Page 24 of Mafioso's Muse

She had only been gone a few seconds when Red Shirt showed up at their table and sat down in Lili’s chair. He really had been paying attention.

‘My friend’s sitting there,’ Willow said as politely as she could manage.

He grinned. ‘Not right now she’s not.’

The instant fatigue Willow felt. ‘Can you move, please?’

‘Only after you tell me your name.’

All politeness left her body. ‘I don’t want to tell you my name.’

He made a face like he was hurt. ‘Then at least let me buy you a drink.’

‘I have one already.’

Somehow, Red Shirt took that as an invitation to talk about himself. Willow looked around, willing Lili to return and save her. Her gaze caught on a familiar figure at the door, and suddenly she couldn’t hear a word the guy was saying. Vaughn Gallo had entered the bar, wearing a crisp white shirt rolled to the elbows. He was flanked by another man she didn’t recognise.

Vaughn did a quick scan of the room, and his grey eyes locked on hers. His gaze shifted to the guy seated opposite her. The muscles in his jaw moved. He said something to the man he was with before making his way over to her.

Panicking, Willow looked straight at Red Shirt and said, ‘You need to go.’

He paused mid-sentence. ‘Whoa. There’s no need to be rude.’

Vaughn stopped next to their table just as he said that, eyes on him.

‘Can I help you?’ Red Shirt asked, looking him up and down.

Vaughn’s gaze slid back to Willow. ‘Friend of yours?’

She shook her head.

Vaughn nodded slowly. ‘And are you enjoying this conversation?’

‘He was just leaving’ was Willow’s reply.

Vaughn looked back at the man. ‘Were you? Just leaving?’

Red Shirt raised his hands. ‘Listen, man, I didn’t know she had a boyfriend.’

Willow was about to correct him, then changed her mind.

Vaughn continued to stare coolly at him as he said, ‘She doesn’t need a reason not to speak to you. Go back to your friends. If I see you near her again, you’ll be thrown out.’

Standing, Red Shirt laughed. ‘Are you the bouncer now?’

Vaughn shook his head. ‘Actually, I’m the owner.’

Willow’s eyes sank shut. Of course he was. She should have known this was one of his bars. It had all the signature Vaughn Gallo markers.

Colour flooded Red Shirt’s cheeks, matching his attire. ‘Shit. You’re Vaughn Gallo.’ He quickly collected his beer from the table and backed up before turning and leaving without saying another word. If he’d had a tail, it would have been firmly tucked between his legs.

When Willow looked back at Vaughn, she found him staring at her with his usual unsettling level of intensity. He wore the same expression he had in the studio the day prior. She was at a complete loss for words.

Thankfully, Lili chose that moment to burst back onto the scene.

‘Sorry. The queue waslong.’ She followed Willow’s line of sight to Vaughn, then flinched. ‘Oh God.’

‘Ms Chén,’ Vaughn said by way of greeting.