Chapter 25
Dean
“Why does it feel like everyone knows what we just did?” Lily had a coy little smile on her face, and her arm looped through mine as we wandered through the streets of Bay Ridge.
She held a hot chocolate, loaded with marshmallows.
“I mean, logically, they wouldn’t. But it still feels like they know something is up. ”
“Not sure.” I took the last swig of my coffee and glanced at her legs. “Are they still shaking?”
She backhanded my chest, forcing back her smile while her cheeks turned a light shade of pink.
I chuckled as I ditched my cup in the next trash can.
“I guarantee the majority of people we’ve passed are probably thinking about sex anyway.
” I nodded to a guy waiting to cross the street.
His hands were fidgeting at his sides, and he had shamelessly checked out multiple women already. “He isn’t even hiding it.”
Lily screwed up her nose a little as we passed him — thankfully he crossed the street before he could notice her.
“Are men ever not thinking of sex, though?” she asked, sipping her hot chocolate. She knew the answer to that already, based on the look she gave me. Somewhere between deadpan and amusement.
I shook my head. “We’re simple creatures.”
She pouted up at me and patted my cheek adoringly. “I lucked out. Mine came with emotional intelligence.”
I sighed, mocking cockiness as I draped an arm around her shoulders. “I’m the hybrid model, baby.”
A soft giggle escaped her, either for the pet name or because we felt like we were on top of the world for a moment. Either way, I didn’t think I could develop any more feelings for this woman. She made me feel complete and fucking untouchable.
“By the way, what did you want to do for your birthday?” she said.
“You remembered that, huh?”
“Of course.”
“It’s not for another two weeks.”
“So?” With my arm slung around her shoulders, she brought her hand up to where my hand was and laced her fingers through mine. “What do you usually do for your birthday?”
I shrugged. “Get drunk?”
She rolled her eyes. “Your birthday is literally Halloween.”
“Lily, I really don’t mind what I do for my birthday. We could sit in my car overlooking the Hudson with burgers and box wine, and I’d be happy.”
“I still think you should celebrate it. At least this one, anyway…”
I looked down at her as she cast her eyes to the pavement. The ugly reminder of the investigation was on her mind — my dwindling fucking future was on her mind.
“Alright. I only turn twenty-seven once.” I gently squeezed her closer, slowly coaxing another small smile from her as I ducked my head to kiss her cheek. “We won’t think about the other shit today.”
She inhaled softly as she looked up at me. “Agreed.”
We continued, finding small talk in other things until Lily gently tugged my arm away from my body, causing me to slow as she looked at something across the street. A Saturday flea market. It was in a wide side street packed with overflowing stalls, with music and the promise of delicious food.
“Food,” was all Lily said.
My stomach rumbled in answer.
While food was the main factor for why two people like us, with a dislike for most crowds, would venture into a bustling flea market, Lily quickly found another reason to go. Barely three stalls in, her steps slowed at a large collection of tables and small shelves all full of second-hand books.
“I’ll get the food,” I said with a smile and a kiss to her temple before leaving her to peruse alone.
There was a food truck selling hot dogs parked a little way down the packed side street, wedged between a woman selling wooden carvings and a man calling out his fresh produce prices. I ordered two hot dogs and waited back as the food truck attendant got to work.
My eyes drifted casually over the wooden carvings — a hobby I tried once but learned I liked the mechanics of how things worked over how they looked — before I glanced back towards the book stall.
In the bustling crowd, I couldn’t see Lily anymore.
She’s just deeper in the book stall. Nothing to worry about.
“Foods ready,” said the food truck attendant, pulling my attention.
I took the hot dogs and paid. Just as I was pushing my wallet into my back pocket, my ears pricked to the voices of two women speaking fluent Italian.
On the other side of the produce stall, taste-testing cheese, was Beatrice and Lucia Gimello. They hadn’t seen me yet, and I wasn’t waiting around for them to.
I started for the book stall again, weaving through the crowd.
With my height, I could see over everyone and spotted Lily instantly as I beelined for her.
The gap between us felt like it was getting wider with every step I took.
It didn’t help that several strangers chose to walk slowly in front of me, or completely stopped to look around.
We need to fucking leave— I didn’t want them to see her— Where was their brother— Fuck!
My stomach dropped.
I found Lily, but I was still nowhere near her.
She was at the back of the stall. A table of books on her left, a shelf to her right, and a young man standing in front of her. Talking to her. He wore too many gold rings and a white shirt unbuttoned to his stomach.
Gabriele combed a hand through his oily black hair as he grinned at her and looked her over like she was an object for him to observe at his leisure.
There was a roaring in my head. I couldn’t get to her fast enough. She had no idea who she was talking to.
Why is everyone walking so fucking slow?!
Lily had her arms crossed over several books, holding them close to her chest as she offered Gabriele polite but uncomfortable smiles.
When she attempted to end the conversation and move past him, Gabriele cut her off, casually bracing an arm on the table to block her exit and bringing himself closer.
Fuck this.
I stopped weaving, ready to flip a goddamn table if I had to, and someone bounced off my arm as I pushed by.
“Hey, I’m walking—”
“Fuck off,” I growled in passing, eyes on Lily and Gabriele as I walked into the stall. The only thought in my head was getting Lily away.
I caught the tail end of their conversation as I approached Lily from behind.
Lily laughed nervously at something Gabriele said. “Oh, no. I’m here with—”
My hand came to her lower back and slid around her waist. “Hey.”
“My boyfriend,” she finished. The tension visibly left her body as she leaned ever so slightly into my side.
Gabriele’s attention slowly drifted from Lily to me, and his demeanor changed from being irritated by the interruption to recognition as he took in my face. A smirk slowly appeared on his lips.
I shouldn’t have let him see my face…
“What a coincidence this is,” he crooned.
I hummed and looked at Lily. “Ready to go?” I took her hand and plastered an easy smile on my face, hoping to high fuck she would pick up that none of this was good.
“Yep.” She instantly stepped away with me. Hand firmly in mine as she offered Gabriele a sympathetic smile.
“Ciao, piccola cerva.” Gabriele placed a hand over his heart, feigning heartbreak.
I couldn’t give a shit. My heart was racing, but I was trying to act calm.
Once we cleared the book stall, I finally spoke. “Did you give him your name?”
“No. He never got to introductions. Just jumped right into flirting after I bought my books. What happened to the food?” There was a smile in her voice. One of disbelief until she saw whatever was written on my face as we maneuvered the crowds.
I had no fucking clue what happened to the hotdogs.
“Dean, what’s wrong? And can we slow down a little? I can’t keep up with you.” She laughed to ease the tension.
My steps slowed as we came to the adjacent street, and I glanced back to make sure we weren’t being followed. There was no sign of the triplets in the crowds nearby, but I kept walking anyway. “That was Gabriele Gimello.”
It dawned on her then, and the beautiful happiness that was on her face diminished. “Antonio’s—Antonio’s son?”
I pressed my lips together and nodded as I scanned the street and every face, car, and shop window. My hand was still wrapped firmly around hers. When we got to my car, I did more of the same searching.
“I don’t think he saw where we went…” She didn’t sound too sure.
I pulled a hand through my hair as I watched several people walk by. “I wish he never saw you.”
“Okay, but I’m not really of interest to him, right?”
I shook my head. “You don’t know what this guy is like—the things he’s done to people he’s met to please his sadistic curiosity—I shouldn’t have approached you. Him seeing you with me—Fuck—” I stopped myself and finally looked at her. “Maybe you should stay with your parents.”
I’ve lost my mind if that’s the only suggestion I’ve got.
Her eyes widened. “What? No—Dean… Take a breath.” She placed a hand on my chest. “Your heart is beating so fast.”
I closed my eyes and did as she said. One deep inhale followed by an exhale as our eyes met again. My heart was still pounding. I wasn’t used to feeling this much for someone.
“I don’t want to lose you again.” The words came out before I could really think them through. Logically, I knew she was safe with me. She also had a father who would put a stop to Gabriele pretty fast if something happened.
Lily took my face in her hands. “You’re not going to lose me… But to put you at ease, how about we stay in for the rest of the weekend? Like what we did at yours. We could watch movies, order food, and continue what we did today in the backseat.”
The last part made me huff a laugh. She was trying to be positive.
“And Monday?”
“We could have sex on Monday too,” she shrugged.
“Good to know, but not what I meant.” My hands slid up her forearms, from elbow to wrist, before I moved her hands from my face. I smoothed my thumb over her unmarred knuckles.
“You can’t protect me all the time,” she said softly. “Everything is okay.”