7. Emilia
CHAPTER 7
“He’s welcome to join us in the VIP area, but I promise I have more than enough guards in place.”
Alessio pointed over his shoulder as if I wasn’t aware of the burly employees following us as he attempted for the third time to shake off Derek. Eventually, he’d learn I wasn’t caving. No chance.
“I feel better having him close.” I smiled as if his suggestion had been just that and not a thinly veiled order. I wasn’t one of his men he could boss around. I was getting my way, or I was gone.
“Very well.” He led me to an empty red velvet couch with a gold reserved sign on the table. I slid in while taking note of the surrounding faces. With Ama gone, I didn’t have anyone to look forward to seeing.
At least I got to wear my kick-ass dress and take it for a test run. I walked around the apartment with my garter belt holder, and none of the guys could tell. Plus, it was so easy to slip out my knife. I couldn’t wait for a normal mission.
That was an odd thought. I’d been so bored, seeking anything new, and here I was wishing for the old.
“What would you like to drink?” Alessio dipped close enough for me to hear over the music.
“Do they have a specialty?”
He grinned. “Not yet. We’ve only been open for a few weeks, and the head bartender hasn’t found the inspiration he’s been seeking yet. Do you have a recommendation?”
I looked around the dark room decorated in typical Miami art deco fashion, with gold patterned trimmings, chandeliers, and waiters wearing loose black pants, bow ties, and vests or suspenders over their white button-downs. The new place was much quieter, with a more sophisticated ambiance than the last club.
“A sidecar seems fitting.”
He grinned. “I agree. I’m glad the theme is clear. We didn’t want to lean too far into the speakeasy vibe. There are already a few in the area, but we wanted to play up the existing architecture.”
“So this is another of your businesses?” There was no point in playing disinterested or oblivious anymore. I was his supportive girlfriend taking an interest in all aspects of his life.
“Yeah, but I’m more of a silent partner in this one. It’s a friend of mine’s dream, so I just backed him.”
“He’s lucky it already fits in your portfolio.” I cringed internally.
Why was I having such a hard time being normal around him? This conversation felt like forced small talk I’d have with a stranger on a plane.
This man had seen parts of me I never revealed to anyone. Yes, it was fake, but my vulnerability with him wasn’t. I needed to let down my guard to be with him.
Hell, there wasn’t an inch of me he hadn’t seen or touched. So what was wrong with me?
Was it knowing Derek was over my shoulder watching and Marco was listening? Probably, but not completely.
The fragile trust I built with Alessio shattered that night in Cuba. Not when he hadn’t immediately believed me when I’d said I’d heard something. He’d been half-asleep and had every reason to believe his guards could handle any threat.
It wasn’t even being locked in the panic room with his mom. That’d been the safest place for me, and I understood better than most what a distraction worrying about someone else could be.
No, it was the moment he’d lied to me about taking me to Miami.
He took away my choice. My freedom. It didn’t matter that he’d thought it was best. He never should have crossed that line.
Not to mention taking me directly into Velez territory… No. I cut myself off from making excuses. He didn’t know going to Mexico was the last place I wanted to be, but it could have been Louisiana or the Bahamas, even Orlando. I would have been just as livid.
But I’d told him I would give him another chance. That meant I had to pretend I could let it go. Somehow.
Fake it ’til you make it was my best option.
I took slow breaths and counted to twenty. Our waiter approached, and Alessio gave him our order.
I shifted, angling to face him more, and put my hand on his thigh. “This week was really hard.”
His eyes softened, and he laced our fingers together before pulling our hands up so he could kiss the back of mine. “It was. It was nothing like I had planned. I wanted us to take a break and relax on the beach. I wanted you to get to know mi madre and me better.”
I squeezed his hand. “Is she okay?”
“Yes. We replaced the guards, and I had one of my teams check for weaknesses. They found several points with gaps in the cameras, so we got that fixed.”
Good. I wouldn’t have to find a subtle way to suggest that. If the guys were able to get in as wolves, there were obviously issues.
“That’s good. I’m glad she’ll be safer now.”
“She feels terrible about what happened too. She blames herself for allowing you to be in that position.”
“Oh no, she did nothing but protect me. I should call her and let her know I don’t hold her accountable at all.”
He leaned in and kissed my temple. “She might not listen, but I’m sure she’d be very happy to hear from you.”
The waiter returned with our drinks and four small plates of beautifully presented appetizers—shrimp, oysters, artichokes, and something I couldn’t identify.
“Thank you.” I grinned up at the man, and he gave a slight bow as he backed away.
I picked up my glass as I looked around, noting several pairs of eyes on us.
“I don’t recognize anyone.”
Alessio took a sip of his old-fashioned and hummed. “A few of them were at the pool party, but this isn’t my typical scene.”
I made quick eye contact with Derek. Was that bad for the plan? We expected most of his higher-ups to be here, far away from the warehouse district.
He didn’t react, so I took that to mean it was fine and focused back on my target.
“How’s Ama?” I didn’t want to bring her up, but I truly missed her. His sister was a natural topic for us.
“She’s great. She’s happy to be back with her animals, but she said she misses you.”
“I’m glad she’s back with her sloths.” I forced a smile.
Getting close to her wasn’t part of the plan, so I was glad she was out of the range of most danger. I needed to let go of that attachment. It would only hurt more in the end.
I leaned forward and picked up a shrimp. It was delicious but also an excuse to keep my mouth occupied.
This evening was awkward, like a bad first date, not a night out with my boyfriend. Could he tell or was it all in my head?
I peeked over to find him watching me with a sigh.
“We feel different,” he said. “I know it’s going to take time for you to trust me again and for us to move past what happened, but I want nothing more than to get back to where we were before we left.”
When we’d woken up in his bed and I’d made him tell me more about himself because I’d wanted to know everything about the man that had asked me to be his girlfriend. When I’d questioned if things between us could be real. When I’d wondered if I could walk away from my Pack––as if they’d allow me to leave alive––and what our lives would look like.
I was no stranger to crime and the darker side of humanity. A part of me believed I could be happy as his arm candy. His oblivious wife who spent her days in luxury instead of on missions assassinating the enemies of her Alpha.
Even now, the idea tempted me—a fantasy of a white knight swooping in to save me from a dragon.
But he was the dragon.
Plus, I knew the difference between what I felt for Alessio––freedom, excitement, and novelty––over what I felt for the guys––trust, security, and peace.
But I couldn’t have them either.
No matter what, in the end, I would end up miserable. And alone.
If this mission taught me anything, my world and my life could be so much more.
I hadn’t been happy before, and I hadn’t realized how bad it was until I’d gotten away.
How could I go home to living with my parents, training with Coach every day, and getting a few quick missions a week to fill my time? It was impossible.
I needed to find another option, something I couldn’t see yet.
A way out.
“Maybe this weekend we could go see a new exhibit––”
I barely caught Alessio’s words before a loud curse from a nearby couch interrupted him.
Suddenly, a dozen or so men stood, yelling and pointing. A few looked at Alessio. He pulled out his phone and paled at whatever he read on the screen before shoving it into his pocket.
He looked past me and barked at the closest man. “Go.”
It was a single word that held immense power. I fell back against him as the men rushed past us to the door that led to the club’s exit, still screaming at each other, noting who was yelling directions and who was shooting glares in our direction.
Explosion.
Weapons.
Attack.
Warehouse.
Storage.
Fire.
Italians.
Dead.
I only caught single words as they hurried past and used the distraction to look back to Derek. He gave a tiny dip of his chin as his mouth barely moved, listing off the men that left as planned.
Success.
“What’s going on?” I turned to him and put a hand on his leg, which trembled.
I thought I’d seen him mad before. The times he had men killed for touching or even looking at me. The night at his mom’s.
This was something else.
We cost him. Whatever was in that warehouse was enough to truly piss him off. Maybe even hurt his business irrevocably.
“Babe?” I leaned in and kissed his cheek, close to his lips. “Talk to me.”
He closed his eyes and ducked his head against mine. “Just got some bad news. Give me a second.”
He stood and paced the back wall. I faced away, giving him the illusion of privacy while I popped another appetizer and made eye contact with Derek. He only gave me a small smile. I wished we could speak telepathically in our human forms so I could get updates, but I’d have to wait to hear the full report when I got home.
Not knowing exactly what had happened was for the best. I was a decent actress, but if Alessio decided to be honest about what was going on, giving a genuine reaction to the shocking news was better.
In fact, I could use this as a test and make him tell me to regain my trust. No more letting him get off with little to no information.
I brushed off my fingers and stood, taking a second to straighten my dress before approaching Alessio.
“Baby?” I put my hand on his bicep to stop him.
Something crazed hovered in his dark eyes when they found mine. “Something happened to one of my warehouses.”
I covered my mouth with my free hand. I hadn’t heard mention of drugs, so it must have been his weapon’s location. “Was anyone hurt?”
His jaw flexed. “Most likely.”
“I’m so sorry. Do you need to go?”
To my shock, he didn’t take the bait. “No.” He kissed my forehead. “My men can handle it.”
Now, that wasn’t so hard. I wanted to pat his arm and tell him good job, but I gave him a different reward. “Let’s go home.”
Whether it was the suggestion of leaving or me referring to his house as home again, I didn’t know, but he calmed and nodded.
He took my hand, and we headed back the way we’d come in rather than the emergency exit his men used a few minutes ago. Derek trailed behind, whispering quietly enough that I couldn’t hear.
On the sidewalk, a valet immediately ran up with Alessio’s keys. “We kept your car up front.”
I raised a brow. “You drove yourself?”
His lips lifted a fraction. “I’m giving it a try.” He went to the passenger door and opened it.
I turned to Derek. “I’ll be fine. You can have the rest of the night off.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He stepped back.
I smiled up at Alessio, nearly laughing at the awe on his face. “Unless I need him to come?”
He recovered quickly. “No. No. I just appreciate it.”
I kissed him. “Good. You’ll keep me safe.”
I ducked into the car as he stood frozen for a second. That was his biggest weakness, and I just breathed new life into his fragile ego.
He went around to the driver’s side and slid in, beaming at me like one of the biggest components of his business hadn’t just been blown up.
Silly, simple man.
Normally, I’d be proud of myself, but I had too much power over him. Instead of being intoxicating, it was kind of pathetic.
He didn’t know anything about me, or rather, Millie. I was a way for him to prove himself as a man and a protector. A challenge, not a person.
He never pressed for more, except the one time I wanted to know deeper things about him. He was fine with the surface level. Attracted enough to my face and body to be satisfied.
Unlike the guys who were willing to pin me to the floor to get me to open up.
I needed to push thoughts of them out of my mind.
Not here. Not like this.
Focus on the present. Getting lost in thoughts of them was far too dangerous right now.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked. “You were upset in there.”
He couldn’t take my hand since he was busy shifting gears, but he smiled. “You give me more peace than anyone before. You have a way of soothing my soul with one look.”
Such beautiful, empty words.
“You’re my light. My beacon through all the darkness and shit in my life.” He paused. “You’re too good, too pure for me and my world. I should let you go before I take you down too, but I can’t.”
Ha. If he only knew.
I shifted to face him squarely. “Then let me be that light. Talk to me. Tell me what’s going on. I’ve never seen you like that before.” I let my voice drift away for effect and lowered my gaze. “It scared me.”
“I just lost it there for a second.” He adjusted his grip on the steering wheel. “Something went wrong at one of my properties tonight. I’m not sure of the full extent of the damage yet.”
“Are your employees okay?” I rushed out the words.
He tapped his thumbs on the wheel. “I’m not sure.”
Because he hadn’t bothered asking. He probably wasn’t nearly as concerned about the loss of lives as he was about the money he was out.
“Was it an accident?”
He didn’t answer immediately, instead speeding through the streets toward his house. “I don’t think so.”
“Was it Brazzi?” I whispered, adding a bit of fear in my voice.
“No.” He squeezed my hand for a second before pulling away. “I told you. I took care of him.”
“You have another enemy?” I squeezed, sounding distraught. Damn, I was good.
He glanced at me, panic in his eyes, and slammed his palm on the wheel. “Shit, no. I mean, not another like him.”
He didn’t think the Velez was a possibility? I was beginning to doubt he even knew about us. “What do you mean?”
“There’s been some tension since my dad passed and left me in charge.”
I leaned toward him, sensing this was going to be important.
“Martin was his right-hand man and assumed he would take over when Dad died. He’d put up a bit of a fight in the beginning, but finally backed off and accepted I was the boss. He could have been a great source of guidance and support but said if I was meant to be in the position, I’d figure it out. He didn’t do anything to help me during the transition, but he hasn’t actively done anything against me.”
“Do you think he was behind what happened tonight?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t want to rule anything out yet. He was just the first possibility that came to mind. He has an unfortunate habit of creating issues for me. Tests, perhaps, for me to prove I can’t handle leadership.” Alessio rubbed his tightening jaw.
“But he wouldn’t sabotage the business just to get back at you, would he?” I asked and gave him a wide-eyed look, na?ve but provocative.
“It wouldn’t be the first time.”
I swiveled to look out the window, keeping my shoulders tight to signal concern and shielding my smile. He had another weakness to exploit.