Page 71 of Ruin
Tommy’s shoulders soften, but he doesn’t mirror my expression. He holds my gaze as Vin leads Aurelio away, and Matti claps him on the chest.
“Come on,” Matti says grimly. “Let’s go get a drink.”
Tommy turns a murderous stare to Aurelio’s retreating back, and I touch his arm. Words never work, but my touch seems to ground him.
Tommy shakes Matti off and pulls me to him, growling, “I’m going to kill him—”
I shake my head, camouflage smile in place. “Assholes are everywhere, Tommy, but he didn’t hurt anyone. Better to take his soul than his life.”
The seconds tick by as he stares at me, Matti’s gaze flitting back and forth between the two of us. Tommy exhales long and slow then turns to Matti, a half smile in place that doesn’t reach his eyes. He slides his hand around my waist.
“Giovanna would like a vodka tonic.”
Matti turns to me, a look of respect on his face as he gives me a slow nod. “Vodka tonic it is, then.”
**
Three vodka tonics later, Tommy is networking with politicians and lawyers, his smile thin but practiced. Every sooften, his eyes find mine, locking on for a few seconds, before turning back to the conversation.
I’m so proud of him. I stood by his side most of the night, but as I finish this third vodka tonic and contemplate a fourth, I stand back, watching him admiringly. He can’t turn on that creamy smooth deep voice like a switch yet, and his eyes belie his disinterest in the conversations, but he manages to maintain eye contact with everyone he speaks to and hasn’t once abruptly walked away in the middle of a conversation.
I feel someone at my elbow and turn to see Matti, sipping a whiskey on the rocks and watching Tommy as well. “You’re good for our boy. But be careful. With that kind of power comes a shit ton of responsibility.”
I consider the implications of his statement, but by the time I turn to respond, it’s not Matti standing by me but Antonio. My heart rate spikes, and I dart a glance at Tommy, whose view of me is blocked by the politician.
“I guess you belong together,” says Antonio, not looking at me. “Or that’s what I tell myself so I don’t hate you.”
“I’m sorry, Antonio,” I say, but it sounds hollow.
“No, you’re not,” he says simply, and I don’t argue. “But for what it’s worth, I would have given you everything.”
The politician shifts, and Tommy sees us, his eyes instantly glittering with rage. Antonio lifts his glass to him before walking away. He didn’t look at me once, and I’m grateful.
Tommy abruptly pushes past the politician, who is mid-sentence, and blocks Antonio’s path.
Glancing around for Matti or Vin to help squash this if necessary, I spot my parents in the crowd. My father is in a group of men with cigars and drinks in hand. My mother is with two women, chatting behind their wine glasses. Icatch her eye, and she winks at me. My father has not acknowledged my existence since I moved in with Tommy, and tonight is no different.
Whatever Tommy says to Antonio is short, and Tommy immediately backs me against the wall, just like he did at this party last year.
“Are you going to force me to put on your hoodie again?” I say playfully.
He’s not interested in playing. “What did you say to him?”
“Antonio? Nothing. He was only here about 20 seconds before he left.”
“What did you say to him?”
“He did most of the talking, Tommy. There’s nothing to get angry about—”
“I don’t give a shit what he had to say. What did you say to him?”
I sigh. This is not going to go well. “I said I was sorry.”
Tommy sneers, gripping my shoulders. “Why the fuck would you apologize to that piece of shit?”
“Tommy, why do you hate him so much? You won. You literally fucked me in front of him while I was on a date with him.”
“He tried to take you from me, Giovanna,” Tommy snarls. He digs in his fingertips, bruising my shoulders. “He would take you from me now if he had the chance.”
