Page 529 of One More Kiss

Avery

Every timeI saw Paolo wearing his black tailored suit, my heart raced a little. He didn’t even have to glance in my direction for it to happen. Just being in the same vicinity as him made me week at the knees.

My father had kept Marco, Arlo, and Hunter close to him all day. The men were close without being too noticeable. I owed them. The way they were willing to step in front of danger to protect him was something I doubted that I could ever repay but if I could, I’d do it in a heartbeat.

Today was a success. Everyone was smiling and happy. Leon’s mom, dad, and brother thanked me for including them in the festivities. Nothing could ever take away the pain they felt at losing him, but I hoped that having them here with us showed them that he was loved here too. This whole situation with Joe had me on edge. I worried about his next move. Paolo had told me he was investigating Joe more. I didn’t under Joe’s motives, but I did know that he had hoped I would spill information on my father.

Unlike Lena, I was loyal to my father. I’d do anything to ensure that he was safe, just as I would for Paolo, and would have done for Lena too. But she had done the unforgivable; she had helped someone try to bring down my only parent. To me, Lena was dead. She tried calling me, and I declined her call. Nothing she said could fix her betrayal.

“Babe,” Paolo said from behind me as I entered the kitchen to gather more hors d'oeuvres to put onto the table for everyone.

I turned to him and smiled. “You okay?”

He nodded and his eyes twinkled with lust.

“Yeah,” he said thickly. “I fucking love that dress. It’ll be much better on the floor later.”

I shook my head. Since the night in the city, Paolo and I were practically inseparable. I couldn’t hold back just how much I wanted him, even though we had to be careful about who saw us. If my father discovered how much I liked Paolo, he would stop our relationship.

“The party won’t be winding down for another few hours yet. Hell, most years, the last people are leaving at four am.” I inwardly groaned at the thought of not being able to be with Paolo until then, but it was for the best. It would be too risky to disappear together and cause speculation.

“Once it’s over, babe, you’re mine,” he said, voice deep and hoarse.

“Count on it,” I whispered, then I pressed my lips against his.

I grabbed the platters of food and made my way out of the kitchen and toward the throngs of partygoers.

The second I sat the platters on the table, a hand covered my mouth. Cold steel pressed against my temple. I closed my eyes, breathing deeply, and tried not to panic as I realize that a gun was pointed at my head.

Fear rushed down my spine. When he pressed the gun harder against my skin, a tear trickled down my cheek. I opened my eyes, searching for Paolo or my father.

“Vincenzo,” the man said, and I knew the voice belonged to Joe. What a fucking asshole. I couldn’t believe he tried anything at the party, let alone managed to get close to where my father and I were.

Silence fell over the room and the music stopped. All I could hear was the ringing in my ears along with the pounding of my heart.

“Joe, take your fucking gun from my daughter’s head,” my father said. I’d never heard his voice filled with so much anger before.

Joe didn’t take the gun from my temple. In fact, he dug it in harder.

Blood trickled down my face from a cut.

“Not going to happen. See, I came here for you, Vincenzo, and you alone.” Joe pulled me into him, pressing himself up against my back. “You need to die tonight. My time is almost up.”

Every man in here had their guns out and aimed at Joe. Every woman and child was pushed behind a man’s back.

“Then let my daughter go,” my father said, his eyes dark with anger, He had his gun trained on Joe, but he couldn’t pull the trigger. Joe had made me his human shield. If anyone fired a shot, there was a chance that they could shoot me.

“That’s not going to happen,” Joe said. “You’ve had your men protecting you all day, Vin. I’ve watched and waited. For months, I’ve tried to get you alone. All the while, no one was watching the bitch.”

He sneered and pulled me even closer to him. His grip on my arm was tight, his fingers biting into my skin.

I bit down on my lip so I wouldn’t cry out. Nothing stopped my tears. I was frightened out of my mind, but I couldn’t do anything.

“What do you want?” my father asked him as he stepped forward. “We’ve worked together for years. Why have you turned on me?”

“Love,” Joe said simply, removing his hand from my arm and throwing it out to emphasize his point. “And to get the woman I fell for, I need to you. So I’ll let your daughter go—all I need is you.”

My body tensed. There was no way that my father would say yes. That was suicide.

---