Itold Cecilia about the kiss with Sly a few days ago.
How could I not?
It’s all I could think about—all Icanthink about—consuming my mind, body, and soul.
And Itrusther. She’ll never tell anyone.
When I left Sly’s apartment last weekend, we made arrangements to see each other again the following Sunday, after my family brunch.
All week I’ve been like a teenage girl with a crush, practically doodling his name in a heart all over the manuscripts I’ve been reviewing at work.
It was only after I left that I realized we hadn’t exchanged phone numbers. Just a time, date, and location.
Twelve o’clock, Sunday. His apartment.
“You’re sure about this?” Cecilia asks as Ross pulls into the parking level of our building. “If your family were to findout?—”
“Iknow, Lia.” She’s been questioning my sanity since I spilled my guts to her, reminding me of the implications this could have on me.
It’s not only if my family finds out. If we’re seen together, it would be a tabloid feeding frenzy. There’s not a single person in Manhattan who isn’t aware of the feud between the Paladinos and the Lucchettis. The press would lose their minds.
“I just worry,” she stresses, and I take her hand in mine as Ross parks the car alongside the garage elevators.
Turning to her, I give her hand a squeeze. “I know, but I have to explore this. If it doesn’t work out, then it doesn’t work out, but I’m following my heart on this one, and my gut. It’sdifferent. I can’t explain it because it doesn’t even make sense in my own mind, but with a kiss, something changed.”
“It was only one kiss, Vinnie…” her voice trails off, and she exhales deeply. “Okay, if you’re sure. You know I support everything you do, even the things I don’t agree with. Do you have a plan? You’ll be safe?”
“Of course. And I trust he’ll be discreet—he has a lot to lose, too. Don’t worry, Lia. I know what I’m doing.”
But do I?
Ross walks around the front of the car, coming to open the back passenger door for us to get out.
“Thank you,” I say, taking his hand as he assists me out of the car.
“If you’d like to be taken somewhere at any point today, Miss Paladino, I’ll be available.”
Wanting him to always be close, my father pays the rent on Ross’ one-bedroom here in the building as part of his salary.
Which is exactly why I will be leaving through the lobby while he’s still in the parking garage—I can’t risk Ross taking me to Sly’s building and then relaying it to my father. He may bemydriver, but he’s in my father’s pocket. Under these circumstances, it makes him untrustworthy.
When I join Cecilia in the elevator, she’s holding the door, the button for the ninety-second floor already illuminated. As the door begins to shut, I press the L for lobby.
“If you need anything, or feel uncomfortable at any time, just call me.”
“Of course,” I promise, just as the elevator dings. “I’ll see you tonight.”
Taking a deep breath, I step out of the elevators, swallowing my nerves as I leave my building to hail a cab.
The cab driver drops me off a block from The Kenna, and even though the walk is short, I stand outside his building for five minutes staring up at it as I gather my courage.
Thankfully, the doorman on duty isn’t the sameman as last weekend, so I’m able to avoid the judgment I’d no doubt receive, although this man keeps tossing me questionable glances.
Looking at my phone in my hand, I watch as the clock turns to twelve. Nerves swirl in my stomach, but it’s now or never.
Nodding to myself, I’m about to take a step forward when the sound of tires pulling near me, coupled with another car's angry horn, pulls my attention.
Turning, I see a blacked-out Rolls Royce pull alongside the curb, with its passenger window rolling down.
