Page 25 of Tilly
“As fun as this all is, I need you to come with me,” Emillio says to me.
I shake my head. Read the damn room. “Why?”
“Antonio requested you meet him at Sin.”
“Oh, hell no.” Enzo jumps up from the table. “Tilly, what the fuck? I thought this one was bad. But his brother? Really? You trying to get people killed?”
“Would you calm down?” I hiss as my eyes flick to the growing crowd of nosey onlookers. “You’re causing a scene.”
“That’s the least of your worries when Zio Romeo finds out.” Enzo laughs, but there’s no amusement in it. It’s the kind of sound you make in the face of certain death.
“Enzo, please…” I don’t even know what I’m asking for right now.
“Okay, I get she’s family. I don’t usually get between family. But if you talk to her like that again, I will cut out your tongue.” Emillio’s tone is calm. Deliberate. Threatening.
“No, you won’t.” I stand and throw my bag over my shoulder. “Enzo, I’m fine. I’m better than fine. I’m happy. Just let me be the one to tell Papa.”
“I’m not a rat, Tilly. I might not like what you’re doing, but I’m on your side. Always.” Enzo wraps his arms around my shoulders and pulls me against his chest. “Just be careful. Made men don’t always make the best boyfriends,” he whispers.
“I know,” I tell him. Squeezing him tighter before stepping back. Then I look at Emillio. “I have class. Antonio’s going to have to wait.” I pivot on my heel and walk out without another word.
Emillio follows, all the way to my lecture hall, and sits in the seat beside me.
“What are you doing?” I whisper.
“Learning. What’s this class on?” he asks.
“Psychological disorders,” I tell him.
“Great. I happen to already know a lot about those.” He smirks.
I shake my head and do my best to ignore him. Although it’s hard, especially when every girl who walks past stops and stares. A few even drop him their number.
Chapter Fourteen
Tilly walks into my office behind Emillio. Her eyes land on the sofa and I watch as her cheeks redden. I know exactly what she’s thinking about. That first time I tasted her. The first time I allowed myself to touch her.
“Rafe needs a hand downstairs,” I tell my brother. Then I push up from my desk, walk around the front, and lean against the ledge. My hands in my pockets as I wait for him to close the door.
Tilly is standing in the middle of the room. Looking at me. I don’t know what she’s thinking right now. Is she pissed I didn’t come home? Didn’t call her? I spent the whole night out on the streets searching for that fucker Hernando. No one’s seen him or has a clue to his whereabouts.
“Ragazza? Come here.” I crook a finger in Tilly’s direction.
She raises a single eyebrow at me but her feet start moving anyway. “You summoned me?”
“I didn’t summon you.” I snake an arm out, wrapping it around her waist, and pull her up against my body so she’s positioned between my legs.
“You literally had your brother pick me up from school to bring me here. That’s the very definition of being summoned, Antonio.”
“I didn’t mean for it to seem like that. I just… I needed to know you weren’t alone,” I tell her.
“Why? What’s going on?” Tilly’s eyebrows pinch together as she peers up at me. The hint of irritation replaced by concern.
“I don’t want you to worry. I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” I explain without really explaining anything. Which she catches on to quick. It’s easy to forget that she’s grown up in this world. My world.
“What’s happening, Antonio?”
“I pissed someone off, and they’ve threatened you,” I admit, not taking my eyes off hers.
