Page 82 of Savage Enemy

There was no telling what Aris or Saul would do if they found out.

No, I knew exactly what they’d do. It would start with them killing Stefano while I watched and then end with my death.

Or something even worse.

I slid my shoes onto my feet, wincing as I put weight on the new blisters they’d already given me, and tried to act normal.

Santo raised a brow and looked me up and down.

“So… have fun in the restroom?”

I shrugged, feigning innocence.

“Yes, actually, I did enjoy it. I ran into an old friend.”

“Huh.” He rolled his eyes. “Just wondering how often you entertain men in public ladies’ rooms.”

My cheeks burned as I grabbed an ice-cold champagne from the tray of a passing server.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

My brother gave me a knowing smile.

“I saw your man walk out. I know what you were doing in there. Who would’ve thought you had a sex-in-public kink? I mean, fucking gross because you’re my sister, but also ballsy. You’re playing with some serious fire. It’s impressive. Or really stupid. We’ll have to wait and see how it turns out.”

“You don’t know a thing, Santo.”

I poked him, then pressed the glass to my cheek, hoping it would cool away some of my flush.

He looked down his nose at me.

“Yeah, no, let me tell you what I know, Valentina. I know you spent thirty minutes in that restroom, and although it’s one hundred percent understandable to need a break from the gossipy bitches in this room, that’s a long time. I worried at first you got sick or made a break for it without your shoes.”

“And in Chicago, in the winter,” I added.

Then he gave me a deadpan stare.

I fingered the pearls hanging around my neck like he’d accused me of something scandalous. Well, he kinda had.

And he wasn’t wrong.

“Okay, just stop it now, Santo.”

He didn’t stop, though. My brother had much more to say.

“I stopped worrying after a very familiar man stomped past following you. I didn’t need much else to figure it out. Especially when the asshole came out grinning like an idiot. Like a satisfied idiot, but still.”

If Santo had seen him, who else had noticed? I couldn’t help but wonder how many other people knew. And why did my little brother take so much pleasure in my embarrassment over getting caught?

“Please stop,” I murmured. “Please. Please. Stop.”

“But I haven’t even gotten to the best part yet,” he said.

I gulped champagne before signaling for him to continue.

“See, as soon as he stormed out of the restroom, he picked up the girl he came with. She didn’t look pissed at all, just bored, maybe a little annoyed. And she went with him into the room where Father’s holding his meetings tonight.”

I sucked in a shaky breath and nodded.