says Leia thoughtfully. “We did a brief thing on it at work. I re-read all my notes on it after the last time he had a funny turn. He should really seek professional help.”
“Blu, you’re outside the London Deli. You’re safe. You’re with me,” I say softly. I feel his pulse slow. Suddenly, he wraps his strong arms around me and pulls me to him, burying his nose into my hair and inhaling. “You’re safe,” I whisper, wrapping my arms around his neck.
I hear the girls go back inside. Blu’s holding me so tight, I can feel the rise and fall of his chest with each breath. After a few minutes, he looks into my eyes. Something passes between us, like electricity arcing back and forth. The pull is intense, so when our lips slam together, it feels natural. The kiss is hungry and passionate. His hands are either side of my neck, his thumbs resting against my chin while my hands tug at his shirt, scrunching it in my fists.
He stands with me in his arms and moves towards the side of the building, out of view from the main street. He pushes me against the wall and I wrap my legs around his waist, feeling his erection pressing against my core. His lips move along my jaw and down my neck. Everything in me is begging for him to fuck me hard against this wall. I don’t give a crap who sees. And then, as his lips travel along my collar bone and his hands squeeze my ass, Ricardo pops into my mind. I place my hands on Blu’s chest and push against it. He doesn’t budge. He’s grinding against me as his hungry mouth hunts out fresh pieces of skin to attack.
“No,” I pant, but it comes out as a pathetic plea. I take a breath and this time hit my fists against him until he pulls back to look at me. “I said no.” He drops me like I’ve stabbed him and steps back, holding up his hands.
“Sorry. I thought it’s . . .” He pauses and looks at me with confusion in his eyes. “What we both wanted.”
“It is. I mean, it was. But I can’t. I shouldn’t have done that. I’m marrying—”
“Don’t say it,” he growls. “If I hear you say his name one more time, I’ll lose my shit.” He rubs his face hard and growls. “Christ,” he hisses, taking a few steps away from me. “Go on then,” he suddenly yells, causing me to jump. “Go fucking marry your mafia king. You can be his queen while he runs his fucking London empire,” he yells angrily.
“I’m sorry, I . . .” I begin but he narrows his eyes and the words die on my tongue.
“I don’t know what I was thinking. Me and you could never work,” he snaps. “I hate the mafia. I hate everything it stands for and I hate entitled mafia princesses even more. I must have been bewitched by that tight little cunt of yours,” he spits. “But there’s plenty of pussy around that’d jump at the chance to be my ol’ lady.”
I press my lips together in a tight line. He’s hurting, I get it, but who the fuck does he think he is. “And that right there,” I say calmly, “is the reason I’d never marry you. I am better. Not because I’m a mafia princess but because I respect myself enough to walk away from toxic bullshit like that!” I push past him to head back inside. “Your ego is bigger than your arrogant attitude.”
The girls all turn, smiling until they see my angry face. I grab my wine glass and drain it. “Oh shit,” mutters Leia, grabbing the bottle to top it back up. “Tell us everything.”
BLU
I put a call into Riggs. “Get someone else here, I’m leaving now.”
“What
