“I’m twenty-one.”
Relief rippled across his brow. “What’s your poison?”
“I’m still figuring that out.”
“Then I’ll have to guess.” He flagged the bartender. “Two Moscow mules.”
Leo passed the copper drink and bumped his mug against mine.
I sipped, my nose wrinkling at the harsh taste. “So, what do you do?”
“I deal with construction. I’m a project manager. Lots of meetings with architects and city hall officials.” He waved it off and leaned into his hand. “What about you? College student?”
“Yeah. Bourton.”
He whistled. “Wow.”
“Don’t be impressed. I have no clue what I’m doing.”
“They don’t let just anyone into Bourton.”
“Sure they do. You just need deep pockets or a family member who was an alumnus.” I motioned him closer, whispering. “Have you heard of Alessio Salvatore?”
“Of course.”
“He paid off the board to admit his wife. She didn’t even take the SATs.” The injustice of it burned every time I glimpsed her on campus.
“Sounds like my line of work. Bureaucracy gets waived with enough cash. Do you know what you want to do?”
“Not yet.”
“Well, a girl like you has a lot of options. Especially for dating.”
“Because I’m Michael’s sister?”
“Because you’re beautiful.”
“Thank you.” The compliment stroked my body like warm feathers. It was a little cheesy, but I liked the attention.
“I saw you here a couple of days ago. All by yourself.” He clicked his tongue. “No bodyguards, either.”
I grabbed his wrist. “Tell Michael, and I’ll kill you.”
“Do I get any last requests?”
“None.”
He laughed, his rich voice smoothing to a decadent silkiness. “I won’t say a word, but I insist on walking you home.”
“If you must.”
My brother’s promotion to consigliere came with its consequences, like an increased risk of being shot. Michael often complained that Vinn refused his security.
I hated him, but still hoped he was safe.
My gaze darted to Vinn.
Leo’s finger slid along my jaw, pulling me toward him. My skin tingled as he released me.
“Your hand looks heavy. Can I hold that for you?”
My cheeks burned, but I nodded.
Leo’s rough calluses glided over my palm, and then he balled me in his fist. Warmth buzzed inside me as he stroked me, right there on the bar counter.
I chanced a look at Vinn, who’d stopped reacting to the girl on his lap. His stare struck me through the smoky lighting. Seconds ticked by, and Vinn stood, a fortress of power.
He muttered something that made his date flinch. Abandoning her, he stormed across the room. He was like a dark cloud, gaining energy, siphoning attention.
What the hell?
Men in suits gathered behind him like predators sensing a kill.
This would not end well.
Vinn was tall and packed with enough muscle to fuel a football team, and he seemed to despise Leo, who greeted him warmly.
“Mr. Costa. Can I help you?”
“Who are you?”
Vinn’s graveyard voice was like a magic spell, infecting the atmosphere with fear. A deathly quiet interrupted the clinking of pool balls, the laughter, and the clattering of flatware. Everybody watched us.
Leo cleared his throat. “Leo DiMaggio.”
Vinn didn’t seem soothed by the information. He stared at Leo as though he’d just admitted to fucking me without a condom. His lip curled, taking in our closeness with apparent disgust. His accusatory gaze landed on me.
My stomach clenched.
What did I do?
Leo squeezed my hand. It felt nice, like lukewarm tap water, but Vinn’s presence made it off-putting.
Vinn glared at our linked hands. “DiMaggio, a word in private.”
“Be back soon.” Leo sighed heavily, following Vinn to a deserted corner.
Chatter broke out as they walked away. I fiddled with my jewelry until their animated discussion pushed my curiosity and overwhelmed my common sense.
I approached them, Vinn’s baritone railroading Leo’s softer, insistent words.
“This isn’t happening. You’re not dating that girl.”
Unexpected warmth shot through me. Since when did Vinn take a vested interest in who I dated?
“You can’t be serious,” Leo croaked, gaping at Vinn. “What’s your problem with me?”
“I don’t have to explain myself.”
“So it has nothing to do with you wanting to add her to your Rolodex of flings?”
“Nobody uses a Rolodex anymore, but you wouldn’t know that because you’re too fucking old.” Vinn’s sneer rose to a shout as he cornered the increasingly rattled Leo. “I can make a scene and hurt you, or you can walk out of here. Those are your options. No. Don’t look at Michael. He can’t help you.”
“He gave me permission!”
Vinn’s black eyes flickered in the direction of Michael, whose stare burned with an air of a ravenous wolf waiting for the other to kill his struggling prey. “Doesn’t matter. You didn’t ask for mine.”
“I wasn’t aware I had to.”
“Not everybody knows how close I am to Michael’s family, so I’ll give you a pass. One fucking pass. I don’t approve, and it stops now.”
“Based on what?”
“She is a catch.” Vinn’s glare could’ve melted paint from the walls. “You are not.”
I winced, the pain from that vicious comment nailing me in the gut. “Vinn, stop. You’re way out of line.”
Vinn kept his focus on Leo, pointing at the door. “Go.”
Leo’s dejected gaze flicked to my shoes before he murmured a goodbye. Then he turned and disappeared into the crowd of smirking men.
Mortified, I went after him.
Vinn grabbed my arm, pulling me into his orbit. “You’re not seeing him again.”
“What is wrong with you?”
Vinn’s grip tightened. “Me? What are you doing with a loser like DiMaggio?”
“We were getting along fine.” I shrugged, irritated. “You didn’t have to run him off. I liked him.”
“Unless you’re into changing adult diapers in a few decades when he turns geriatric, I suggest you move on.”
The bastard was probably right.
That didn’t mean I’d thank him for ruining my night. Annoyance darted my heart as he winked, apparently taking my silence as submission. Then the arrogant fuckhead dragged his fingers through my hair, patting my back as though he’d done me a huge solid.
Rage festered inside me like an infected wound, boiling to the surface. He was such a condescending asshole.
I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Fuck off, Vinn.”
Michael’s groan cut through the male, scandalized jeers, but I ignored his chastising Li-ah-na and stared Vinn down.
“What did you say to me?”
I squared my shoulders. “Fuck off.”
Michael shot upright. “Li, that’s enough.”