Chapter 10: Chapter 10

What the fuck is Lia doing here with Saul, of all people?

My mind reels. Rejection. Jealousy. Is she playing with my mind? Does she understand what she’s doing to me? Is this all a game?

‘You have to leave,’ she whispers, with genuine fear in her autumn brown eyes. She’s trying to look over my shoulder, but I step forward, forcing her back into the bathroom and closing the door behind me.

‘I spoke to Cecilia,’ I tell her.

Lia’s eyes water as she brings a hand up to her face to stop the dam from breaking. I don’t want to make her cry. Fuck.

‘So did we, and now this is what came of it,’ she says, angrily gesturing to the door. The harshness of her whisper tells me enough. Every word spills off her lips in a hurried tone. ‘You’re going to get me killed.’

‘I’m not going to let anything happen to you.’

She shakes her head. ‘You don’t get it. He wants this. He wants me to spy on you. He wants us to date to get information about you, and now because we spoke to Cecilia … whoever she spoke to at the district attorney’s office, someone in that office told Caputo that my parents spoke about their arrangement.’

Lia’s body shakes, and I pull her into my arms. ‘I’m sorry. I should have been clearer with Cecilia about your situation.’

Cecilia knows better, but I should have prepared Lia for what could happen.

‘I can’t do that to you. I won’t. I’ve been trying to tell Saul that you’d kill me if you found out. Don’t let him do this to me, Val.’

My heart nearly shatters. I want to hold Lia, protect her. More importantly, I want to kill Saul. Hooking a finger under her chin to lift her gaze toward mine, I assure her. ‘You are going to do exactly what Saul asks you. I’m going to give you information that will keep you and your family safe. Okay?’

‘What if⁠—’

I stop her questions before she can speak. ‘Go back to that table. I’m coming for you, Lia.’

I open the door to the bathroom, letting her walk out after she gives herself a quick once over in the mirror. She gives me a quick glance over her shoulder before disappearing back into the dining area.

I’m ready to incite a war by stabbing Saul and letting him bleed out onto the floor. However, the sight of Dimitri Vassa waltzing toward me with half a grin on his face keeps my inclinations for violence at bay. The air around him is always one of nonchalance.

‘Do not do what you’re about to do, Don Barrone,’ Dimitri says in a very deliberately condescending tone.

‘I’m not going to make a mess,’ I tell him.

His tone and expression remind me of the Cheshire Cat. ‘That’s not what I said. I know how efficient you are at cleaning up messes, CEO of Barten Security. Your well-put-together demeanor does not hide who you truly are, Valentino. Are you forgetting who I am and what I know about your transition into corporate America?’

‘Are you threatening me, Dimitri?’ I ask him.

‘No, absolutely not. One killer to another, please respect the safe space I’ve curated here. Do not kill that man who’s wining and dining the woman you purchased at an auction this past weekend.’ Dimitri pauses before rolling his eyes. ‘Well, don’t kill him here.’

‘I’d never do anything like that. Too many witnesses,’ I tell him. However, we both know that, witnesses or not, if I want to end Saul’s life here and now, there’s little that anyone can do to stop me. The one thing keeping me from committing a homicide New York City would thank me for is the fact that Lia’s here. I don’t want her to see that side of me unless it’s necessary.

Dimitri and I walk out of the corridor leading toward the restrooms, parting ways as I move through Kings toward the bar where Armande is standing. He stares around the place, seemingly uncomfortable as he drinks an amber colored liquid.

‘So that’s the woman who’s got you skipping out on meetings?’ Armande nudges his chin toward Saul and Lia. She’s unable to hide her distaste, but she remains quiet as Saul speaks loudly, obnoxiously, and with his hands. Saul is purposely drawing attention to himself. No doubt to goad me into the reaction he desires. He only needs a reason.

‘She is,’ I admit, knowing it’s pointless to lie to Armande.

‘Different.’ Armande nods. ‘I understand, but still, different for you. A civilian? Really, Valley?’

‘I’m not interested in your opinion, Armande,’ I tell him.

‘You should be. I think you’re too caught up in her, her link to Saul, and it’s going to make you do something incredibly stupid.’ Armande’s honesty is worth consideration.

‘I don’t want Caputo to do anything stupid—’ The words leave my mouth just as my gaze shifts over to the table where Lia swipes at something under the table. Saul’s hands are no longer in the air, gesturing wildly to make whatever point he’s speaking about.

Armande’s hand grips me by the shoulder. ‘Huge, giant headlines, stupid.’

I shrug Armande’s hand off of me to make my way over to the table. Every eye in the room lands on me.

Armande whispers as I stop in front of Saul and Lia. ‘Stupid, bodies drop, blood in the streets.’

It’s a reminder that this isn’t just business between Saul and me. Our families, La Familia, the ties that link us are deeper than my feelings for Lia. This immediate bond to her is something I don’t want, anticipate, and need to avoid because I know love just isn’t for me. Anything that has this much control over my behavior is a problem.

Still, I can’t stand by and allow Saul to treat Lia this way.

‘I’m not going to do anything,’ I whisper to Armande before turning to Lia and holding out my hand.

‘What do you think you’re doing, Barrone?’ Saul snarls.

I keep my tone indifferent. ‘Taking Miss Bonetti home. I think you should apologize to her, Saul. Doing anything to a woman without her consent isn’t the way to do things. You know better.’

Lia eyes my hand hesitantly. I nod to her, but as soon as she moves to take it, Saul slams his hand on the table. Anyone who’s not looking in our direction certainly is now. If he wants Lia to play this role, to get close to me and siphon information out of me, Saul’s a phenomenal actor.

‘Lia is an adult, free to make whatever decisions she chooses. She chose to have dinner with me, and I believe she should finish it,’ Saul argues, taking a sip of his drink. ‘As a matter of fact, she owes it to her family to finish this meal.’

‘Fine, Saul. How much is it worth to you for Lia to leave this table with me?’ I ask him.

‘I can’t believe this. This isn’t happening,’ Lia mumbles. ‘You two are assholes. Dinner is over and I’m going home.’

She pushes past me, leaving me and Saul alone at the table as she leaves Kings.

‘Three million,’ Saul says as if Lia’s still sitting at the table.

‘Three million what?’ I turn to Saul, my curiosity edging against my anger.

‘Doll hairs, Don Barrone.’ Saul’s mockingly smug grin irritates me. He shrugs his shoulders. ‘If you’d like the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bonetti to be permanently removed from my life, no harm to her of course, that’s what it’s going to cost you.’

‘Fine.’ I tell him, pulling out my phone ready to transfer the money.

‘Not even a flinch. You care about her. So soon? That must have been some sweet virgin pussy.’ Saul’s eyes widen with glee and I realize my mistake. I want to strangle him, wrap my fingers around his throat to squeeze until every ounce of life drains out of his bulbous body.

Armande clears his throat behind me.

I turn toward Armande, nudging my chin in the direction Lia left, telling him, ‘Make sure she gets home safely.’

Saul continues to laugh to himself, taking sips of his drink and nodding. He already knows my emotions are involved. I’m not going to waste time pretending that I don’t feel something for Lia.

‘Stupid,’ Armande says quietly before walking out of the club.

Dimitri approaches with his face stoic. ‘Gentlemen, please take a seat or take this conversation to one of our private rooms.’

Saul extends his hand for me to sit in Lia’s seat. For the first time in a very long time, Saul Caputo has the upper hand. He’s cold and calculating where I’m letting the gift of Lia’s virginity make me forget the kind of man I truly am. I need to play this smarter, so I sit across from the man that I’m desperate to kill.

‘You’re interfering with my business, Don Barrone,’ Saul says, using a linen cloth napkin to wipe his mouth. ‘La Familia functions smoothly because we don’t interfere with each other’s businesses. I’ll concede that Lia Bonetti isn’t any of my business. We’re not dating or anything. However, her parents? They’re in debt to me and you have no right trying to get them to rat⁠—’

I interrupt him. ‘They’re not in the life, Saul. They’re civilians. Ordinary people are not rats, they’re concerned citizens.’

‘That doesn’t matter. What matters is they made an arrangement with me. I don’t step on your toes. You don’t step on mine.’ Saul leans in closer, barely raising his voice above a whisper. ‘They put one of my guys in a piling. They’re lucky that all we have is an arrangement.’

There’s his mistake. Now that I know it’s someone associated with Saul that the Bonetti family killed, that information will make Cecilia’s job easier. She should be able to tie Saul to the extortion and to organizing the situation that trapped the Bonetti family. Until then, I have to make sure not to jeopardize Lia, or her family’s safety. For that, I want her with me.

Against my better judgment, I work with Saul, and say, ‘Fine, Lia belongs to me, and you can keep your arrangement with the parents, Don Caputo.’

Saul rubs his hands together greedily before extending one across the table for me to shake it. I begrudgingly do so just in time for Lia to return with Armande at her back. Her eyes dart between me and Saul.

Saul grins as he speaks loud enough for her to hear him. ‘Thank you for your cooperation, Don Barrone. I’m sure Lia won’t mind you looking out for her while I look out for her parents. Look at us, one big happy fucking La Familia.‘

Saul rises out of his seat, cocking half a smile and tipping his head toward Lia as he strolls out of the club.

‘What the fuck did you just do, Valentino?’ Lia hisses with worry etching across her face.

‘I just kept the peace, for now.’ I tell her but turn to Armande. ‘What’s she still doing here?’