Page 46 of Tryst

“Uh, thanks.” I wrinkled my brow, pivoting to the mirror. “Oh, yikes.” Lifting a hand to my swollen face, I touched under my bloody nose.” Lowering my gaze, I turned back around, staring ahead.

“Told ya.” He shrugged.

Mockingly glimpsing at him from the corner of my eye, I mumbled, “I bet your girlfriend just loves you.”

“What?” He cocked his head just as the doors opened. “Follow me.”

Trying my best to shield my face from anyone inside the club, I watched as his feet led me to the guarded door. Immediately it opened, and we stepped into the private hallway. Lifting my gaze, I scanned the corridor, taking his suit jacket off me. “Thank you.” I handed it to him.

“You’re welcome.” He hastened down the dimly lit hallways into an office I’d never seen before.

Maddie was sitting in a chair and jolted up when she saw me. “Are you okay?!” She lunged forward, hugging me.

I winced.

Jumping back, her mouth fell agape. “Oh, sorry. Are you hurt badly?”

“I’m okay.” I sheepishly smiled, trying to be strong.

My gaze trailed to a man who was almost identical to Antonio, but with broader shoulders and no visible tattoos. His chin-length hair was slicked back, and his jaw was shielded in a neatly trimmed, black beard. Breathtaking was the only sane word to describe him. He looked like he had just stepped out of a mafia film and into a shady, back office in a club. His neatly pressed, costly suit gave him an aura of power.

Two silent men stood off to the side in the back corner like statues. Both of their arms crossed, and they watched as if they were waiting for me to disrespect whoever the man was before me. My eyes trailed to their waists where they had visibly holstered pistols, nestled against their solid black outfits.

“You must be Nick’s latest target.” The authoritative, handsome man blurted.

“Excuse me?” My adrenaline was fading, and the pain was setting in. I pressed my fingers to the corner of my mouth, flinching. “Who are you?”

He slid his hands in his pockets then rounded the black executive desk. “My name is Dimitri Abruzzo.” He held his arms out to the side. “And this is my bar.”

“Oh!” My gaze darted to Antonio and then back to him.

Antonio folded his arms, muttering to the man in Italian for a moment. Dimitri nodded once, never taking his eyes off me.

“Dimitri is my older brother.”

That made sense. I was about to respond but turned back to Dimitri. “Wait! What did you mean by what you said?”

“Oh, Nick?” He perched on the edge of his desk. “He was your professor, yes?”

“Psst.” Antonio whispered. “Maddie, follow me.”

I twisted around as Maddie followed Antonio out of the office.

“Pay them no mind.” Dimitri interjected. “They’re going to get some stuff to clean you up.”

Sheepishly, I shifted my weight back and forth.

“Why don’t you have a seat and—”

“Where is she?!” a familiar voice called out from the doorway.

I spun to see Vincenzo, enraged, eyes wide.

“What the fuck happened?!”

My legs could no longer support me. I dissolved into the chair in front of Dimitri’s desk.

“Who did this to her?” He marched over, squatting down in front of me.