34. Bianca
Bianca
“Zanni. It’s good to see you.”
All eyes remain glued to us. While our peers exhibit blatant curiosity, Zanni’s expression remains hidden behind his mask.
He reminds me of Father. His attention feels like lightning ready to strike, a crackle in the air waiting for a target.
“Marco and I have been looking forward to speaking to you for several days now.”
Zanni folds his hands at the small of his back and rocks back and forth on the heels of his feet. “Ah. Yes. Leandro told me you’d be here tonight.” He stares at me for a drawn-out second before glancing at Marco. “I’m curious. What makes you think you’ve earned the right to ask for favors?”
I’m about to remind him of the boat but stop myself. His response shouldn’t surprise me. When it comes to the Council, the goalposts shift depending on their mood. Still, Zanni’s off tonight, but I can’t put my finger on why. He seems almost…irritated?
My stomach twists with anxiety, and I lick my dry lips. It’s fine. Marco has my back. I just need to keep Zanni on topic and defuse any escalating tension. “I apologize if Marco and I have done anything to offend y—”
Zanni’s laugh is devoid of amusement. “It’s the audacity that I find truly offensive, Mrs. Argento.
You see, I was kind enough to play matchmaker, and yet a little birdie has alerted me to all the trouble in paradise.
The Canary Club, that oh-so-charming dive bar downtown, and let’s not forget the D’Amalfi Limoncello.
” Zanni tsks, and his voice drops an octave.
“I should kill you for that one myself, sweet Bianca.”
I can’t breathe. He knows. He’s been watching us the entire time.
I knew it was a possibility, but to have it confirmed with such finality is jarring.
Zanni edges nearer, and I know he can see me tremble as I gaze up into his mask.
“Though, I suppose you learned your lesson. How did the pommel of that knife feel so deep in that pretty little cunt?”
Marco practically lifts me off the ground, pulling me away from Zanni so quickly that my head spins. Too horrified and enthralled by the hissed threats spilling from his mouth, I didn’t notice the Council creeping up on me.
Placing me firmly—deliberately—behind him, Marco regards Zanni easily, though banked fury rolls off him in waves.
I almost place a palm at the center of his back but stop short.
Maybe there was a chance of something more between the two of us, but with Livia’s life on the line, I can’t risk growing any closer to him than I already am.
I promised my sister—and myself—that I would remember what I’m here to do.
I have to either get the book or die trying, which means going through Zanni. The crowd’s attention burrows beneath my skin, and my breath stalls in my lungs. It’s the Canary Club all over again.
Is Aldo in attendance as well?
Does it make a difference when rumors of tonight will be swarming by morning? What about Il Silenzio? If he’s not already dead, then he could be posing as any of these men while he plots his next move. I return to Marco’s side with my knees wobbly and my back straight.
I’m not weak, and I refuse to cower in a room full of the most dangerous people in the world. Marco told me a lot about how his father used to deal with him, and for all his sins, Gio had been right about one thing.
This world devours soft things. And why not when they break so easily beneath sharpened teeth? Marco doesn’t seem to remember, or maybe he doesn’t care. He’s too busy directing a menacing grin at Zanni.
“I didn’t realize you were such a romantic, Councilor. If I had, I would have invited you to the dive bar to hang out with our friends that night.” Marco grows thoughtful. “It wasn’t as fancy as the Canary Club, true, but at least Bianca and I didn’t have to worry about anyone crashing the party.”
A muscle in Marco’s jaw tics, and he leans forward as if he and Zanni are just two good friends sharing a secret. “As for my wife’s cunt…” His green eyes glint, as cold as I’ve ever seen them, and his voice lowers to a growl. “Why don’t you let me worry about that?”
Zanni’s head cocks like a bird examining a worm. “You know, it just occurred to me that Ren never truly saw you two seal the deal, as it were. According to him, Mrs. Argento was a bit shy.” He tosses me a wink as if we both know better, and my cheeks heat.
Zanni chuckles. Sweeping out an arm, he raises his voice, inviting the rest of the club into the conversation. “Let’s put that to the test, shall we? Fuck for us, right here, and I’ll grant you both whatever you want.”
His fingers trail across the bare skin of my upper back as he circles us. “I heard you were a crowd favorite at Crooked the other night, and I’m a little jealous I missed the show.”
A full-body tremor crawls through my body, and I swear I can still feel Zanni’s touch. Everyone’s so eager to watch me lose control, to peek beneath my skin. For what? Power? Amusement?
Say yes, you dumb bitch, and bring me my book. I’ve always known exactly what you are, and this will just prove it.
Goaded by Aldo’s cruel, strident voice in my head, I almost do it. I almost say yes, but I can’t. Not even for Livia. How can I be willing to kill for someone, be willing to die for them, and yet draw the line here?
I say nothing because I’m sure Zanni sees the refusal written all over my face. He sighs in disappointment. “I guess you didn’t really want access to my treasures after all.”
Marco snaps. He’s been holding himself together since Zanni issued his request, but anger cracks his voice like a whip. “Who the fuck would agree to something like that?”
He’s coiled so tightly that if violence were allowed in the club, I bet Marco would have attacked the Councilor by now. Instead, he stands beside me, seething.
A bored Zanni waves a hand and spins away. Before Marco and I can protest, Council soldiers seize us both and haul us out of Paradiso. I don’t struggle. I’ve already suffered enough humiliation for one night, but the DJ has to crank the music back up to drown out Marco’s tirade.
The soldiers shove us into the elevator, one of them leaning in and pressing the button to the lobby before the doors close.
I brace myself against the mirrored wall and struggle to fill my lungs.
Marco reaches for me, but I push him away, the confrontation with Zanni still throbbing like a fresh wound.
I can’t handle having someone’s hands on me right now, not even Marco’s.
“Don’t.” Inhaling through my nose, I repeat myself in a calmer tone. “Don’t touch me right now. Please.”
Marco played a dangerous game tonight. My father was one thing, but going toe-to-toe with a Councilor is normally a death sentence. Something like that can never happen again.
Straightening, I shift away from him, my voice growing cold. “The gallant act was cute at first, but just so we’re clear, I don’t need or want your protection, Argento.”
Marco rocks back as if I struck him, and I glance away, my throat burning. I want to scream at how spectacularly everything tonight has gone to shit, but I swallow the urge. Zanni has left me shaken, but my objective hasn’t changed.
My fists clench at my sides as the numbers on the elevator count down. One way or another, I’m getting into that Library. If Zanni won’t help, I’ll just need to find someone who will.