Page 22 of Dangerous Games of Trust

I pull on his leather jacket, the smell of his aftershave finding my nostrils and making me pull it a little tighter around my body. Why does he have to smell so damn good. Dani is right, I need a new wardrobe; I can’t keep wearing her hand-me-downs and Geovani’s. It’s fucking with my head wearing his clothes, makes it feel like we’re a couple when I know that is the farthest thing from the truth.

“One minute, Red,” I hear him call from the hallway, and I know I need to hurry, he’s deadly serious.

I leave my room, clutching the locket of the chain Maddox gave me. Part of me hopes we’re going to meet with the boys tonight. Maybe Marco was able to convince him, or Alessandro has ordered a meeting and Geovani couldn’t refuse? That would make sense as to why we’re leaving the safety of these four walls at this time of night.

I find Geovani out by the elevator, and we take it down together, him leaning into the wall watching me and me keeping my distance from him, trying not to look at him for too long and aggravate him any further. Or me dropping down at his knees and asking to suck his cock. I run my eyes down over his low-slung jeans, and I feel my face heat at the thought. Being locked up with him has me horny as hell, but that shit isn’t going to work for me when I’m trying to prove a point. There is no way I need him knowing the effect he has over me.

When we step out, there are already two heavily armed men waiting by his car. Nervousness settles in the pit of my stomachlike a lead balloon. Without another word, he motions for me to get in the back seat alongside him. So, I do. The other men decked out in their black suits get in the front. We take off out of the parking lot, the guard driving more cautiously than Geovani did the other night.

He takes my hand in his, pulling me closer into him. “Stay close tonight, Red.”

I meet his eyes. “Is everything alright?”

“I’m not sure yet.”

“Geovani.” I say his name in warning, aware he might not be able to say much in front of his security, but I’m going to need more to go off before I just follow him blindly.

His head drops down closer, and he leans his lips to my ear. “We’re meeting up with someone who has information about my pa.”

I look him over nervously. “Okay,” I agree, hearing the pain in his voice. When he doesn’t say anything else, I lean my head back into the seat and stare out the blackened window.

The drive is deathly silent, and immediately I begin to overthink why we’re driving back into the main part of Ravens Hollow with armed guards. Geovani runs his hand up my thigh trying to calm me while I wring my hands in my lap, running my thumb along the spot where the engagement ring used to sit. It’s become a nervous tick, and I keep doing it as if it’s still there. His hand comes to mine, stopping me, like he knows exactly what I’m doing. He’s watched me so much he probably does.

He pulls me into him, his hand running along my leg, stroking my thigh back and forth. I’m not sure he even realizes he is doing it, but the small movement is setting my body alight. I’m desperate for him to touch me again. Not just delicate movements with a layer of fabric between us. I want it hard and rough, just the way I know he can. Just like it was the first time when we hooked up in his gym.

I glance up, meeting his warm gaze, my anger toward him momentarily melting. I reach up and cup his face, running my thumb over his stubbly jaw to his full lips. He doesn’t stop me, just watches me with fascination. He’s so imperfectly gorgeous. Marked and scarred in so many places that it makes him look like a work of art. Why is he so obsessed with me? I don’t get it. But something inside tells me I’m just as infatuated with him. I have been since I ran into him the night my papa died. My heart kicks up a beat, and I draw back from him as though I have just been burnt. I can’t give in to the crazy pull I have toward him, it’s madness.

Inhaling deeply, I stare out the window right as we drive by the Moretti family casino. My thoughts wander to the boys and what they might be doing tonight. Are they at the casino or Flamingo Hotel? Or is Alessandro out searching the streets for me like Marco implied.

Eventually we pull up at a half-collapsed stone building in a rundown part of Ravens Hollow. Surrounding the area, a sturdy construction fence stands tall, protecting the site from intruders. The sight of cautionary police tape, with its bold yellow, makes me even more anxious. What happen to this place? The two guards get out and scan the fence line, guns drawn.

I sneak a glance at Geovani. “What is this place?”

“The old Ravens Hollow theatre,” he replies, but he’s not paying me any attention for once. He’s watching the guards, his eyes narrowed in concentration. I can tell he’s on edge, just like he was last time we left the house together. Whatever we’re doing tonight must be worth risking both our lives.

The guards return and give Geovani a nod. He swings open his door, and I slide out the same side, taking his outstretched hand and sticking closely to him. I’m not scared to be out of the house, but until his pa’s been located, I’m not all that happy about it either. I wouldn’t have the strength to run for it if I had to, withhow sore my body is. I can hardly lift my arm, let alone fight off an attack. For once I rely on the safety of his protection, and I’m grateful for it, knowing he would do anything to keep me safe.

“Send her in as soon as she arrives. Any sign of trouble, take care of it and bring them in to me,” he instructs the guards.

She? I wonder who we’re meeting, but I don’t have time to ask him. With a solemn expression, he firmly grasps my hand and urges me to follow him. We navigate through a narrow opening in the fence, and the sight that unfolds before us is a scene of utter devastation. The heavy wooden door creaks open under his forceful push, revealing the remnants of a once-beautiful old theatre. The center of the room bears the brunt of the destruction, with the lower seats completely demolished. As I look up, I can see the gallery above remains untouched. Rows of red velvet-lined seats, weathered and damaged, are neatly arranged, facing an empty stage and a gaping hole in the ground. As I stand there taking it all in, a sense of unease washes over me. This place looks like it’s about to crumble down around us at any second.

“What happened to this place?” I wonder out loud, dodging a plank of wood half jutting out from the wall.

“Rumor has it Enzo destroyed the place in a rage of jealousy over the star performer of the last show ever to be seen here.”

I take the place in with fresh eyes after that little history lesson. “What the fuck? Did Valentina use to be an actress?”

He shakes his head, not moving further into the space, clearly not wanting to entertain my curiosity. I wonder what he was talking about.

Stepping over a pile of loose sandstone, I follow him. “Why did you bring me here?”

“I recently acquired this place,” he mutters, pulling back the faded stage curtain and inspecting it, before taking center stage, looking out over what would be the crowd, his face lighting up.

“You needed me for the site inspection for marketing purposes?” I glance up at him, puzzled. “Why would you buy this place?”

He laughs, and I know he’s seeing exactly what I am. “Perfect location for my next fight.” His grin widens as he imagines it, but all I can see is the mess and danger of holding an underground fight in a place like this. One knock of a support wall and the entire place will crumble to nothing. “Then we fix the place up and sell it.”

I scan the space, imagining it all glammed up again. He could make a small fortune if he does it right. “You know those cameras you have on the boys? Could you get some watching Enzo?”

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