Page 14 of Sinful Bargains

Joey exhaled sharply, pushing off the wall as he fixed his gaze on me. “Adriana, I get it—you don’t know me. But people get to know each other by spending time together. Everyone knows who I am. Nobody is going to let me run off with your son. It’s just a ballgame. I’ll be with him the whole time—he’ll be safe with me.”

I wanted to trust Joey. And a big part of me felt like I could,but the other small part, the nagging voice of guilt in my head, was making it nearly impossible.

“Adriana, I’m not gonna let anything happen to him. The kid’s gonna have the time of his life. You’ve got my word, and I don’t go back on my word.”

I hesitated, but I couldn’t bring myself to ruin this for Antonio. He was so excited about the chance to go to a Yankees game. He needed to experience things children his age experience.

“Look, I get it—you’re protective. But you can’t keep him in a bubble forever. He deserves this—a memory he’ll never forget,” Joey said with a smile.Oh, that smile.Angela and Lucy were right—it could make any woman weak. But I couldn’t afford to be weak, especially not for a man like Joey.

“Why are you doing this, Joey? You barely know us,” I said, searching his face for answers. “And don’t you dare say it’s because you want to get to know us. Because I’m not stupid and I know you want something else.”

He tried to hold back the smirk threatening to break through. “You’ve got a good boy. Maybe I just see a little of myself in him. He loves the Yankees—I do, too. And let’s not forget, you already trusted me enough to pick him up and bring him home while your car’s in the shop. I’m not taking him far. Besides, anybody on the East Coast knows who Joey Romano is. I’m not a kidnapper, Adriana. I don’t hurt women or kids.”

I studied him, arms crossed, eyes narrowed, my lips pressed into a firm line. Everyone seemed to know who Joey Romano was—everyone but me. And my gut told me that men like him, like most men, only wanted one thing. He wasn’t going to butter me up with a smooth smile and easy charm. I’d escaped one man already, and I’d be damned if I let another take advantage of me.

“If anything goes wrong?—”

Joey’s grin stretched wider than I’d ever seen. “Nothing’sgonna go wrong. Scout’s honor,” he said, holding up three fingers in a mock salute, his tone light, almost teasing.

I smirked, arching an eyebrow at him. “Somehow, I doubt you were ever a Boy Scout.”

Joey laughed softly, and I realized it was the first time I’d ever heard him laugh. Suddenly, I wanted to hear it again and again. “You got me there. But hey, trust me on this one, okay?”

“Okay,” I reluctantly smiled, “but you’d better bring him back in one piece.”

“One piece? You drive a hard bargain, Adriana.” He smirked. I shook my head, a small laugh escaping my lips momentarily. Our eyes lingered a bit longer until Antonio emerged from his bedroom.

“So?” he asked with a grin. “What’d she say?”

“Be ready by 5:00 p.m. on Saturday,” Joey announced, causing Antonio to wrap his arms around my waist and squeeze tightly.

Men like Joey Romano were trouble. Smooth talkers with easy smiles and sharp suits, the kind of men who took what they wanted. I’d already lived that once. I wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice.

JOEY

Paul and I sat in a booth, the soft jazz filling the air as he swirled his drink, studying me intently. I took a slow drag from my cigarette, watching him over the smoke. “So, what’s the deal with the new broad in town?”

“What broad?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. I knew what he was talking about, but I played dumb, anyway.

He smirked. “Don’t play dumb, Joey. The one with the kid. Adriana, right? I’ve seen her around. Quiet, keeping her head low, but she’s got you acting like a damn bloodhound.”

I shrugged, taking another drag from my cigarette. “It’s nothing.”

He let out a soft chuckle. “Joey, I’ve known you long enough to know when you’re full of shit. You had Davidson dig up her license. And had Ben run a background check on her. That ain’t nothing.”

“Keep your voice down, Paul,” I snapped at him, looking around, hoping nobody had heard us.

He grinned. “Relax. No one’s listening. But seriously, what’s her story?”

“I don’t know yet,” I told him. I didn’t know yet, but I wouldsoon. “I’m just trying to help her out. It’s not what you’re thinking. She’s…different. That’s all.”

“Different?” He laughed. “Come on, Joey. Every pretty face looks different when you’re bored with the one at home.”

My eyes narrowed, and he raised his hands up in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. But seriously, you’re playing with fire. As your friend, I’m just looking out for you. I think you should be worrying about avoiding Vincent and Renee’s wrath rather than getting involved with Adriana. You’re already skating on paper-thin ice.”

I leaned back slowly, exhaling the smoke into the air between us. He had a point. But I wasn’t getting involved with Adriana. I was helping her. “All I want to do is help her out,” I said out loud. Not only to Paul, but also a reminder to myself.

“Help her out?” he scoffed. “Joey, we don’t help people. Not unless there’s something in it for us. You want something from this woman. And I think what you want from her will be your demise.”

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