Bado released me. “Just got back from dropping off his niece at school. Gino got busted.”
My stomach roiled. “He did?”
“Yup. Told you it was only a matter of time. Just wait till it’s the boss’s turn.”
We had talked about this numerous times. If Rome ever got arrested or killed, we’d likely all lose our jobs. That was the downside of working for a member of the Italian Mafia. The upside was a job in the most luxurious club on the island, fair pay and hours, and the kind of reputation that made party guests behave—which was invaluable to me as a female bartender and server. No one wanted to end up at the mercy of Romeo Marino’s wrath for assaulting one of his employees.
“Wait.” I held up a hand. “Does that mean he has to take over . . .”
“Yes ma’am.”
Oh, no. Rome had tried to cut all ties to the Mafia for a while. With his brother out of the picture, Rome was next in line to take over his father’s legacy.
Good Lord.
Bado extended a hand to Kingsley, not even batting an eye at the habit. “Nice to meet you, man. I’m Bado.”
“Brother Samuel.” Kingsley’s mouth curved up as they shook.
“Thanks, Bado.” I pecked his cheek, then turned to Kingsley and caught his hand. “Follow me.”
I made for the VIP section—
And got jerked back.
I turned to Kingsley, who hadn’t moved an inch. He stood rooted to the marble floor, staring at our hands. Then his wide eyes came to me.
Oh.
“Sorry, I did that out of habit.” I let go of his warm, calloused hand. Not everyone loved physical touch as much as I did. Kingsley obviously didn’t. Not from a woman anyway.
Bado, bless his heart, turned the music back on, saving me from more awkwardness. I led the way to the onyx bar in the VIP section—keeping my hands to myself this time—where I pulled at the last whiskey bottle on the illuminated glass shelf lining the wall. It just so happened to be a bottle of Lincoln Grady Distillery’s Family Reserve.
A part of the wall swung open, and I slipped through, Kingsley right behind me. We ended up in a red-painted hallway. No sight of the two bouncers who usually lingered here in case someone snuck through the secret passage. I walked up to the black steel door and waved at the camera in the right upper corner. Rome most definitely had already seen us on the feed before we even entered the club.
A heavy lock disengaged, and I pulled the door open. For some odd reason, my stomach fluttered. Rome could be intense, and he was very protective of me. In a big brother kind of way. When I had started working for him two years ago and tried to get his attention, he’d made it clear that he didn’t get involved with his employees. In hindsight, I was pretty sure it had been God’s doing. I’d been young and naïve, blinded by his bad boy persona without knowing how dangerous the Mafia was.
Yet Rome had always looked out for me. Hopefully he’d act respectful toward Kingsley.
Chapter 6
Kingsley
What kind of guy was the owner of this club that he had a military-grade security system?
The muscles in my shoulders tensed when I followed Harley from the secret passage through the black steel door. We emerged in a windowless but spacious and luxurious office. The charcoal silk carpet muffling our steps and LED lights along the ceiling reminded me of Aaron’s—my father’s—walk-in closet. Bet he didn’t have that in prison.
Harley’s boss lounged in an executive chair, feet—I used to have Brunello Cucinelli leather shoes like that—crossed at the ankles and propped on a heavy oak desk. His gaze was fixed on a laptop as he twirled a knife between his tattooed fingers. With the sleeves of his white dress shirt rolled up, revealing inked forearms, and the black vest, he could’ve easily starred in a Mafia movie.
“Hey, Rome.” Harley stepped up to his desk, hands clasped in front of her.
Mine still tingled from her touch. I bought her statement that she hadn’t thought anything of it, but that didn’t change how it had made me feel. The electricity that had charged through me. The warmth pulling all the way into my gut.
The craving for more.
What is wrong with you, man?I wasn’t supposed to like the feeling the touch of a woman evoked in me. And I most definitely wasn’t supposed to dwell on it.
Yet I couldn’t get it out of my system.
