Chapter 30
Whispers amongst our men are that Enzo is going crazy. They’re calling him the mad king. And the decision to support Alessandro was unanimous. Today the house has been abuzz with energy, with Marco and Dani moving in and the excitement of waiting for Enzo to concede.
I collect the black slip dress Alessandro hung on the back of my door yesterday and look it over. Nope. He doesn’t get to dictate what I wear, we’ve already had this fight. I go hang it back in the walk-in and flick through the selection of cocktail dresses all lined up. Dani brought over the clothes we picked out, and a flash of red catches my eye. It’s a showstopper. A red more vibrant than my hair in a velvety fabric that hugs my curves and shows a little cleavage. This is the one. I slip it on and fix my make-up so my lips match the dress.
I hurry into the elevator, seeing that all the other rooms already have their doors closed. I’m running a little late after spending way too long on my computer trying to find anything I possibly can about Enzo and his connection to my ma. I need to understand why she was working with him. Why would she put our family at risk like that?
When Alessandro said everyone would be expected at dinner at eight, I didn’t think he meant all of Ravens Hollow would also be joining us. I was imagining just the boys, my brother, Dani, and me. But when I step out of the elevator, dance music travels through the lower floor of the boys’ house, its beat mingling with the chatter of conversations from more than just the seven of us. The scent of something delicious fills my nostrils, moving me forward even though my better judgement tells me to retreat straight back to my room. I might be in a fancy dress, but I’m not prepared for a proper party. I didn’t even bother putting on shoes tonight, assuming I would just eat dinner then escape back to my room to do more research on my ma.
One of the security guards I’ve come to know greets me at the end of the hallway. He opens the barrier and gives a subtle nod as I pass him. “Um hi, what on earth is going on here?” I ask him. I feel like I just walked into the Flamingo Hotel with a roped-off zone and all.
“Enjoy your night, Miss Havardi,” he says with a nod, not answering my question. I will never get used to having heavies around us all the time who are seen but not heard; it feels so unnatural.
The lighting through the main living room and kitchen is set to low, and I search the sea of faces mingling around for someone I know, feeling awkward. Who are these people?
Out of nowhere, Dani comes barreling toward me, her arms wrapping around my shoulders like she’s about to tackle me to the floor. “Hey, girl,” she squeals with excitement. Her pretty eyes sparkle with mischief, and I would say that glass of champagne in her hand isn’t her first of the night.
“What the fuck is going on?” I call loud enough for her to hear me over the music.
“Haven’t you heard? I thought one of the boys would have filled you in by now. Enzo’s stepped down. Alessandro is officially boss!” She motions in the direction of the living room, and I find his eyes across the busy room.
Alessandro was watching me walk in, I should have known. And he tilts his head in question, a smug smile playing on his lips as he downs the amber-colored liquid in his tumbler. But I’m not sure what he’s asking me. Am I impressed that he knew Enzo better than I did, maybe? Or maybe he’s inviting me to come and join him and celebrate. He already has a girl resting her ass on the arm of the chair he’s sitting in. As she observes our interaction, she leans in closer to his ear, whispering something. A loud, infectious chuckle escapes from him, filling the air with laughter, drawing some other skank over from across the room. She’s in a hot pink mini dress with legs that go on for days. Irritation crawls under my skin. His eyes haven’t left mine, but I sure don’t want to keep watching him shamelessly flirt with these girls. He’s the big boss man now, just like he always wanted to be. Guess things did work out for one of us. And now he can have the life he wants.
I turn away from him, not wanting to deal with his cocky attitude or the skanks. “Where can I get some food?” I ask Dani. That’s all I’m here for. I have no intention of partying tonight. I have work to do if I’m going to figure this mess out. I’ll just wrap something up in a napkin then sneak back upstairs.
With a gentle grip, she clasps my hand and guides me toward the inviting aroma wafting from the kitchen. A man, dressed in a black chef’s outfit, carefully removes trays of golden, crispy balls from the hot oven. That must be what I could smell when I came in. “They got a chef?” I raise my brow inquisitively toward Dani.
“Sure did. He’s going to be here permanently; Maddox can’t do the cooking while he’s recovering, and I guess Alex decided with so many of us here now, it would be best to get someone in.”
The young guy, with hair as dark as the night, flashes me a charming smile as he extends his ink-covered arm, offering me one of the treats fresh from the tray. “Mushroom Arancini balls,” he says.
“Thanks.” I smile back, eagerly picking one up and relishing the satisfying crunch as I take a bite. It’s hot but delicious, and I greedily take another. “These are to die for.”
Enjoying my compliment, he lets out a chuckle that resonates in the room. “You must be Harley.” As he sets the tray down, he reaches out his hand for me to grasp.
“Sure am.”
“This is Antonio, an excellent new addition to our team,” Dani explains, all smiles toward him.
“Nice to meet you.” I smile again, blushing under his attention. Why is he looking at me like that?
“I’m sure I’ll be seeing a lot of you. Alessandro said you’re his missus, but he failed to mention how beautiful you are.”
I laugh. This guy is a little too charismatic. And now the look makes sense. He knows who I belong to. Or so Alessandro still thinks.
With a mischievous smile, Dani playfully taps his arm, making him laugh. “See, we love him already. Makes scrumptious food and dishes out compliments.”
“Better get back to it,” he says, his voice tinged with a touch of nervousness all of a sudden.
And I sense the reason for our new chef’s hasty exit before I even see him. I feel a hand on my hip, and suddenly a glass of champagne materializes in front of me. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, searching for some inner strength before turning to face Alessandro. “Since when am I your missus?”
A flicker of anger crosses his face, but he swiftly masks it with a forced smile. He’s in a good mood tonight, I can already tell. “Since we have a new man in the house, and I wanted to make sure he knew you were taken.”
“I’m going to go find Marco,” Dani says, looking the two of us over. I silently plead with her not to leave me alone with him, but she waves me off with a giggle. Yeah, she’s had too much to drink already.
Turning into the room, I glance out over the party, trying my best not to make eye contact with Alessandro, faking boredom as I sip at my champagne. From across the room, I spot Geovani engrossed in a deep conversation with another man in a suit. The swelling in his eye has reduced, and he’s resembling the handsome man he normally is.
Like he knows I’m watching him, his eyes rise to meet mine. I offer a half smile. I’m not sure what else to do. I hate how bad things are between us, but I can’t unsee what he did the other night, even though I know why he had to do it. He’s been distant ever since and cold toward me. Like he’s still punishing me for running. And maybe it’s for the best, in this house where there is already way too much testosterone. But I can’t say I don’t miss his cheeky winks and banter when I need someone to spar with. In life and in the gym. Hopefully when our sessions resume, things will return to some sort of normal between us.
He drops his line of sight back to the guy he’s talking to, and my heart sinks. He really is done with me. But I’m not done with him. I have questions, like how did he and Carlo know about my papa’s safety deposit box.
When I realize my drink is empty, I glance toward Alessandro and realize he’s been watching me. What was it we were talking about? That’s right. “You thought I was going to run off with the chef you hired?” I snap. “Interesting. Looked like you were more concerned in having some fun with the skanks practically sitting on your lap to be worried with who I talk to,” I retort with a hint of sass.
He forcefully grips my chin, making me meet his intense gaze. “I only have eyes for you, princess. You know that.” He stares back at me so deeply I feel a flutter go right through me. Jesus, why do I want to be controlled by this man so badly when I know I really don’t? But when his hands are on me, I turn to putty just waiting for him to mold me any way he pleases.
With a sudden burst of strength, I forcefully push him away from me. “Thought the power might be going to your head already.” I roll my eyes in disgust.
“Is that why you selected this delicious number,” his hand slides down my side feeling the velvety fabric, “instead of what I picked out for you?” He chuckles light-heartedly, and I wonder if he’s had some sort of personality transplant today because he’s acting mighty strange. He takes my hand in his tenderly. “Come and sit with us.”
“Why, to keep the groupies from dry-humping you?”
His expression turns a little more serious. “Yes. And because I need you close by.”
I sigh heavily, but reluctantly, I go with him. He drapes an arm over my shoulder and the other comes to my side, and again, I regret not wearing shoes. He’s so tall it makes me feel even smaller with his body surrounding me. “Is it safe to have all these people in your house?” I ask, concerned.
“Stop your stressing, Harley. And it’s our house.”
Abruptly, I come to a halt, my eyes wide with shock. What the fuck is going on here? “What happened to the overbearing, overprotective asshole who wouldn’t let me out of his sight?” I snap, not appreciating his total change. It’s confusing.
He tilts his head, really taking me in. “I’m the boss now. This town will do as I say and protect me and mine at all costs. That includes you. And that’s why every damn person in this room and this town knows who you belong to.” His possessive words send a shiver over my arms.
I stare back at him, not able to find anything to say back. But even if Enzo is dealt with—and I can’t believe he is—this couldn’t be over. Could it? I have been on edge for so long, I can’t believe it is. Not with everything I know about his papa.
He tugs on my hand, encouraging me to walk with him again. People watch us, and Alessandro loves every second of the attention. This is what he craves. But I want to fade into the shadows, hide out until all the people are gone.
When we make it to the living room, Maddox is in one of the armchairs smoking a cigarette; so much for quitting while he was healing. He nods in my direction, his lips turning up at the sides. “It’s medicinal, so doc says it’s okay.”
I shake my head. Great, so Alessandro has had a personality transplant, and Maddox is stoned. Things keep getting more thrilling by the second.
Ricky comes toward me as soon as he spots me, with a huge smile and a bottle of champagne. He tops up my drink as he kisses me on the lips in a way that makes my heart race and my face burn. “Glad you finally joined us, baby girl.”
My brother and Dani occupy the three-seater couch, and Ricky takes a seat alongside them, topping up Dani’s drink as well. Marco gives me a smile, but his attention is mostly focused on Dani. He’s so smitten with her. It’s kind of adorable, and I’m glad he was able to find happiness through all this. He deserves it.
Alessandro directs me to the chair he was sitting in earlier as the center of attention and pulls me down on his lap. “I’m good in my own seat,” I complain, not wanting to look like one of his pathetic groupies.
“Stop being a brat, Harley, sit with me awhile. I need you.” He buries his face in my hair, inhaling, before sinking his teeth into my earlobe playfully.
He needs me? I don’t move. I think because I’m in shock. The most powerful man in the room, nope, the city, and he needs me.
A group of girls have crafted a dance floor close to the speakers and move provocatively around, probably high off their nuts. Other men in suits who I don’t know, congregate in clusters, puffing on cigars that emit a rich, smoky aroma. Crystal-cut glasses clink together as they indulge in their drinks. The boys seamlessly blend in with this lively crowd. Enzo’s casino was their childhood playground. With their commanding presence and unmatched skills in dictatorship, they were destined to rule the shifty underworld. They’re in their element tonight.
We continue to drink and chat for hours, the boys more relaxed than I have seen them in so long. And I decide partying with the boys when they’re in a good mood isn’t all that bad. Dani and I even had a little dance together.
When Alessandro pulls me back down onto his lap after we return, I make myself comfortable, throwing my legs over the armrest, staring up at him, more than a little tipsy. “I guess you’re getting everything you ever wanted. All the power and every man in this town looking up to you.”
“Not everything.” His hungry eyes rake over my body in the slinky velvet dress.
One of his hands slides down my side, feeling the soft fabric before landing on my ass where he squeezes. And I feel his cock harden under me. His head dips, his warm breath tickling my neck. “Come rule beside me, princess,” he says softly in my ear, sending a trail of goosebumps in its wake.
I tilt my head. “I’m not the girl you think. I have no desire to rule anything. Especially not the underworld of Ravens Hollow.” I sigh, his request sitting heavy on my shoulders. Is this what happened to my ma? Was she swept up in the glamor of it all thinking Enzo could change her life for the better? Is that why she was helping him? A sinking feeling washes over me. Are they all just using me the same way, to be discarded when their use for me is over?
Alessandro places a kiss to my shoulder, his fingers playing with my long hair. “But you would look so pretty in a crown.” His hand gently glides up my face, his touch lingering on the back of my neck, bringing me up to sitting and our faces closer together.
My chest rises and falls with anticipation. We’re in a room full of people, but suddenly it’s only us. And I know it can’t be; what we have is real. My heart couldn’t be this wrong. “I don’t even believe that’s what you want,” I whisper, sad for him.
“You have no idea what I want.” His lips meet with mine, and he kisses me deeply, making sure I know it’s me. I’m not certain if it’s the bubbly making me less hostile toward him or what, but I let him sweep me away with him in the moment. It’s nice to have him need me. He could have any girl in the room, but it’s me he wants to show off. Not because he’s trying to save me or prove to Enzo I’m his. But because he wants little old me.
My hand tangles into his hair, kissing him so deeply I feel myself melting more and more by the second. And when we finally pull back, I’m a panting mess. No, I know this is different, I feel it in the way he makes my heart race. In the warmth he holds for only me.
His lips twitch up at the sides in a twisted smile that makes him look even more gorgeous. “You’re desperate for me, aren’t you, princess?”
Fuck, I can’t deny it. I can feel the arousal coating my panties. I blink back at him. “Too bad you’re in the middle of an important party,” I tease him playfully, running my fingers up the collar of his shirt.
He lets out a low growl like he can barely contain himself. “Everyone out,” he commands, his voice firm and demanding and so powerful he nearly knocks me off his lap.