Page 25 of Light It Up Red
“Don’t you worry your pretty little head. If anyone tries to start something with you, I’ll shoot them,” I deadpan.
“I actually don’t know if you’re joking or not, Lili… and why the fuck does that turn me on?” He lowers his lips to my ear when he says that last part.
“Because you have issues.” I shrug. “And let’s hope you don’t have to find out if I’m joking or not,” I tell him as my gaze pans over the crowded bar, looking for my brother while knowing if he’s in here, he’s not somewhere he can be easily seen.
I finally spot him in a darkened corner when a stray beam of light from the dance floor briefly illuminates his silhouette. “He’s over here,” I say under my breath as I quicken my steps in my brother’s direction. I drop Travis’s hand and shove against Alessandro’s chest. He doesn’t move an inch. “Are you fucking crazy?” I yell and hit him again.
“What are you doing here, Lil?” he asks.
“Stopping you from doing something beyond stupid,” I hiss in reply.
“Go back to the hotel. This doesn’t concern you.”
“Yes, it does. You concern me, Alessandro. I’m not having my children visit their uncle in a prison cell. Now let’s go,” I tell him.
My brother’s eyes drop to my stomach before landing on my face again. “For the love of God, tell me you’re not pregnant.”
“Of course I’m not. Yet. But I will be, someday, so let’s go.” I tug on his arm.
He remains rooted to his corner. “I can’t let this go, Lil.”
“You can. You just don’t want to.” I peer up at him with my best doe eyes. “Please, Alessandro, take me home.” I know the moment he caves.
His eyes soften and he wraps his arms around me. “I love you, Lil, and I’m not going to let anyone disrespect you. Ever. I don’t give a fuck who they are,” he says into my ear. I sag against his hold, refusing to let go. “Come on, let’s get out of here, before I have to fight off all the fuckers currently lining up to kill your boyfriend.”
“Thank you.” When I turn around again, I see what Alessandro means. He wasn’t being dramatic. There is literally a line of six-foot-something men blocking our path to the exit. None of them look too happy to see us standing here. Or, more accurately, to see Travis standing here.
“Fucking hell,” I grumble before turning back to my brother. “Alessandro, do not let them touch him.” I know Travis can hold his own. I’ve seen him fight. I just don’t want him to have to fight. Especially because of me.
I go to move in front of him, only to be pulled up short. “Let me,” Alessandro says and steps forward. “Is there a problem here?”
“Yeah, your kind ain’t fucking welcome here,” one of the guys spits out.
My brother’s head tips to the side. “My kind?”
“Yeah, your kind. New Yorkers.”
“I don’t think I introduced myself.” My brother holds out a hand. “Alessandro Valentino.”
Travis and I watch on as the fucker pales in front of us while the others take a few small steps in the opposite direction. I roll my eyes for the second time tonight. “Come on, we’re leaving.” I take hold of Travis’s hand and start pushing my way through the crowd. I know Alessandro and Jupe won’t be far behind us.
I stop in my tracks when I see someone staring at me, his face already beaten to hell. Dropping Travis’s hand, I walk up to the guy. “I don’t know what you said on the ice today, but I hope that hurts as much as it looks like it does.” I point to his black eye right as my knee comes up and connects with his balls. “You should thank me for saving your life. Next time, I won’t stop my brother from hanging you from a butcher’s hook,” I whisper into his ear.
I step back with a smile firmly planted on my lips and take hold of Travis’s hand again. I’m really not a violent person. I don’t enjoy hurting other people. And usually I don’t. But that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to do it. I am a Valentino after all, and my father made sure I was no wilting flower. He taught me to fight and to kill just as effectively as he taught my brother.
Chapter Twelve
This is a side of Lili I’ve never seen before. Then again, considering I’ve only known the woman for a few days, I’m sure there are plenty of sides of her I haven’t seen yet. Honestly, she’s a little scary—maybe even more so than her father and brother combined—and I sure as hell wouldn’t want to be on her shit list.
How can someone so sweet and fucking pure also carry that level of brutality and aggression with her?
I don’t know. But watching her knee that asshole in the balls was something else. I’m conflicted, torn between wanting to shove her behind me and not let anyone get to her… and wanting to see just what she’s capable of.
I follow her out of the bar, her brother and their friend trailing behind us. Lili opens the door of the SUV that’s still parked at the curb and climbs inside. As soon as my ass lands on the seat beside her, she turns to me. “I’m really sorry. I swear I’m not usually like this. But I’d get it if you wanted me to just drop you at your hotel and part ways now.”
“My hotel room is fine… if you’re planning on coming with me. If not, I’ll follow you wherever you’re going, babe,” I tell her. “And you can be yourself, Lili. Whatever that means, no matter how many versions there are. I want to get to know you, the real you. Not the you that you think I want to see.”
“Okay,” she whispers with a small smile. It drops the moment the doors open again and her brother and friend get inside the car.
