Page 7 of Flowers and Moonlight
I’ve never been harder in my fucking life.
I have never considered sharing a woman, but my gut is telling me this is the right call. The way she was looking around the room and stiffened before disappearing, as if she was just whisps of fog, has me on high alert. To know Zeno’s instincts are telling him the same thing and he’s not consumed by anger and jealousy only cements what I already know.
She’s not just mine. She’s ours.
The way she’s looking at us as we approach is not helping my dick. She’s wide eyed with more innocence than she should havewhile wearing a dress that hugs her body like sin. She has to know she’s the most beautiful woman in the room. If she doesn’t, she’ll know soon enough.
Her glance is filled with nervousness as her eyes bounce between us. I don’t blame her. We’re both big guys who work out and thrive on intimidation. Our jobs start long before any action is taken, and we are both good at our jobs.
I’ve spent most of my life being Dante’s best friend and knew I was going to be his right hand, whether it was official or not. I pledged my life to him when I was given a home instead of being put out on the streets.
There was never a guarantee that Dante’s brothers would remain within the family business. No one forced them to find their place in the organization, it was a burden only Dante experienced being the oldest. I made sure I was going to be ready to stand beside him to carry the weight of the responsibility he always knew was his.
Now, standing in front of the mystery woman who captured my attention from across the room, the weight of the choices I’ve made and the life I’ve lived doesn’t feel so heavy on my shoulders. I glance at Zeno and it’s clear she’s having the same effect on him.
“Hello,” her voice is hesitant, soft and slightly broken, before she swallows hard. “Is everything okay?” She shakes her head slightly and bites her bottom lip. “I mean, I was invited. I’m not crashing the party.”
“Even if you were crashing,il nostro chiaro di luna, you would be welcome here,” Zeno’s voice is rough, and I can’t help but smile at the nickname he’s come up with for our woman.
It fits her perfectly, especially with the dress she’s wearing. Our Moonlight. She is the light that will bring us home even when the night is at its darkest.
She tilts her head to the side, her whiskey-colored eyes wide as she looks between us. “What did you say?”
“Don’t worry, you’ll find out soon enough,” I promise and share a look with Zeno.
Her eyes leave us and flit around the room. When her eyes widen, she turns slightly, as if shielding herself from someone. I want to look behind us to find out who she’s reacting to, but I can’t tear my eyes away from the woman in front of us.
“My name is Tony and I have never seen a more striking woman in my life,” there’s a huskiness to my voice and it causes a shiver to work up her spine.
“It’s nice to meet you Tony,” her voice wraps around me like a comforting embrace and my soul wants to lean into it.
“Zeno,” the man beside me rasps as he reaches out and slides his hand down our woman’s arm. Her breathing deepens and I watch as goosebumps cover her skin. He grips her wrist and pulls her a little closer to us, shielding her and giving her our warmth. Her eyes round, but she doesn’t protest. No, she seems to curl toward us as if seeking more of what we are so willingly offering. There’s a worried note in Zeno’s voice, “Are you in trouble? We can protect you from anything.”
The smile on our woman’s face is a little forced and it hasn’t escaped my notice how she didn’t offer her name in return. It’s okay, we’ll get it from her soon enough. Up close, everything I thought from afar is confirmed. We won’t be able to let go of her now.
“I’m fine, just enjoying this lovely party,” her voice is light, but it rings a little disingenuous.
“Our boss’s wife has done an amazing job with it this year.” I gage her reaction to my words, it’s the reason I spoke them so plainly. Her mouth opens in a surprised ‘o’, but she doesn’t put any distance between us. “Have you come to the Guidice Ball before?”
“No,” she whispers and sadness flickers in her eyes, “this is the first time I’ve had the honor.”
High pitched laughter has anger flashing in our woman’s eyes as she looks toward the bar. When I look over, I notice Samantha Moreau laughing with a man at the bar. I breathe an internal sigh of relief that the younger Guidice brothers aren’t there anymore for her to try and sink her claws into them. It would be a travesty if they gave into her manipulation.
Our woman seems to catch herself and look away quickly, her gaze moving around the room again. I hate the way her nervousness shows. She carries herself with such grace and poise, I doubt it’s a matter of not feeling like she fits in. Something else is at play here and I know I won’t get an answer while surrounded by people who are only here to impress each other.
I lean in closer to the woman and her gaze snaps to mine, her eyes dilating. “Even though you are, by far, the most gorgeous woman here, how about we get out of here? I have a room upstairs.”
She sucks in a quick breath and lets it out slowly as she studies my eyes and then Zeno’s. When she licks her bottom lip, I let out a small growl. I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be able to keep myself in check around this woman.
Being around her tests every ounce of control I have and by the way Zeno’s hands are clenched into fists while he stands next to me, he’s having the same difficulty.
She calls to me, begging me to see her and set her free. I plan to do that and so much fucking more.
Our woman pulls her shoulders back as if she’s decided something. “I think that’s a great idea,” her voice is breathy. “I really have no interest in rubbing elbows with anyone here.”
I grin at her and notice how Zeno’s hands relax. I glance around to make sure that all the men are still in place around the ballroom of one of the most historic hotels in the city. It’s the perfect place for the ball this year and I made sure to have a room since you never know why you might need a quiet place. Being prepared comes with the territory when you work beside Dante.
We lead our woman out of the ballroom and I notice how she doesn’t look back even though Zeno’s head is on a swivel. He’s keeping an eye out for whomever has made her uncomfortable. I know what the man is capable of and if he figures out who is behind our woman’s discomfort, I pity them.