Page 23 of Tasting Sin

“We aren’t doing anything wrong,” Mickey said, bracing his stance. Behind him, his friends put their hands on their poorly hidden weapons. They were ready for anything. Enzo stiffened next to me, fidgeting like he might try to pull out of my grasp or do something if I let go of him.

Giaco held his ground, ignoring the less-than subtle side glances from the strippers who tried to pretend they weren’t paying any attention. I felt the stare of the men who slipped out of the front door as quietly as they could, as if any of us cared whether they stayed or left. Luca stepped forward, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with his brother, and Giaco steeled his spine.

“This is a protected, drug-free zone.” The collected coolness in Giaco’s voice conflicted with the distrust in his posture.

Mickey laughed, and Giaco clenched his jaw. He ground his teeth together so hard, I could almost hear it. “Well, it’s not completely drug free, now, is it?”

Enzo snarled, talking a sudden step forward and drawing attention from the group of men, including Giaco. I tightened my hold on his shoulder, tugging back slightly until he stood down. “Why don’t you guys leave?” I suggested, nodding toward the door behind me. “There’s no need to start trouble.”

“Okay, fine. We’ll go, but we’ll be seeing you around,” Mickey promised, pointing to the door.

His brother chuckled and followed behind him. “We’ll be seeing that sweet little cupcake you’ve been keeping your eye on too. I hear she’s got a bit of a mess to clean up at that bakery of hers.” Luca stuck his tongue out and wiggled it. The composure I had been maintaining snapped, and a foggy filter clouded my vision.

“What the fuck did you just say?” I asked, dropping my hold on Enzo’s shoulder and stepping forward. I clutched the collar of Luca’s shirt with both hands, snarling in his face.

Luca laughed, and the trigger-happy group behind him pulled their weapons. I barely noticed the barrels of the guns pointed at me or Giaco’s look of disapproval. “Oh, struck a nerve with pretty boy here,” Luca taunted.

“You son of a—” I shook him, letting go with one hand and rearing back. I was ready to feel the crack of my knuckles against his cheekbone, but Giaco grabbed my arm instead. He guided my arm down, stepping forward to put his arm over my chest while Mickey grabbed Luca’s shoulders and pulled him back too.

“Now is not the time,” Giaco scolded. “You were just leaving.” Mickey scoffed, heading toward the door.

I turned, following their movements. “Stay away from here and stay the fuck away from Nellie, or I’ll take care of the problem, whether it starts a war or not.”

Luca chuckled, looking back over his shoulder. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep. We’ll see you around.”

When the door to the club closed behind them, Giaco spun around, glaring at me. “You need to get that under control,” he snapped. “Whatever this thing is you have with the baker, stop letting it go to your head.”

“Nothing is getting into my head.” I shrugged. “I meant every damn word I said.”

Giaco shot me a look that told me he didn’t believe me. “If you say so. We need to find Nikki.”

“I’m right here.” Her heels clicking against the floor got louder as she approached us, swaying her hips with each step. If you ignored the dark circles under her eyes that said she’d been up all night, she looked like a bombshell. “Thank you for coming.”

“What the hell happened, Nikki?” Giaco asked, skipping any pleasantries. “I thought we told you to stop letting them come around here!”

She leaned back slightly before regaining her balance and lifting her chin. “They’re paying customers. I’m just supposed to turn away business?”

“When that business is bringing in the drugs killing your girls? Yes! That’s the exact business you pay us to protect you from, Nikki!” I was seething, no longer caring if anyone heard me yelling but glad to have seen most of the customers walk out before things escalated.

“I know that.” Nikki rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest like a protesting child. “I’m not stupid.”

Giaco leaned forward until her stare widened and she held her breath. “Then stop acting like you are. Keep the drugs out of the club, or you’re on your own.”

Chapter 16

Nellie

My brakes squeaking as I pulled up in front of the hotel drew blatant stares from people in formal wear climbing out of cars that cost at least twice as much as I made in a year, and when they saw me get out of my old car in less than a gown, their stares widened. I wished I could shrink away from the inevitable judgment.

“Good. You made it,” Ronan said, offering me a hand.

“You hired me.” I opened the trunk, revealing tubs with dozens of cupcakes stacked on top of each other. “Of course I came. Ava should be right behind me with the rest of it.”

Ronan chuckled, staring at the trunk full of desserts like he was surprised. What did he think 300 cupcakes was going to look like? “Let me help you carry these in.” Without waiting for me to agree, he grabbed a stack of tubs.

“Thank you,” I said, grabbing my own armful and following behind him into the hotel. The stares grew louder the closer we got to the front door, and I became increasingly aware of the modest, plain black dress I wore. It lacked the glitter and awe the gowns we walked past so clearly displayed.

I held my head higher when we turned into the well-decorated ballroom. You’re here to work, Nellie. “We’ve got you set up over here,” Ronan said, leading me towards a long, empty table. He sat the tubs down, brushing his hands together before he gently tucked them in his pockets.

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