inside the bar is deafening, but no one intervenes to help Levi. Matteo’s expression doesn’t go unnoticed from my peripheral. His mouth wide from shock, his jaw damn near sits on the table. Yeah, I bet you never saw violence coming from me. He doesn’t know everything about me; not that he ever tried to get to know me in the first place, because he didn’t. In fact, he refused to do just that.
“Jesus, Si,” Vin breathes out my name. “Was that really necessary?”
The fact that he has the audacity to ask that after his pissant brother-in-law just called me a cunt has me questioning our relationship. Vin is a friend; not a close one, but still a friend, nonetheless. That’s all he is and that’s all he’ll ever be.
There was a time he wanted more, but I quickly set him straight—he isn’t my type and that will never change. I have one type and he doesn’t fit the bill. Once that was cleared up, he and I found out we got along quite well. We met my freshmen year of college at the campus gym and we became workout buddies that first day.
I retract my fingers from Levi’s head, shoving him as I take my cell phone out of the back pocket of my jeans with my clean hand and wipe my other off by running my palm down the side of my pants. When it’s as clean as it’s going to get short of washing it, I take a seat again. My eyes go to my phone, bringing it to life, then I locate the text message I got from my brother. After I have it pulled up, I tap on the photo Ren sent, then I place the phone down on the table, sliding it in front of Vin.
“I don’t know, was that necessary?” I grill, leaning my back against the chair and then fold my black, leather-clad arms over my chest, my eyes on Vin as he picks up the phone, staring at the photo. I feel a set of ocean-blue eyes on me that heats me deep inside my core, but I stay still, fighting the urge to squirm in my seat. It takes more effort than it should to force my eyes to remain rooted to Vin’s face.
Vin’s brows crease between his eyes as he scrutinizes the picture of Levi shaking hands with Fredrico Romano—or Rico “the rat” Romano, as he’s known among the families on this side of the country.
Matteo’s uncle, Giovanni De Salvo, is serving a life sentence because Rico testified against him in a murder trial. God only knows why Rico isn’t dead for that deed, and now Vin’s sister’s good for nothing husband is caught in a photo with the rat himself only a couple of months after my father put Vin on his payroll.
Vin’s head snaps up, his wide eyes first locking on mine and then going to Levi’s. “Are you fucking kidding me?” he barks out, snapping his jaw closed as he stares his brother-in-law down. About the time his face reddens with anger at the realization that Levi has fucked him over, the sound of screeching tires from outside makes my body tense, knowing whoever walks inside isn’t going to show the least bit of sympathy for Vin, even if he didn’t know Levi was involved with Rico.
My head swings from Vin to Matteo. “Whatever happens, I need you to not react. Don’t say a word, Matteo. Don’t even move a muscle.”
“What’s going on?” Matteo inquires in a calm but cautious tone. I don’t get the chance to answer his question before I hear the bell on the door jingle, signaling someone has swung it open.
“Trust me,” is all I have time to say and I pray he hears the plea in my voice.
“Sienna,” Vin whispers, pulling my attention back in front of me as a set of heavy hands land on my shoulders.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Ren muses, making me relax for the first time since I arrived. My twin. Ren isn’t just my brother, only older than me by two minutes, he’s my best friend too. Him, I can work with. Vin might have a chance at surviving the night. It’s a small chance, but a chance, nonetheless.
“Go home, Si.” Fuck! Domenico.
“I’m good.” I reply, my eyes finding Matteo, issuing a silent order not to make one move. His life depends on it.
“You broke my fucking nose!” Levi finally sputters out.