"You like it, don't you?"
"What?" I managed to breathe.
"The fear, Miss Night," he mused, "you crave it."
_______________________________________
Sabina Night owes Antonio Marafi her life.
But when he asks her to spy on the Russo crime family, Sabin...
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Gio parked the car outside of the restaurant while I was still contemplating how I was going to navigate this situation. He said something, but I was too distracted by my own thoughts that I couldn't understand what he said. My hands went to undo my seatbelt, but froze instantly as his hand covered mine.
The contact was only for a second, barely even a grazing of his fingertips on the back of my hand, but it was enough to shock me into stillness. But just as quick as the touch happened he was out of the car and crossing onto my side.
I gaped a little as he opened the door for me. And then a little more as his hand moved across my thigh to unbuckle the seatbelt for me. That intoxicating scent dangled closely in front of me. Close enough that I could see the dark stubble that lingered on his hardened jawline. Close enough that I could watch the smallest twitch of his lips as he noticed my shock.
And then it was gone and he was extending his hand to help me out of the car.
"Thanks," I said, taking it because it seemed impolite to reject the offer.
People on the street turned to watch us as Gio gave his keys to the valet at the front of the restaurant. With a car that nice and a man that, well, had the sort of imposing presence that he did, we were bound to draw attention to ourselves. My skin itched with every pair of eyes I felt.
The attention didn't make me nervous necessarily. After all, one of my jobs required me to have a certain amount of attention. However, the other jobs— the ones I couldn't write on a resume— required a degree of anonymity.
"I'll take my leave of you, Miss Night." Gio turned back to me after handing the valet a wad of cash. The pimply kid looked ecstatic as he rushed to the driver's side of the car.
"You're leaving?"
He glanced at his watch. "I have to take the back entrance for my meeting."
Even though his absence would make this evening a lot less awkward, I felt a strange sort of dip in my stomach. I didn't quite have a word for it yet.
"What exactly are you investing in?"
I glanced at the bar that we stood outside. There was nothing overtly special about it. In fact, the Strip was full of bars that looked just like this one and they were all in primo locations. This was far from where the tourists went regularly so there was no way it had as much business as those bars.
Something about my question made Gio smile. A little mischievously. He looked younger with that smile on his face— a little less imposing.
"I really should be getting to my meeting," he said, walking backward toward the side of the building, "I'll tell you later tonight."
I rolled my eyes, starting to nod my agreement when my brain finally processed what he said.
"Tonight?" I called out to him, "what the hell is tonight?"
