Page 15 of Twisted Throne
“What do you mean, better than I can?”
“Well, you’re older than me, sure. No offense. But you are brand fucking new to being a LaRosa and you are going to need to learn quick or this family will swallow you alive,” she replied. “If you want to make it here, I’m the one you want to talk to. I know everything about everything.”
“Elena told me pretty much the same thing,” I said.
“Ugh,” she said while waving over one of the circulating waitstaff. “She knows all the nicety-nice bullshit I guess.”
She snagged two flutes of champagne off the tray and handed me one. She downed hers in one gulp and then continued. “She doesn’t know or care about any of the real stuff happening. She just likes the whole status and money thing, even though everyone knows Alec can’t freakin’ stand her.”
I thought back to the cold look I’d seen Alec give Elena before and felt sorry for her. She seemed so happy with her position, but was she really? I was still lost in my thoughts when Lucy interrupted me.
“So, you know Paul isn’t a LaRosa, right?” she asked me as she eyed the undrunk champagne still in my hand.
“What? Oh, yeah I guess he said his name was… Borelli or something, I think,” I said after a moment. “Why does that matter?”
“Because you obviously have the hots for him!” Lucy said, far louder than I would have preferred her to. I was so busy looking around to make sure no one had overheard her that I didn’t even notice when she swapped out my full flute for her own empty.
I just stared at her, mouth agape.
“Oh come on! I saw you guys when you pulled up out front! I saw the way you were looking at him,” she said, grinning. “And who could blame you? He’s hot as hell! I just wanted to make sure you knew it was, like, all clear and there’s no creepy soap opera brother-sister shit that could happen. You know?”
“Thanks, but I’m definitely not interested in Paul by any means. He’s an ass,” I said, even as my cheeks flamed.
“Eh, you kinda have to be when you grow up the way he did, I guess,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.
“You mean as some sort of spoiled mafia douchebag?” I asked.
“Uh, no. Opposite of that,” she said as she polished off my drink. “He’s not anybody’s kid, he started working for Angelo when he was younger than I am. At least, that’s what I heard.” Her eyes narrowed in speculation. “Alec thinks he needs to get slapped down, but Alec thinks that about pretty much everybody.”
The revelation surprised me. Paul’s arrogance had led me to the false assumption that he was some sort of crime lord prince, but it seems I was wrong. I wondered what had happened to his mother, but Elena returned before I could ask anything else.
“The coat check couldn’t find your sweater, so I found this one for you to wear,” she said, handing Lucy a sheer shawl. “And for god's sake, give me that glass!”
Lucy slung the shawl over one shoulder, turned, and marched off to find a waiter with a tray. She traded the empties for two full flutes, handed one to me, and kept the other.
Until I plucked hers from her fingers, smiled, and drained it. One good turn deserves another, after all. And so does one champagne theft.
Chapter Nine
Paul
“I know that there have been some difficulties between you and Alec. But I can’t believe that he would betray the family over a squabble like that,” Angelo stated.
“He was one of the only people who knew about Gia,” I replied.
“At first, yes. But there were other people at the office that day that could have seen her or overheard us. The office staff, security and any number of other people,” he said. “But, I agree with you about the need for caution. We’ll continue to keep the information about the leak private for now.”
“And what about Alec?” I asked.
“I’m still not convinced he’s behind this, but I won’t take the chance either. Keep an eye on him for now, and if you find anything concrete I will act accordingly,nipoteor no,” he replied, eyes steely.
I dipped my head in agreement. “I’ll keep you informed. And I needed to speak to you about Gia—her housing isn’t adequate, even without Sabitino keeping eyes on it,” I added.
“Gia’s safety is the top priority. I’ll speak with her over dinner about staying at the family home until things with Sabitino have been settled. If she agrees, the question is settled; if not, there are other properties available,” he said, standing. “Now, let’s enjoy our evening.”
Angelo clapped me on the shoulder as he passed me, and I followed behind him as he strode into the main dining room.
A waiter came up to me and offered a flute of champagne, but I waved him off and walked over to the bar. I needed something stronger tonight.