Page 178 of Rosetti Family New York
"That I'd find him for you?" he finishes flatly, his tone unimpressed.
His words sting a bit, and I ignore the heat that creeps up my neck.
"You're the only one who can."
"You don't know many people then." He tilts his head toward the fight. "Some of these guys are pretty good at getting things done."
Following his gaze, I watch a wiry fighter take a sharp blow to the jaw. It could have easily been Rafaele in a different life, judging by the old break in his nose. But right now, it's me who'sscrambling for a solution. My voice is sharper than I meant it to be when I ask:
"Can you help or not?"
He meets my stare steadily, the condensation from the low ceiling making the air between us seem even thicker, more charged.
"I can't."
"Or you just won't?"
His eyes lock onto mine for a long, hard moment. The basement seems to fade away—the damp walls, the shouting crowd, the stench of spilled beer—all of it recedes until there's just us. Beneath his cool exterior, I glimpse a flicker, maybe doubt, or even a hint of desire. I latch onto that spark because Rafaele is my only trusted contact in this underworld, the only one who might care enough about Maddy to step in. I need him to want to help me. I have to make him want me.
Scanning the confined space for a backup plan, I spot a lean man with tattoos crawling up his arms. His tough look would probably have my brother in a tizzy if I ever brought him home. Perfect. I step toward him, then turn back to Rafaele with an extra confident grin.
"Maybe you're right. Maybe I'll find someone else," I say.
For a second, I think Rafaele might stop me, maybe even agree. But he only shrugs and turns away.
Meanwhile, the tattooed man has been watching the fight, perhaps pretending until I sidle up next to him. I still feel Rafaele's eyes on me from across the basement, and that gives me a wild burst of recklessness. I reach for the guy's arm. My fingers brush his skin, and I pull away with a practiced, shy smile. I can almost hear Maddy laughing. She always was the sexy one, and I like to think she's watching now, urging me on.
His tattoos peek from under his collar, and his grin is cocky yet inviting. He turns to me, his eyes sparkling in the basement'sdim light. But they're not blue like Rafe's, not filled with that same intensity that makes my stomach flip.
"Hey there. Didn't expect to see someone like you in a place like this."
I laugh softly, warm and low, "I could say the same thing."
"Really? Looks like I fit right in." He gestures to the chaotic scene, noise, sweat, and heat, all of which seem to energize him.
"You do," I reply, keeping my tone flirty and light, just loud enough that Rafaele might catch it if he's still watching. "And I could use a little help fitting in."
"Is that so?" He leans closer, a move that should make me pull back, but I let him, enjoying the moment. His breath is warm against my ear, but it lacks the electric charge I feel when Rafe stands too close. "What kind of help are we talking about?"
This man seems sleazy, and I just want to get away from him, but I keep up the act, letting my hand rest confidently on his arm. I lean in, letting the curve of my hips brush against him. All the while, I'm scanning the crowd for a glimpse of Rafe, wondering if he's watching, if he cares. The basement's low ceiling seems to press down, making the air between us hotter, more intimate.
"I don't know. Why don't you surprise me?"
His laugh is slimy, but it's like a shot of warm whiskey that makes me feel alive. I'm a careful person, always so damn careful, but tonight it's thrilling to let go. I'm better at this flirting business than I expected. My blood thrums, and I almost lose myself in the game.
I lean in and whisper in his ear. He grins back, eyes shining like he's seen the best thing of the night.
"Yeah, I can do that. Let's get out of here," he says.
Maybe now Rafaele will care. Maybe he'll finally see I'm serious about finding Maddy's mystery boyfriend, even if I have to chase down every tough guy in the city. My heart poundswith hope and a little fear, with a dash of courage and plenty of recklessness. I steal a glance back, searching the underground space for Rafe.
There. He's watching me, jaw set, that stern tough-guy look. But there's something dark and possessive in his eyes, too, that sends a shiver down my spine. The air between us seems to crackle with tension even across the crowded basement.
Just one word, and I'd be back at his side. I hold his gaze a moment longer than I should, feeling a wild, electric tension between us, a current I can almost taste. I wait for him to crack, to call my name.
But he doesn't.
I don't hesitate.
