Page 7 of DeLuca: The Devil

I giggle as I buckle my own belt, “I know, and nothing is really wrong with them. It’s just every time I see a news article about someone doing something stupid it starts, ‘Florida man’, I think the heat fries their brains. You’re lucky you got out when you were three.”

Glancing over at her, I say, “Javier needs to know where we are going.”

She shouts at him, “Devil.”

My eyes widen as I gasp, “No. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Natalia rolls her eyes dramatically, “I know mob daddy and the owner are mortal enemies or something but it’s the hottest club in town.”

I bite on my lower lip remembering the last time I was there, “It’s not that. I went the other day. My dad wants me to watch him and try to get information on him.”

She rubs her hands together with excitement, “Perfect. Then Mob Daddy won’t care that we are going there.”

I lean closer to her and whisper in her ear, not wanting Javier to hear, “He kissed me.”

Confusion crosses her features, “Who?”

Again, I whisper, “Domenic De Luca.”

She fans her face dramatically, “Oh my sweet baby Jesus, I wish he’d kiss me. I bet he fucks like the devil.”

I laugh at her absurdity, “He kisses like one. Or a God. I’m not sure which but it was hot.”

We’ve been friends since we were twelve after meeting in ballet class. She probably knows far more about the mob than she should. I’d die before I ever told a soul about the shit, she’s been privy to.

Nat slaps her hand over her mouth with fear in her eyes, “Does Enzo know?”

Shaking my head, I give her a ‘are you stupid’ look.

“I’m alive, so obviously not.”

She exhales a deep breath, “Let’s keep it that way.”

Enzo Bianchi is not a good man, none of them are, but he’s worse than your average mafia man. While they all seem to enjoy torturing their enemies, Enzo likes to brutalize women. Not just likes to, it’s as if he gets off on it. The fact that my father signed off on me marrying him, of all men, proves I mean nothing to him. Not that I didn’t already know that. My father and Enzo are one in the same. They hate all women. We are an inconvenience at best.

As we pull up to the club, I sigh a long-drawn-out breath, “That’s the plan.”

I step out of the vehicle with my best friend at my side as we approach the door. I’m nervous to say the least and hoping Domenic De Luca is not here tonight. Fine, I admit it. That’s not entirely true. Part of me hopes he’s not here. The other part wants him to kiss me again even though I know I shouldn’t. He’s a dangerous man and if Enzo finds out, he will lock me up at the very least. If my father gives him the go ahead, he’d probably kill me. I don’t think it would take much arm twisting to get him to agree to that.

We hand our identification to the door man, and he nods as he hands them back, “Enjoy.”

I smile politely, “Thank you,” and we head inside.

“What are you drinking, Principessa?”

I roll my eyes at her nickname for me, “Vodka Cranberry.”

Nat giggles as she retrieves her credit card from her wallet, “Live a little, have a shot of tequila with me.”

Laughing, I say, “Fine. I’ll live a little, one shot. And the Vodka.”

We walk to the bar, and Natalia orders our drinks. The music is loud playing “Call Me Devil.” I roll my eyes at the song choice. I glance around and sigh, feeling relieved that I don’t see him. All I see are the massive amount of bodies gyrating and dancing close. The bartender sets our drinks on the bar, and Nat holds up her shot of tequila and clinks my glass, “To an amazing night.”

I lick the salt from the rim, down the shot, and suck on the lime while my chest burns from the alcohol.

Natalia laughs at the face I make. Shots are not my favorite but occasionally I’ll do them with her.

Chapter Five

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