I kept jogging, even if it meant my shower had been for nothing. After fifteen minutes, I reached the bar. I could only hope that Toni was there by some stroke of luck.
I froze in my tracks when I saw Diego’s car in the parking lot. Hadn’t he said he had to help Dad in the restaurant?
Frowning, I entered the Arena through the front door. The bar was still deserted as it wouldn’t open for another hour. I walked past the bar and into the back area. The corridor was as quiet as the front of the place, but clanging came from the kitchen. That wasn’t what caught my eye though. The door to Roger’s office was open a gap. I headed in that direction and peered in.
The second shock of the day hit me square in the face. Toni was sitting on her father’s desk and Diego stood between her legs, kissing her, his hands on her waist.
I gasped. Both turned to me. Toni’s face flashed with horror, then guilt. Diego grimaced. Could this day get any worse?
I backed away, completely shaken. How hadn’t I noticed anything? How long had this been going on? I turned and walked away.
“Gemma!” Toni called. “Wait!”
Diego caught up with me and grabbed my elbow. “What are you doing here?” He took in my wet hair and ruffled appearance. “What happened? Did Savio do something?”
I stared at him, then at Toni. She was biting her lip, looking like she was about to cry. Did she think I was mad at her for dating my brother? It was an icky thing to consider, but nothing I’d get mad over. That she hadn’t told me bothered me.
Diego shook me slightly. “Gemma, tell me right this fucking second what happened. Did he touch you?”
Toni approached us slowly.
I shook my head.
Diego forced me to look into his eyes. “What the fuck did he do?”
“Nothing,” I said.
“You don’t look like nothing!” he snarled. “Fuck it. I’m heading over there and talk to him. I swear if he touched you, I’m going to rip his dick off.”
He stormed away. “Stay with Antonia! I’ll pick you up later.”
I stood, stunned. When he was gone, I looked at my best friend.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry, Gemma. Please don’t be mad at me.”
“I’m not.”
“You look mad.”
I was mad. Not at her. I was mad at myself and Savio, and Diego. “How long has this been going on?”
Toni shrugged. “A few weeks.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I thought we could tell each other everything.”
She blushed. “I was worried about how you’d react.”
I linked our fingers. “You know I’d support you with anything. Even if seeing you kiss my brother makes me want to bleach my brain.” I grinned and finally she smiled back.
“Come on,” she said, tugging me into the office, even if the desk now held disturbing images for me. We sank down on the couch.
“What happened with Savio?”
“Nothing. I mean…” I flushed. “I saw him naked. Not on purpose. He just removed his towel to show me his tattoo.”
Toni’s eyes widened. “You saw all of him?”
I nodded, biting my lip, torn between embarrassment, anger, and giddiness.
“And?”
“Don’t tell me you want me to describe his you-know-what!” I wouldn’t even know where to start. Even that part of Savio had been magnificent and a bit intimidating if I was being honest.
“Was he excited?”
I covered my face with my hands. “Toni…”
“Come on, tell me.”
“No, he wasn’t. Not really.” He hadn’t exactly been soft, but not hard either. But what did I know?
I fixed her with a stare. “Now it’s your turn to answer my questions. What’s going on between you and Diego? I thought you weren’t in love with him anymore.”
Toni shrugged. “I’m not in love with him.. A few weeks ago, he had business here. Dad wasn’t there so we talked. We hit it off, so we met again and then it happened.”
“You kissed?”
She looked away, and my mouth fell open. “Don’t tell me you slept with my brother?”
Toni looked down at her hands. “It just happened.”
“You had your first time with Diego and didn’t tell me?”
The images forming in my head were too disturbing to bear. Toni had slept with Diego. Dread filled me, remembering Diego’s words. He would marry for tactical purposes. Toni’s family had some money due to the Arena, but they weren’t well-respected in the Camorra. A marriage to her wouldn’t improve my brother’s standing.