Page 531 of One More Kiss

“You think I shot that bastard because it was my job?” he hissed as he closed the gap between us. “No. The moment I saw him touch you, I wanted to kill him, Avery. I wanted to make him hurt because no one is allowed to touch you. Not fucking anyone is allowed to hurt you. I wanted to kill him, and it took everything in me to only shoot his fucking hand. But it is my job to make sure your father doesn’t kill him. I took an oath.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “I’m not just a job for you?”

He shook his head. “No, baby, you’re so much fucking more.”

I glanced around the room. A few people were watching us.

“I so wish I could kiss you,” I whispered.

He grinned.

“Tonight, baby.” He brushed his fingers against mine. “I’ll be back.”

I watched as he walked away without looking back. I took a deep breath, plastered on a smile, and turn to the DJ who started the music back up. I gave him a grateful smile and made a beeline for the bathroom.

I gripped the porcelain sink as I took deep breath after deep breath, letting the air fill my lungs. My legs were shaking and my heart raced, but I pushed them out of my mind. If I focused on them right now, I would crumble and break down.

Instead, I peered into the mirror. The nasty red mark marred my temple, but thankfully the blood had stopped dripping down. I cleaned the wound, getting rid of the blood streak.

Once I was satisfied that I looked semi-presentable again, I exited the bathroom and put on my hostess smile as I started to help our guests.

* * *

My father,Paolo, Marco, and some of the other men rejoined the party. Everyone seemed in a better mood. The men were smiling, not to mention my father and Paolo laughed as they talk.

I was bone tired and wanted to have this party end so that I can go upstairs and crash, but it had always been drilled into me that a good host didn’t leave her guests. After the incident many of the guests helped me clean up, but nobody wanted to leave. Everyone felt like they should stay and lean on each other.

“Baby, are you doing okay?” Paolo asked as he came to stand beside me.

“I’m just tired,” I replied weakly.

I wasn’t sure how much longer I would be able to stay on my feet.

Paolo grabbed my hand and lead me into the kitchen.

“Take a seat, princess,” he said. He set about fixing me a plate of food and getting me a drink. “Eat while I fill you in on what happened.”

I nodded and began to eat as he told me what Joe had said. I didn’t find out what they did to cause him to squeal like a pig, but Paolo told me that Joe and Lena were in fact dating.

Frank had told Joe that if he wanted to marry Lena, he had to join the Bilotti family in hopes of gaining as much information on my father as possible. Joe worked with Frank in hopes of bringing my father down and taking over his business.

Paolo also told me that Lena knew about everything, that she and Joe had worked on ways of getting to me in order to get to my father. My best friend had betrayed me for the man she loved.

It hurt knowing that she did that, but I was glad that I knew the truth. Now, I would be able to put her in the past and move on without having someone who was willing to hurt me in my life.

“You’re exhausted, Avery. Why don’t you go to bed?” Paolo said as he caressed my cheek. “The police are going to arrive soon, and you don’t need to be here for that.”

“I can’t. Not until the party is over. Tomorrow, I’ll sleep all day,” I said. “Thank you for the food. It helped.”

He pressed a kiss against my lips and I clung to him, deepening the kiss. Neither of us cared if we got caught or not.

“I’ll be by your side this evening,” he said as I hugged him closer. “I’ve got you, baby. Your father’s going to end the party because the cops need to be called.”

I loved this man. I just hoped that I wouldn’t lose him now that this was all over.

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