It was only when he asked Nicky to dance with him that a pang set in my chest. I’d have loved to dance with him, except I was here, playing the music they danced to.
I knew he didn’t think of her as a woman. Even if he did, he’d never be with either of us. But if this was a different world, and we weren’t the Baldi sisters, the charity cases, if Tino was to choose one of us, it’d be Nicky. The smart, beautiful, strong woman who wasn’t afraid of taking what she deserved or fitting in a world like his, who wasn’t a psycho stalker magnet that let sickos take advantage of her. The woman he wouldn’t have to protect and take care of all the freaking time.
He twirled her, and she flowed with him as if they’d danced together a million times before. They held their eye contact during the whole dance. Only when the song was ending had he bend her back and lifted his gaze. His smirk hit me as he winked at me.
I looked away as I wrapped up the song. A quick smile landed on my lips as I received a round of applause. A server brought me the requests, and I sifted through them. Almost all of them were hardcore classics. Were they testing me?
I chose the hardest of them all. Caprice No. 24 by Paganini. It was fast and crazy, and Paganini himself couldn’t master it at first.
Challenge accepted.
Starting the melody, I took my time looking at my audience one by one, meeting their scrutinizing stares with equal examination. I never needed to prove myself to the society elite, but the fire of jealousy in my chest forced me to show them all, to show Tino I belonged here like anybody else.
My eyes wandered among the busy tables and the swirling dance floor. People weren’t listening while they ate now. They stopped their scrumptious meals to listen with full attention to the music.
To me.
Tino and Nicky were back to their table, listening too, as if they could no longer keep up with my rhythm, yet admiration and pride etched all over their faces.
I tore my gaze away from them. Right now, I didn’t need their support. I demanded their attention along with everyone else’s in the place, and I was getting it.
With the angry notes, I closed my eyes and let it all out. Then I found myself in the melody, gaining back my balance. When I opened my eyes, Leo’s face was there.
He just stood there, watching me with the yearning of a lover that had just found their soulmate.
I should have averted my gaze, but I smiled at him, pretending to be playing for him. Didn’t Tino call me a brat? Well, I’d live up to it. Let’s see if he’d keep his promise.
You’ll dance with my sister. I’ll dance with your son. My way.
Chapter 28
Tino
You can’t give what’s not yours, Angel. Not even your smile. It belongs to me.
Not him. Never him.
I tilted my head at Leo, nodding for him to sit. He sauntered to our table, his eyes glued to my Angel, a fucking grin on his face. “She’s amazing, isn’t she?”
“Wipe that smile off your face or I’ll punch it off for you,” I gritted.
“What? Why?”
Because she’s mine. I nodded at Nicole instead. She was fuming, staring daggers at Leo.
He shifted his smile toward her, taking a hint. “Buonasera, Nicky. Happy Valentine’s Day.”
Her fists clenched, and I held the one on the table, patting it, reminding her of what we were here for. She breathed out. “It’s Nicole to you.” Her stare, and his, returned to the stage.
To my Angel, whose eyes twitched when they found my hand on her sister’s. Quickly, she looked back at Leo, giving him another smile.
Don’t do it, Angel. Don’t play the jealousy game with me. You’ll lose. We’ll all lose.
Leo took the request card and scribbled something down. Then he gestured for a waitress to give it to Angel.
“What are you doing? Do you even know why you’re here?” I asked him.
“I’m passing down a request, and yes, I know exactly why I’m here.”
I leaned back in my chair, gripping on the sliver of patience I had left to tolerate this charade till the end. My gaze followed Angel, even if she was no longer looking at me like she should have been.
What did I expect from a brat? You’re asking for it, Angel.
She finished the piece perfectly. Applause filled the air. Leo was on his feet, clapping with everybody else, his stupid grin pasted on his face.
The waitress handed her his request. When Angel opened it, she flashed her teeth at Leo and nodded. “This song is for Leo Bellomo.”
Nicole glared at her, and Angel winked as she lifted her bow. “Back to December.”
I didn’t know the fucking song, but the title was enough to simmer my blood. Back to December when they hadn’t had their fight yet, when she still liked him. I pulled out my phone and checked the lyrics. This was a fucking second chance song. An I’m sorry please take me back song.
Che Cazzo?
I leaned into him. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
“Dad, please, save it until after the song.” He gazed at her as if he was enchanted. “She’s playing for me.”
I growled, the sting of his shitty words searing. “Stronzo una volta, stronzo sempre. Va bene, Leo. Have it your way. But mark my words. She will never be yours.” She’s mine. Her body. Her heart. Her mind. Her soul. Her smile. Her music. All mine.
She finished the fucking song and played two more before she took her bow and joined us at the table. Leo sprang to his feet and kissed her hand in a greeting. I’d bend them both over my knees and spank the fuck out of them.
“You were amazing up there.” He gave her the once-over. “You look…”
“Perfect, as always,” I said, stepping in between them. “You did amazing, Angelina. The customers are very pleased.”
“What about you? I saw you dancing with my sister. I guess you were pleased too.” She glanced over Nicole. “Nicky?”
“You were fabulous. I loved it. The best you’ve ever played,” Nicole said, oblivious to what was really happening.
My little Angel was jealous.
As much as it warmed my heart and brought me one step closer to owning hers, it was about to backfire.
“My private booth is ready for our dinner.” I linked arms with Angel, marking my territory, and gestured for Leo and Nicole to move ahead.
Leo kept glancing at Angel over his shoulder all the way up to the booth. I wanted to kick his ass. “Eyes front. Don’t fall.”
Angel snickered, and I glared at her. She looked down, her lips still twitching with laughter.
“Everything you do has consequences, Angelina. So laugh all you want now.”
“Is that supposed to scare me, Don Bellomo?”
“It’s supposed to knock some sense into you, but it looks like words don’t work with you.” I let go of her arm and spanked her little ass. A loud gasp fled her throat as her body jerked, almost tripping. I held her arm to stop the fall. “I’m done talking.”
Nicole and Leo glanced over us simultaneously. “You okay?” she asked Angel.
“Yeah,” Angel mumbled, her face as red as her dress. “I was gonna fall, but Tino caught me. Thank you, Tino.”
“My pleasure. Always.” I led her into my booth while Leo was waiting for her to sit next to him. Hand on the small of her back, I ushered her to her side of the leather couch—beside me. Then I blocked her end of the table, securing the place, staring at Leo. “Sit beside Nicole.”