Page 109 of Ruin
The gala is already in full swing when Antonio’s hand rests lightly at the small of my back, steering me through the glittering chaos that is the lobby of Dragovari Tower. Crystal lighting is everywhere, and the lobby ceiling is 40 stories up with a giant disco ball hanging from it, which is casting a rainbow of dancing lights over the crowd.
The hum of conversation blends with bursts of laughter, clinking glasses, and the melodic strains of an orchestral band tucked into the corner. We’ve been here for only a half hour or so and we have drinks in hand, but it does nothing to steady my nerves. My pulse is all over the place, fast and uneven, not because of Antonio’s hand on me, but because I know Tommy is here somewhere.
I scan the room, searching, though I pretend I’m not, using my peripheral vision as Antonio guides me over to my father. For some reason, I do not want Tommy to see Antonio touching me, even if it’s harmless, but my father’s gaze falls immediately on Antonio’s hand at my back and his face lightsup.
“Giovanna.” My father kisses my cheek with uncharacteristic warmth. His gaze flicks to Antonio, soft with satisfaction. “It’s good to see you with a man who knows how to take care of you.” His glance cuts across the room, and I know he’s looking at Tommy as hatred flits across his face. “Unlike others.”
I refuse to follow his gaze, but I also refuse to engage in this discussion, my fake half smile plastered on my face.
Antonio chuckles uncomfortably. “She deserves the best, Mr. Marino.”
“She does,” my father agrees, nodding, “and I’m glad she’s finally figured that out.”
A booming voice sounds from behind me. “Yes, smart woman.”
I turn to see Aurelio walking over, cigar in one hand and a highball glass of whiskey in the other. He’s weaving as he walks, slurring a bit, and fear and anger spike through my veins, turning my blood to ice.
I haven’t seen him since he came to my apartment and told me he would kill Tommy if I didn’t end our relationship. I swallow hard, any pleasant words I might have come up with catching in my throat. My father’s approval compounded by Aurelio’s feels like a trap closing, and for one split second, I wonder if my father knows that Aurelio came to see me that day.
“Looks like she’s found a good man, an appropriate match. Good, good, good,ragazza.”
Good girl?Fuck him.
“So glad I could finally live up to your high standards. I was starting to worry.” I take a demure sip of my drink, lockingmy gaze onto his as Aurelio narrows his eyes at me.
I feel Lorenzo and Antonio turn to look at me but neither of them says anything.
“I am proud of you,ragazza. That is all. Right, Lorenzo? Antonio?” He turns to them to bring them in, maybe elicit backup, but my father stands there stoically drinking and the pressure of Antonio’s hand on my back increases.
“You’re getting sentimental in your old age, Aurelio. Next thing I know, you’ll be offering to walk me down the aisle.”
Anger flashes across Aurelio’s eyes, and my father turns to stare at me as Antonio laughs uncomfortably, trying to diffuse the tension. “Walk down the aisle? I mean, you’re moving a little fast, but if you’re asking, I won’t say no.”
I scoff, smile in place, and turn to look at him as I drain my drink, giving him a look that says I’m done with this conversation. He catches on quickly, and says, “Let’s go get you another drink. Gentlemen.”
Antonio guides me over to the bar, and I turn and lean against it, scanning the room, as he orders with the bartender. I feel emboldened after my run-in with Aurelio, and I’m ready now to see Tommy. I let myself look for him.
Tommy is across the room, surrounded by men in suits and women draped in brightly colored dresses. He’s laughing, that easy, commanding smile lighting up his face, a hand resting on Councilman Donovan’s shoulder. He’s confident, smooth, like he was made for this world. Like he never needed me at all.
And beside him must be his girlfriend. She’s blonde as Antonio described her, but what he didn’t say is that she is beautiful. Perfect posture, bright white smile, impeccably dressed, much tinier than I am with her tapered waist andperky breasts.
Jealousy eats through me like a flesh-eating virus, and the edges of my vision get cloudy. I’m so focused on Tommy that it barely registers when Antonio turns next to me and takes my empty glass from me, replacing it with a fresh one.
Then he leans in and brushes a kiss on my bare shoulder, just like he did when we were leaving the New Year’s Eve party all those years ago on the rooftop of Dragovari Tower. Before Tommy. Before everything.
It’s at that moment that Tommy must feel me staring at him and looks up, locking eyes with me. It feels like time stops and everybody disintegrates into dust, leaving only him and me in the room.
Then everything speeds up like a video being fast forwarded. Tommy’s smile collapses into something dark and feral as his gaze shifts to Antonio. His jaw locks, his shoulders tightening as if he’s about to break through the crowd with his bare hands—and then that’s exactly what he does.
He’s coming straight for us, cutting through groups of people without a word of apology or excusing himself.
My glass trembles in my hand, and panic claws up my throat. I can’t do this, not here, not with Antonio, not with my father and Aurelio and the world watching. Before Antonio notices the storm building, I smile at him and pretend to wave at someone behind him.
“I see Lexi! I’m going to go say hi. See you in a minute?”
He nods and grins back at me. “Sure.”
I’m practically shaking, wishing I could hurry this along, but not wanting to tip him off. He runs the back of his finger over my arm gently andwanders off in the opposite direction, drink in hand.
