A bitterness I wasn’t expecting hits me suddenly. Why would my mom do this to me? I know it’s my duty, but did it have to be this family? One they clearly despise? I almost can’t believe that she is willing to shackle me to them in order to solidify our family’s future. I hate that train of thought.
Mom has never done anything that wasn’t for the best. She’s always telling me to trust her. And that things will work out as they should. They usually do in most cases. I should trust in that, but I’m finding it hard right now.
It doesn't help that my mood was soured when I saw Torino. He, too, is dressed up. His suit fits him perfectly, showing off his big build. No suit could ever hide that. Even his hair is styled. He looks so damn handsome. I wanted to reach over the whole ride here and run my fingers through his hair and ruin it. I had to control myself, considering my mom and Carlito were in the car with us.
This hiding our relationship thing is really starting to get old. It was fun at first. Not so much anymore. Especially now that we’re heading into a party, and he’s going to be the most handsome, and likely the most powerful, man in the room. I’m sure every single woman and even the not-so-single ones will fall at his feet, begging for his attention. I clench my teeth, knowing there is nothing I can do to stop that. I’ll have to stand on the sidelines all night and watch these vultures hit on my man.
I snag a glass of champagne when a server walks by, then chug it down. I don’t normally drink, but I’m thinking I might need it tonight.
My phone vibrates in my little clutch purse. I already know it’s Torino. I ignore it, grabbing another glass of champagne, trying to melt into the crowd of people in an attempt to delay Finnegan finding me.
A hand grabs my elbow in a firm hold. I don’t have to look to know who it is. I know Torino’s touch. It’s always possessive. He pulls me close to him, his mouth going to my ear.
“You need to slow down with the alcohol.” His tone is curt.
I smirk and raise my fresh glass of champagne to my lips and take a big drink. His jaw flexes. I can’t tell from the heat in his eyes if he’s mad or turned on by my rebellion. “I will punish you.”
I suck in a breath, my face warming thinking about what he would do to punish me. Would he bend me over a table and pull my dress up around my waist before ripping my panties down my legs and spanking me? Would he lose control and end up taking me hard against the table? I clench my thighs together at the thought.
“Alessa.” He growls my name. My face gives away everything I’m thinking. Torino always knows how to read me.
“Torino. There you are. I’ve missed you.” I turn at the sultry voice. “You haven’t been around lately.”
The beautiful woman puffs out her overstuffed bottom lip in a pout. She’s all done up. From her skintight red dress and five-inch heels that I would kill myself in, to her impeccable makeup. I hate her instantly.
“Natalia.” He greets her.
The woman’s dark eyes flash to me but quickly dismiss me. I jerk my elbow out of Torino’s hold.
“Oh. Is this your little sister?”
“Yeah. I’m his little sister.” I don’t give Torino a chance to grab at me again. I want to claw the woman's eyes out, but more than that, I want him to shut her down.
Who the hell is she? They must have some kind of past. I hate the hurt that builds up inside my chest. All these years I’ve dreamt of nothing but him while he was out there fucking every other woman, killing time. Bullshit.
“Alessa,” Torino calls after me. His tone is filled with warning. Anyone else would stop in fear of his wrath, but I’m not everyone else. I slip through the crowd easily and make my escape. I’m not going to stand there and watch some woman fawn all over him. I down the rest of my drink, already feeling that warm fuzziness that drinking gives me when I indulge.
I know that I can’t say crap without giving myself away as the jealous lover. But this does make me wonder if this will happen often when I can finally be at Torino’s side. Will different women always be coming on to him?
My stomach starts to turn as my thoughts try to get away from me. Mistresses. Most men have them. I knew my father had a handful of them. Mom was actually happy about it. I don’t think she’d be the same about her new husband. He can’t keep his hands off her.
“Alessa.” Finnegan steps in front of me. I force a smile onto my face. “My beautiful bride to be.” He grabs my hand.
I try to tug it free, but he doesn't let go. I have no choice but to go unless I want to cause a scene.
“I’ve been wanting some time alone with you.” He grabs me another drink off a tray.
“That’s not proper.” I try to pull on my hand again, but still I get nowhere.
“Who wants to be proper?” He smirks, pulling me into his side. “You’ll be mine soon enough anyway.”
I don’t miss the smell of perfume on him. Or the lipstick smudge on his neck.
Men. I’m starting to think they’re all the same. I’ve been naïve to ever think otherwise.
13
Torino
She’s disappeared. I pull at the neck of my dress shirt.
“Calm, son.” Dad hands me a champagne flute. “We’re swimming with the sharks, in their grubby little sea for the moment.”
I take the champagne and down it, but I don’t stop scanning the room for a glimpse of Alessa. She shouldn’t be here. Not at this overdone shithole. Not when there are predators and fake smiles all around us.
“So good to have you here.” Elaine Perth smiles, her too-white teeth gleaming. “I hope you enjoy yourselves at our little impromptu engagement party.”
“Thank you for throwing this.” My father gives her a nod. Despite his cool demeanor, he’s on edge. Enemy territory is never a good place to be, even if we’re supposed to be forming an alliance with this family. They aren’t blood, and the wedding hasn’t happened. It will never happen.
Elaine leans closer, so close I can smell the hard booze on her breath and see the little dab of white powder inside her nostril. “I think the love birds have flown the coop together. Perhaps getting a head start on a little Perth heir.”
Without a word, I turn on my heel and push through the crowd. I can hear my father making apologies for me to Elaine. Like I give a shit. If her dickhead of a son has touched my Alessa, there will be consequences. Ones that will make a little rudeness from me seem like a sweet dream.
I push out into the hallway, then hurry down the corridor, passing Perth soldiers who stare but don’t make a move. They know my reputation, and I’m certain they’ve been told that this party is supposed to be violence-free. What they don’t know is if one of them tries to stop me right now, I’d drop him with a bullet between the eyes without thinking twice.
Taking the stairs two at a time, I hurry to the residence part of the home. A guard stands waiting just in front of a long hallway.
He steps in front of me and crosses his arms. “Party’s downstairs.”
I reach for my gun. That’s when I hear her cry. Alessa.
The guard turns his head toward the sound. I take the opening and clock him with a vicious right. He falls hard, lights out.