Finding Beauty in the Darkness - Nikki Ash Page 0,44
for anything more than a good fuck.”
Aria’s hands go to her hips and if looks could kill, I might be a dead man. “I’m so freaking sick of people telling me what’s good for me. I know what’s good for me, and I’m perfectly capable of making my own decisions. You’re just like my mom.”
“Your mom?”
“Yeah, my mom. When I was little, I used to ask her about my real father, but she told me it was for the best that he wasn’t in my life. She said he chose a dangerous life over us and he didn’t want me to get hurt. I heard her and Weston arguing once about him being in the mob. It should have been my choice as to whether I saw him.”
Her dad was in the mob? This is new and important information. “Do you know your dad’s name?”
“No, she wouldn’t tell me anything. I’m just so sick of everyone around me deciding what’s best for me, and you’re no different.” Her chin tilts up in defiance, and fuck if it isn’t adorable.
“Ever think maybe they’re making those decisions because they love you and want to protect you? This life is a hard life, Aria. I was born into it and it’s all I know. I’ll never get married. I’ll never bring a woman or kids into this shit.”
“Whatever you say, Giovanni. Can I borrow your phone so I can call Amber?” It doesn’t escape my attention that she didn’t call me Gio like she usually does.
She holds her hand out, ending the conversation. What I want to do is grab her hand, pull her into me, and continue where we left off, but instead I let out a sigh, knowing it’s for the best we were interrupted.
“Yeah.” I hand her my phone, unlocking it so she can use it. “I’ll get you an untraceable phone this week.” She nods then turns her back on me to call her friend. I step outside to find Cecilia and Rome arguing. “What’s going on?”
“She wanted to go inside and I told her you would come out.”
“What were you in there doing with that girl?” Cecilia glowers at me.
“What I was doing isn’t your concern. What do you need?”
“Mariah is moving to California so we’re going to need to hire a new girl.”
“Is everything okay?” Women coming and going in this business is normal. Some have been around for a while, but most work here to save up money, and once they meet their goal, move on. Many end up meeting a man and quit to start a life.
“Yes, just the usual. She wants to pursue an acting career.” She rolls her eyes.
“Okay, well, go ahead and start looking for someone to replace her. Like always, I have final say.” Cecilia gives me a mock salute before walking back down the stairs.
“Everything okay?” Rome tips his head toward the door.
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
He simply shrugs then smirks. “You look a little”—his eyes peruse my body—“messy.” I look down and see what he means. My shirt is tucked half in-half out. Several buttons are undone that I didn’t realize Aria unbuttoned. I look like a man who was about to fuck.
“Fuck, Rome. I don’t even know what I’m doing anymore.” I scrub my hands over my face in frustration.
“You’ve smiled and laughed more around that woman than I’ve seen since I started working for you almost ten years ago.”
“What are you saying? That I’m going soft?” I half joke.
“No, I’m saying happy looks good on you, Boss.”
After grabbing a pint of Rocky Road ice cream from the freezer, popping a bag of popcorn and pouring half a bag of chocolate candies into it, and grabbing two sodas, I make my way back upstairs to the room. When I walk through the door, Aria glances over at me. Her face morphs from the scowl she was planning to give me into a tiny smile she’s trying to hide.
“Truce?” I ask, showing her all the goods I’ve brought.
“You just want to see what happens next on The Vampire Diaries.” She pulls the blanket down, welcoming me into the bed. She takes the ice cream, popcorn, and one of the sodas from my hands, and turns the television on.
“You’re lucky I love Rocky Road.” She takes a bite of the ice cream, her tongue darting out to lick a tiny bit that dripped down her lip.
I snatch the remote from her and click on the episode we left off on, willing