Tilly : A Valentino Heir Novella (Valentino Heirs Book 3)

Chapter 1

Have you ever wished you were someone else? That you could just snap your fingers and… poof. You turned into an entirely different person. I can only imagine how freeing that is.

Who would I choose to be if I could do that? I’d be someone with the confidence to take what I wanted. Someone who didn’t follow the rules all the time. I’d be a girl who could let her hair down and have fun without worrying about the consequences.

I’ve wondered what that would be like for a while. And tonight, I’m determined to find out, even if my heart is racing and doubt is clouding my head. I’m choosing to ignore the voice of reason, just for one night. I can do this.

It’s the one day of the year where you can be whoever you want. Halloween. It’s not something I usually enjoy. I don’t partake in the parties, the costumes, the getting drunk off your butt… And I probably wouldn’t be tonight if it weren’t for my two best friends, Kinsley and Rosa, who somehow managed to talk me into thinking this was the best idea since sliced bread.

You can do this, Tilly. You’re a Valentino. You can do anything.

My inner pep talk does nothing to calm my nerves, while a whistle coming from behind me has me turning my head to glance over my shoulder. Kinsley stands there with her mouth dropped open and her eyes wide. “Holy cow, Matilda Olivia Valentino, where on earth have you been hiding all… that?” She waves a hand up and down my body.

I roll my eyes. “It’s too much, isn’t it?”

I turn back to look at myself in the mirror. I’m dressed in what’s supposed to be a devil costume; although I look more like a hooker if you asked me. I’m wearing a tiny red leather skirt that barely covers my rear, matching red leather boots that reach mid-thigh, and a corset crop top that makes me look like I have a lot more cleavage than I actually do. The only indication that I’m supposed to resemble a devil are the little horns on top of my head.

“Not even a little bit. I love it,” Kinsley says. “Shit, I might even consider switching teams for you in that, Tilly.” She waggles her eyebrows up and down.

“Please don’t.” I laugh. “Maybe I should take a sweater or a coat.” I feel so exposed. I’ve never left the house dressed in, well, not much at all.

“No fucking way are you covering that up with a coat,” Kinsley says. “Come on. We need to go. We’re supposed to meet up with Rosa in fifteen.”

My fingers twitch as we walk up the street. Kinsley drove and parked her car two blocks down. Do you have any idea how hard it is to navigate the streets of New York City in six-inch stilettos?

Well, let me tell you… it’s not freaking easy.

The closer we get to Sin, the nightclub I insisted we go to tonight, the more I want to turn around and run. I shouldn’t be here, and I certainly shouldn’t be here dressed like this. But I’m going with the it’s now or never kind of mindset. I’ve been waiting years for Antonio Gambino to notice me.

His image flashes in my head. Eyes so dark that every time I’ve dared to look into them, I feel like I’m being pulled into a black pit. His stare is always so empty, devoid of emotion. Then there’s that smirk, a dimple on his right cheek. And I swear when he directs it my way—on all of two occasions total—my entire body lights up like the Fourth of July. I should also note that those smirks are quickly replaced with the standard stony expression he’s mastered in 0.5 seconds flat.

I wonder if he knows all the things he does to my body. Things I’m not going to admit aloud.

I take hold of Kinsley’s hand. My grip tightens and my voice wavers. “This was a bad idea.”

“No, it wasn’t. Come on, Tilly. You look hot. And if that good-for-nothing asshole doesn’t notice you, then fuck him. Plenty of others will,” she says.

The thing is, I don’t want anyone else to notice me. The only man I’ve ever wanted that kind of attention from is Antonio. Kinsley and Rosa are well aware of my long-term crush. We’ve been friends since the fifth grade. There isn’t much we don’t know about each other.

My gaze flicks up and down the street. I really hope no one recognizes me in this outfit. I’d be mortified. Well, anyone other than the man in question. I want him to see me. Finally see me as a woman.

Kinsley drags me up to the front of the club, cutting the line as she whispers something to the bouncer. He eyes me for a second and then opens the door with a quick nod and a polite smile.

“What’d you say to him?” I ask as we step inside. The chill from the AC immediately has my skin pebbling. Something that wouldn’t have happened if I brought my coat, mind you.

“That you’re a Valentino and we’re on the list.” She smirks.

I roll my eyes. My friends like to say that my name opens doors. And I guess Kinsley just proved their point. I’ve never used it to my advantage, though. Like I said, I’m the good girl. There isn’t a rule I don’t follow. I don’t ever get in trouble, because I avoid situations that could ever lead to it. My parents have plenty on their plates. They don’t need to be worrying about me and what I’m doing. I don’t want to add to their stress. My younger brother Dante does that enough for both of us.

My hand tightens around Kinsley’s again as I follow her into the darkened nightclub. Everyone is in costume, or what they’re trying to pass off as costumes anyway. We stop at the bar, where a big neon sign with the word Sin hangs from the ceiling in the center.

The bartender turns our way, his eyes slowly assessing me as he approaches. “Looks like you’re right at home, little hellion. What’ll it be?”

“Uh…” I glance to Kinsley for help. I might be twenty-one, but other than the occasional glass of wine I’ve had with my mom and aunts, I don’t drink. I skipped the whole high school party scene and am well on my way to finishing college without ever having been to a single frat house.

“We’ll have two Lucifers,” Kinsley answers for me.

The bartender shifts his attention from me to my friend. “Sure thing, darling,” he says, slapping a hand on the bar top before turning away again.

“Oh my god, I’ve been waiting forever for you two.” Rosa’s arms wrap around my neck. “Holy shit, Tilly, you’re on fire tonight.” She pulls back and lifts a hand to fan herself dramatically.

I shake my head while I tug at the bottom of my top, trying to cover just a little more of my exposed stomach.

My eyes shift around the club. I can’t help it. I know what I’m doing without meaning to. I’m seeking him out. I also know it’s highly unlikely he’ll actually be here. Why would he be? I’m sure he has plenty of other things to keep him occupied. The Gambino family might own this nightclub, but I’ve never been here. I have no idea if Antonio actually frequents this place or not.

“Here ya go, little hellion.” The bartender places two red concoctions in front of us. I go to hand him a fifty and he shakes his head. “On the house.” He smiles and slides over to the next customer.

I’m too confused to argue with the guy as the little hairs on the back of my neck prickle with awareness. He’s here. I know it. I look up towards the balcony, and that’s when I spot him, staring right back at me.

Shit. This was a bad idea. What on earth was I thinking?

I pick up the drink. The coolness of the liquid does nothing to temper my overheated body. Kinsley and Rosa look at me with wide eyes when I place the empty glass back on the bar.

“I’m going to the bathroom. I’ll meet you two on the dance floor,” I tell them.

“I’ll come with you,” Rosa offers.

“No, I just need a minute.”

The girls share a glance but I don’t give them time to question me as I slip around them and walk off. I don’t even know where the bathrooms are located.

The whole time I make my way through the crowded club, I can feel his eyes tracking me. I need to get out of here. I don’t know what I was thinking. I can’t do this. I’m not this girl. No matter how much I wanted to escape and be her for a little bit.

I push my way through a door and stop short when I end up in an alley. I jump when the door slams shut behind me. I was so lost in my own head I didn’t know where I was going.

I turn around and I try to open it, but the damn thing doesn’t budge. It’s locked. “Great. Just freaking great,” I mumble under my breath. “Darn it.” I left my clutch on the bar. Which means I don’t have my phone, and I can’t even tell the girls I’ve been locked out.

I rub at my chilled skin as I try not to freak out. I’ve spent my life avoiding situations like this. Being alone in a dark alley.

Yeah, this is not my thing.

My steps quicken, the click of my heels too loud against the pavement. I maneuver around a dumpster, the lights and noise of the busy sidewalk a welcomed sight.

“How much?” A deep voice from right next to me has a shiver running down my spine.

“I’m sorry…” I say and walk faster. I just need to get near people.

“Come on, baby, how much? I’ve got the money. You’ve got the pussy. Let’s do business.”

I open my mouth to try to explain that he has the wrong idea here, when the sound of sirens blares in my ears and blue-and-red lights flash in my eyes. I never thought I’d be so happy to see cops. When you grow up with my last name, they aren’t exactly your favorite people.

That relief is short-lived when one of the officers approaches me, reaches out, and twists my arm behind my back before grabbing for the other. “You’re under arrest…”

Then I hear the audible clank of metal on metal. I don’t know what else he says as my heart beats out of my chest.

“No, this is a mistake.” I try to tell him as he walks me over to the car before opening the back door and shoving me inside.

Darn it, darn it, darn it. What the heck is happening?

As freaked out as they have me right now, I keep my mouth shut. These guys don’t know who I am. And I need to keep it that way. Even when I’m sitting behind a desk and they’re explaining how I’m being charged with prostitution. I want to laugh and tell them how ridiculous it is to charge a virgin with prostitution. Pretty sure I’m as far from a hooker as one can get.

I don’t though. Instead, I sit and wait. They’ll have to let me out eventually. They’d let me out quicker if I actually gave them my name, but then my parents would find out that I’m here, and I’m not about to have that conversation with them.