The Alpha Mafioso's Prey

Chapter 5: A Breath of Fresh Air

 Aurora was an imposter in this dress. Olive green, boxy, and uncomfortable, the thing looked like a swampy potato sack with three too many zeroes tacked onto the end. She'd put on a bit of makeup--nude lipstick, a touch of mascara, but despite her promise to Valentino, she really didn't want to look pretty for him.

Back to being invisible. She ignored the voice, quiet yet persistent, in her mind. Invisible was what she wanted. Being visible caused all her problems. Right?

She glanced at Valentino sitting beside her. He certainly hadn't taken pains to be invisible. A sports jacket lined with Van Goh's Starry Night, a midnight blue tie, a too-tight shirt, thousand dollar shoes, a ten-thousand dollar watch--everything screamed class. Aurora pressed her lips together. Her clothes might be expensive, but they wore her. Surely people could see the poor girl underneath, mocking smiles hidden behind menus. Valentino belonged here in a way she never would.

Valentino sighed, checking his watch. "They're late." He tapped the table once, a second time. "Of course they are."

Aurora opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. What should she say? Why should she say it? Everything about this was a farce. She wasn't his woman. She didn't need to act like it.

At least, not while nobody was watching. She turned away, crossing her arms over her square-cut neckline, and picked at the puffy sleeve. What an ugly dress.

"Are you bored?" Valentino asked.

Aurora turned to him as he pulled something out of his pocket and tossed it to her. She nearly fumbled the catch, barely managing to keep it from crashing to the floor. Furrowing her brow, she inspected it.

"A... a phone," she realized. Turning it over slowly, she marveled. It wasn't her six-year lump of junk--this was a flagship, state of the art piece of technology. A beauty. An expensive beauty.

"Mm," Valentino agreed.

"You--you didn't need to," Aurora stammered. "I mean, how much did this even--"

"Have you seen your old phone?" Valentino said, raising his eyebrows. "I couldn't go around letting people think I'd leave my woman with a shattered phone."

My woman. Aurora shivered. "No, I'll--I'll pay you back."

Valentino snorted. "Do you have money?"

She glared at him as a flush filled her cheeks. "No, but--"

Shrugging, Valentino interrupted. "Then don't worry about it. Consider it an apology gift."

For what?

Before she could get the words out, a shadow fell over the table. Valentino looked up with a disarming smile. "Vinnie! I thought you weren't going to make it. Have a seat."

"It's Vincent," Vinnie snapped as he sat down across them. "Who's this? Your latest whore? I thought I was just meeting you today, Valentino."

Aurora recoiled, and Valentino's smile grew rigid.

"This is my girlfriend, Aurora," he said through gritted teeth. "And I really don't think you're in a position to disrespect her, Vinnie."

Vinnie growled. "What, because you tore off one of my men's hands? We found the hand, but the surgeons couldn't reattach it. He's nineteen."

Aurora's stomach turned. He was younger than she was, and Valentino had crippled him. Under the table, Valentino squeezed his hand into a fist.