She took his hands, forgetting everything I’d told her about his personality. “This is like meeting a celebrity. It’s so nice to meet you.”
Vinn yanked from her grip, scowling. “Who the hell are you?”
“Queenie! Liana’s ride-or-die girl.” Queenie whirled, glaring at me. “You haven’t mentioned me?”
“We’re not dating! Jesus H.”
Vinn beckoned me with a finger. “We need to talk.”
“What part of I never want to see you again do you not understand?”
“I’m not done with you.”
Queenie’s drunk ass still hadn’t put it together that we weren’t a couple. She beamed at me. “He’s feisty.”
I pointed at the exit, ignoring her. “Door’s there.”
“I know where the fucking door is,” he barked, my sarcasm flying over his head. “I just walked through it.”
“Good for you. You’ve mastered the basics of entering and exiting a building. Now turn around and do it again.”
“Careful, Li. I’m in a mood.”
“I’ll write down the name of Michael’s therapist. He’ll give you a discount for all the sessions you’ll need.”
Daniel had raised me to be a killer. He didn’t back down until someone was on the floor, bleeding. He’d lacked an instinct for self-preservation.
Apparently, so did I.
“You’re very brave tonight, considering I had you begging for mercy on Saturday.” His eyes narrowed into black slits as he grasped my jaw. “Remember?”
His thumb brushed my bottom lip, echoing his promise to take it further.
Fine. I’ll stop.
My nerves tingled when he didn’t budge. “What?”
“You’re here without bodyguards.” His voice pulsed with disapproval. “Get up.”
“My apartment is four blocks from here.”
“I don’t care. We’re going.”
He grabbed me, but I twisted out of his grip.
Vinn fumed. “You’re driving me up the wall.”
Sorry, not sorry. “This might be tough for you to understand, but I don’t need your approval.”
“You need a lot more than my approval.”
Like your big dick?
I almost rattled off the saucy response before I remembered this man wasn’t the brotherly figure who’d stopped Michael from committing countless pranks. He’d threatened to shove his cock into my mouth two days ago, which should’ve bottomed my stomach. Heat pricked the skin around my lips as I imagined his hands slamming into my shoulders, making me kneel, forcing me to take him.
The hell was wrong with me?
I pulled from him, overwhelmed. “I’m not leaving.”
“I swear to God, Li. If you weren’t my best friend’s sister, I’d throw you over my goddamned shoulder. Twenty minutes, and then your little ass is out that door.”
“Fine.”
“Fine.” Vinn sat beside me, shooting James a pointed glare. “The fuck you looking at?”
James snapped his head to the side, cowed. My other friends had noticed nothing strange. Luckily, they’d been distracted by pickleback shots.
Vinn sank into the couch, his back ramrod straight, unaware of the dark spell he’d cast on the group. He had a menacing presence and intimidated everyone I knew.
The overprivileged, pampered, indulged kids at Bourton could never understand the criminal underworld that’d made him ruthless. Most people wouldn’t recognize him unless they stayed up to date with local news, but some had probably seen or heard his name mentioned in connection with gangland shootings or thrown in with the Commission of Public Inquiry.
“Everyone, this is Vinn Costa.” I searched for the words to describe him. “He’s a family friend.”
“Just a friend, huh?” James’s round face trembled with a good-natured grin. “I thought you wanted to kill me.”
Vinn was supposed to laugh and apologize. He did neither. He stared, his expression blank.
I grimaced at James. “Sorry. He’s a bit extra.”
“You’re him,” Queenie blurted, shattering the tense silence. “You’re the guy!”
Vinn gaped at her, ignoring James.
“Yeah,” she gushed. “You’re the one she talks about! Vinny!”
His mouth fell open. Then he turned, his eyes raking my burning face. ”I’m the guy? You talk about me?”
Cat’s out of the bag.
Fuck.
“No, I don’t.” I dismissed Queenie with a wave, and she snickered into her drink. “She’s drunk.”
Vinn leaned toward Queenie. “What does she say?”
“A lot. Most of it’s too inappropriate to repeat.”
He laughed, the loudness stunning me. “I’ve got to hear this.”
I waved my hands behind Vinn, mouthing a silent plea. Queenie, stop.
“You’re dating him. What’s the big deal?” She huffed, turning her attention to Vinn. “If you guys aren’t married and pregnant by the end of the year, I’ll be shocked.”
I would kill her. “Queenie!”
“Huh. Imagine that.”
“Oh, she has. Many times, buddy.” Queenie giggled, offering him a glass that he declined. “You sure you don’t want a drink?”
I winced hard, very conscious of Vinn’s stare. “Queenie, please shut the hell up.”
She grimaced. “Sorry. I’m pretty lit.”
I’d take care of her later.
I had a more significant concern—Vinn.
He’d corner me afterward and mock me about this revelation. Worse, he might think I still felt the same, but I didn’t. I’d stopped obsessing over Vinn a while ago, but, of course, Queenie wouldn’t forget the years I’d spent moping in our shared dorm.
I clenched my fists because it was preferable to wrapping them around Queenie’s throat. The twenty minutes were up, and then Vinn tapped his watch and dragged me upright.
“This was fun.” Queenie beamed at a smirking Vinn. “I totally get why she likes you. We must have brunch!”
“Thanks. It’s been…illuminating.” He shook Queenie’s hand, ignoring everyone else. “Have a good night.”
Vinn palmed my hip.
I obeyed the pressure, my heart galloping ahead. A growing awareness pulsed behind my ribcage, clawing at me like a frightened animal as we crossed Boston’s deserted streets. Somehow, I preferred his outrage to the unpredictable silence that hummed between us. I climbed the staircase to my brownstone, refusing to acknowledge him, clinging to a desperate hope that he’d disappear.
I searched for my keys, and then dropped them twice. “You can go.”
The heat of his body warmed my back. His head hooked over my shoulder. “I’m coming inside.”
“Do I need a condom or a gun?”
His soft laughter tingled every nerve, and regret sunk into my stomach at the joke.
Vinn’s voice smoothed into a purr. “Well, I’ve got both.”
I fumbled with my purse, dropping it.
He stooped, picking it up. He’d taken control in the guise of helping me, and now he had my key. He slid it into the lock, opened the door, and strolled in. A fiendish expression lit up his face.