She sneers at my use of the Italian term for child.
“What? You said not to call youuccellino. You sneer atbambina. What would you prefer I call you?”
“How about my name? I want Jameson and ginger ale.”
I raise my eyebrow at her, waiting for her to change her mind.
“What are you staring at?” she finally asks.
“Nothing. Coming right up, princess.”
“Fuck you, Gio,” she yells as I walk away.
I saunter up to the back bar and smile at Vanessa, the bartender.
“Hey, boss man. I haven’t seen you in a while. What can I get you? Your usual?”
“I’ve been busy. Only a beer for me tonight and a Jameson and ginger ale. I’m on babysitting duty.” I gesture over to my shoulder.
“Who’s the bombshell you brought with you?”
“That’s the princess, Bastiano’s little sister. Keep an eye on her. She’s only allowed two drinks. If she comes up for more, fake it.”
She laughs. “Yes, sir.”
I collect our drinks and head back to the table. Greer’s pouting while Matt and Enzo stand guard around her.
“Here you go.” I hand Greer her drink.
“Finally. These two brutes refuse to let me dance.” She takes a drink then sets it on the table before she stands and walks over to me. “Let me dance. What’s the point of being out if I can’t even dance?” She gives me puppy dog eyes that always suckered me into doing whatever she wanted when we were kids.
“You can dance. Up here where there’s fewer people and we can keep an eye on you.” I gesture to the dance floor on the VIP level. It’s much smaller with only a couple and a group of girls dancing.
“Thank you!” She runs off as Enzo follows.
“Why did we agree to this again?” Matt asks from next to me.
“Because we feel bad for the girl. She’s held on such a high pedestal made of glass. Poor girl deserves a little taste of normalcy.” I watch as she immediately makes friends with the group of girls and starts dancing.
“She does look much happier now. Must be lonely living in a glass house all alone.”
“More than you know. When you’re in the position she is in, you can never trust the people around you. Never know who really likes you for you or who’s using you for your connections.”
“What a sad life,” he murmurs to himself. “What the fuck?”
I look over only to find his gaze not on Greer but down on the dance floor below. “What is it?” I ask, searching the floor. Before he answers, I see her. Izzy dancing on the floor with another man. My hands clench as I take a step forward.
“Breathe,” Matt says as he places one hand on my shoulder. “Let me go talk to her. If you go down there as mad as you are, it will only make things worse.”
I glance back over at Greer. Enzo has a close eye on her. I look back to Matt then Izzy. “I’m going to grab some air. Get her out of here.”
I watch as he picks up the drink Greer abandoned and walks it over to Enzo. I don’t wait to see if he goes to Izzy. I know he will.
I race down the back stairs and out into the alley before slamming my fist against the brick wall. My mind flashes back to Izzy with that man on the dance floor. I knew there was a possibility of her moving on one day, but I never thought the day would come. I always held on to the fact that she would come back to me eventually. I can’t even hold on to the thought of her doing it to make me jealous. I don’t think she even knows I’m here. I walk down the alley and stand at the end, staring at the front door.
She needs to leave. If she doesn’t, I might kill a man tonight. It wouldn’t be the first time, but with how unstable I feel, it might be the last. Emotions make you sloppy.
“Sorry!” a feminine voice says as she falls into me.
