“What? I’m excited. It isn’t everyday a girl gets to attend a mafia—”
She pressed a hand to my mouth. “Just breathe, please.” Her eyes pleaded with me and I nodded.
“Sorry, I’m just… wow, okay. I’m chill.”
She chuckled, but before she could answer, Nicco intercepted us.
“Bambolina,” he breathed, letting his eyes drift slowly down her body. God, the way he looked at Arianne. Hungry. Possessive. As if she was the most beautiful woman on Earth.
She did look stunning though, in a sixties-style black dress with a layered skirt. I’d opted for something fitted and tight, a second skin of glitter and lace.
I felt sexy as hell, but no matter how good I felt, watching Nicco watch my best friend made me feel like I was wearing a burlap sack.
“I’m going to get a drink,” I said, leaving them to it.
Ari called after me, but I continued weaving through the big round tables until I arrived at the sleek chrome bar.
“What can I get you?”
“The lady will take a vodka and cranberry,” a smooth voice said.
I turned to meet Dane Marchetti’s smirk. “Really?” My brow lifted with amusement.
“You look good, Nora.”
“So do you.” Nicco’s cousin might have still been in high school, but there was no denying he had those strong Marchetti genes. Dark eyes and chiseled good looks, the ripped muscles, and tattoos. He was every bit as handsome as his cousins. But he was too young.
Shame. He would have been the perfect distraction from my thoughts tonight.
The bartender served my drink and fetched Dane a beer. He didn’t bat an eyelid at his age, just handed it over with a smile.
“You gonna save me a dance later, dolcezza?”
“You’re a real smoother talker, you know that?” My lips curved.
“You haven’t seen nothing yet, baby.”
“God, stop.” Laughter bubbled in my chest as I jabbed my finger at his shoulder. “Do these lines actually work on the ladies?”
“Every single time.”
“Color me impressed.” I tucked a stray curl behind my ear before taking a sip of my drink. The vodka burned, but I liked the way it warmed my insides.
“I didn’t know you were coming to town for Arabella’s birthday.” Dane and his family lived in Boston.
“I didn’t know I could until the last minute. My old man has been keeping me on a tight leash after I—”
“Take a walk, kid,” Enzo practically growled the words.
“Fuck you, E. I’m almost eighteen. I graduate in five months.”
“Which makes you a kid still. I said take a wa—”
“I’ll catch you later, Nora. Don’t forget to save me a dance.” Dane flashed me a wink before leaving me alone… with Enzo.
“Well, that was rude,” I scolded him.
“What the fuck are you doing?” He glared down at me.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. He’s my cousin. Are you really that desperate to snag your very own Marchetti that you’ll stoop to Dane’s level? He’s still in high school.”
“Are you done?” My body trembled with rage as I fisted my hands at my sides to stop myself from hitting him and making a scene.
I didn’t know how he’d managed to signal the bartender and order a drink, but Enzo picked up his glass and knocked it back in one. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he glowered at me once more. “Stay the fuck away from Dane, Nora. I mean it.”
“Or what?” The words tumbled out.
He leaned down into my space, so close I could smell the spicy notes of his cologne. “Or you won’t like what happens.”
“Fuck you.” I slammed my palms against his chest, smiling up at him. “Just because you made it perfectly clear you didn’t want me, doesn’t mean there aren’t guys out there who do.”
“Like Dane?” He scoffed. “He wouldn’t know what to do with a woman like you if he tried.”
Not girl.
Not chick.
Woman.
Why did I have to hone in on that, as if it was some kind of code for Enzo’s repressed feelings toward me?
It wasn’t.
The rational part of my brain knew that. It knew, and yet, the foolish part that believed in romance and fairytales and happily-ever-afters was eagerly waiting for his apology.
“Maybe I can show him the ropes, teach him a trick or two.” I don’t know who was more surprised at my words, me or Enzo. But the air turned thick around us, making it hard to breathe.
Enzo shook his head, running a hand through his thick dark hair. “Just stay the fuck away from my family,” he snapped, and then he walked away.