Page 16 of Twisted Throne

Carlos walked over and leaned up against the bar beside me.

“I got Gia settled in with Elena. She felt sick for a few minutes when she first came in, but she’s fine now,” he said.

“Good,” I replied as I took a sip of my whisky. “Angelo and I talked. He still has his doubts about Alec turning on us, but agreed that we’d continue to keep the news of the leak from him. We need to watch him closely.”

I scanned the room, trying to spot Gia. I saw her across the room with Angelo and Elena. She was laughing at something Elena had just said, causing her breasts to bounce slightly. My eyes were drawn to the shadow of her cleavage. I wanted to rip that pink dress right off of her and make her mine, here and now.

“You all right,fratello?” Carlos said, interrupting my thoughts. He followed my gaze to where Gia stood, then punched me on the arm.

“Ah, I see,” he laughed.

“There’s nothing to see,” I replied, glaring at him. I finished my whisky and motioned to the bartender for another.

“Okay, okay!” Carlos said, holding his hands up.

I picked up my drink and stalked off. There was nothing to see and there never would be. I’d make sure of it.

***

I managed to avoid her throughout dinner. While I had hoped to slip out under the radar, Angelo waved me over to where he stood with Gia.

“Paul, I need you to take Gia to her apartment so that she can pack up some things. For the time being, she’ll be staying at the family house with me,” he said.

Fuck.

“Of course,” I replied evenly. “I’ll bring her to the house after.”

Gia wouldn’t meet my gaze and her hands were seemingly unconsciously twisting the thin strap of her small bag back and forth. I stepped away as they said goodbye then walked outside to wait for the valet to bring the car around.

The clicking of her heels rang out as she walked up to stand beside me. We stood there for a moment, then she spoke up.

“I’m sorry you’re stuck with me,” she said stiffly. “I didn’t know he’d send you with me.”

“What, you thought after all that shit with Emilio earlier that he’d send you off by yourself?” I snorted.

“I just meant that I didn’t ask for you to take me. I actually thought that Carlos would since he drove us earlier,” she said. Her eyes flashed with anger.

“He left early. He had more important things to do than babysit,” I shot back.

The valet pulled the car up, interrupting us before she could say more.

I flip on the stereo and turn the volume up full blast to shut down any further conversation. Gia huffed in annoyance and shut it back off.

“Seriously?” she snapped at me. “You can stare at my tits from across the room all night but you’re too good to have a conversation with me?”

“If you don’t want me to stare at your tits, wear a sweater and stop looking at me like you want me to fuck you senseless,” I replied.

“What? I donotlook at you like that!” she said. Her green eyes widened, an alley cat about to hiss and swat.

I glanced over at her in amusement.

“So you’re telling me that you don’t want me to fuck you? You’ve never thought of my body on top of yours? My tongue between your legs? My hands on your body?” I said. I’d been thinking that way. Whether I wanted to or not.

She started to turn pink from her chest up, and quickly looked away.

“Guess you don’t want to talk after all,” I smirked.

Gia stayed silent until I circled the car past her building.