Page 6 of Isle of Beauty

“Pierce doesn’t just work here, he owns Bad Company,” Louis says before kissing Giulia’s temple and leaving for the restroom.

She almost jumps on me with unrestrained glee. “So, cugina, are you going to fuck the owner tonight?”

She wags her eyebrows suggestively and I slap her arm in playful retaliation. “Say it louder, why don’t you.”

“You were drooling all over the counter,” Igor chimes in our earpieces.

“That’s when you decide to talk to us?”

“You can’t lie, babe, I know you better. Your kitty purred loud and clear for everyone to hear when he entered the room. The sexual tension between you two? Best foreplay ever! Don’t be surprised when Louis and I disappear to fuck in a bathroom stall, just to take the edge off.”

“I thought you wanted to break up with him.”

“Yes, babe. And everyone knows goodbye sex is the best sex,” she exclaims as if I should know that. But I don’t.

I’ve never dated anyone seriously enough to experience breakups. I don’t think my ex-boyfriend's funeral is the same thing. He had it coming.

Her expression turns serious and almost pitiful, her thick red eyebrows down into a frown. “It’s your last weekend for yourself before you marry Garcia next week, cugina. Make the most of it.”

I wince and a heavy silence settles between us.

I did not need the reminder that I’m marrying Eduardo Garcia, CEO of Garcia Hotel Management. He owns half the hotels and clubs in the Balearic islands and can help my family distribute our product to a wider population. He’s after the recipe so we need someone from within to make sure that never happens.

My older sister Angèle is already married and the twins, Lisa and Marie, are only sixteen. So, that left me.

I knew I’d never marry for love. My only dreams have been of our family’s health and prosperity and of my sisters’ happiness and safety.

My father trained me since I was twelve years-old to take over. I caught him killing one of our enemies in his study. His blood had pooled over the protective plastic under his chair and onto the carpet. My mother is particular about carpets so I rushed in to soak up the blood and clean up. My father had beamed with pride.

“Does the poor bastard know you’re breaking up with him, G?” Igor asks, clearing the air ever so slightly and bringing me back to the present moment.

Giulia rolls her eyes as if Igor knows nothing of the science of break up. She doesn’t notice his sad eyes and the air of heaviness that never wears off around him.

I never told Giulia that Igor and our friend Julian have been together for five years, on and off. With Igor being with us since we moved, their most cherished time was August, when Julian stayed with his estranged brother, here in London. As the son of my father’s partner, Alessio Bartoli, he’s set to inherit the business since I’ll be leaving the island.

No matter how progressive our parents are, a gay head of a criminal organisation as powerful as ours wouldn’t sit well with some of the families that control the underground in Europe.

Such utter bullshit.

Igor’s coming with me to Garcia’s house in Mallorca. Far from Julian. My heart bleeds for them both.

My friend must start to feel restless if he’s talking to us this early in the night.

Giulia, Igor and I have different ideas of what our last weekend in London should look like. Giulia’s going to break up with Louis and probably bang the cute girl with the pixie haircut seated next to them.

Igor’s going to sulk.

And I? I don’t want to be alone.

Before I can dismiss him for the night and let him enjoy a little comfort, the staff door opens suddenly.

Pierce marches to Igor in quick strides.

The determined grind of his jaw and murderous look in those deep brown eyes make the hair on the back of my neck rise up. He grabs Igor by the collar of his dark shirt, getting in his face, and murmurs something to him that I can’t make from the distance.

Igor hasn’t moved an iota, unimpressed with Pierce’s threatening posture, turning his face to me with a raised eyebrow as if to tell me to call off my dog.

To Pierce’s credit, he’s been discreet and swift enough as to not disturb his patrons. No one seems to pay them any mind.

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