Page 58 of Loyalties & Longings

“You’re right… not even the smallest amount of lipstick is smudged.”

“Of course, I’m right. Now please hurry up and finish getting ready. We’re definitely going to be late now.” My apprehension starts to creep back in, but I try not to let it show. I give him a wink and a little shove, adding a smack on his ass as I pass him. He doesn’t waste any time now and scurries off to his room to finish getting dressed.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Blaze

We arrive at The Siren’s Speakeasyonly half an hour late. It was well worth being late, though. Lake was wound so tight with tension it filled the room when she entered. Now, her shoulders are more relaxed, and there is no tightness in her face. She smiles without effort, ear to ear, even though I know she is still a little nervous.

Arm in arm, we step into the bar. In the small space of time between opening and now, the room has been filled with a calming yet buzzing ambiance. Or maybe it’s just that I really needed the release too. I’ve been on edge since her kidnapping. The calmness in the room hasn’t made me complacent. However, if anything is to happen, I’m sure it will be tonight.

The speakeasy looks so different from when we were here only a few hours ago. It looks livelier, with people mingling throughout the room. The red lighting gives it a sensual vibe, and the small band in the corner plays, but it’s not an overwhelming sound. There’s a small space in front of the band for dancing, and tables and lounge chairs are scattered around the place without making it look cluttered. The bar is a focal point with a mirrored back and high shelves stocked full with bottle after bottle of only the best liquors. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Lake nailed it. The ambiance is everything.

I spot Enzo across the room. He nods, and I return the gesture. Lake unlinks our arms and moves over to greet Paolo’s wife, who I’ve only seen a time or two before.

Letting Lake do her thing and enjoy her time, I stroll toward Enzo before seeing he is with Massimo. The muscles in my shoulders and back twitch at the sight of thestronzo.Clearly, Enzo has been rubbing off on me,I think to myself. His dirtyeyes are studying someone to my left, roaming up and down. I almost don’t want to look, but I have to know who he is studying. If it’s who I think it is, this night might not go as smoothly as Lake had hoped. I turn my head to follow his line of sight.

This fucking fucker.

My fists clench so tight it almost hurts. I taste blood and realize I’m biting the inside of my cheek. Taking a steady breath through my nose, I detour to the bar first. Planning to be amiable, I ask for a shot and a bottle of water. The alcohol might help me cope with Massimo’s shit a little easier, or it might make me cave his face in. It could go either way at this point.

As I reach Enzo and Massimo, I’ve decided my plan of action is to ignore him, like he’s not even here.

“Boss,” I say in greeting.

“Blaze!” he says in his sonorous voice, his arms going out wide in a hey-you-made-it gesture. Well, it seems he’s already been drinking a lot.

Massimo continues to talk with Enzo, the annoyance in his voice indicates I interrupted whatever they were talking about. Too fucking bad. I tune him out anyway. I have no patience for his shit tonight. Standing beside the chair Enzo is sitting in, my gaze is laser-focused on the only person who matters tonight.

I watch Lake move around the room, greeting people and engaging in idle chit-chat before moving on to the next person, group, or couple.

She scans the room, and her body noticeably stiffens. She seems almost panicked when she doesn’t see me instantly, and my own body goes rigid.

I want to go straight to her to let her know I haven’t gone anywhere. I’m never going anywhere, but before I can even move to take the first step, her eyes find mine, her body visibly relaxes again, and she gives me a shining smile, pointing in my direction.

I now notice she’s with someone, a little blonde who slowly turns around.

Tammy.

Tammy shoots me a coy smile. Her eyes look hooded as she gives me a small wave while mouthing ‘Hi.’

Why on earth did Lake invite her tonight? While internally rolling my eyes, I give her a motion somewhere between a wave and a salute back.

Eyes trained on Lake, always on Lake, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride. My beautiful siren had set out to open her own bar rather than running on the coattails of her dad’s businesses and success. And she has done it all on her own, although I’m certain she could literally do anything and make it look easy.

I overhear Massimo say that he is leaving. I’m not complaining, but the place has only been open for an hour. As he makes his way out, he stops at Lake, who has her back to me. Massimo keeps looking at me, knowing I haven’t taken my eyes off her all night. He has to be goading me.

I watch as he leans in for a hug, his hand on her lower back. She lifts her hands between them, poised to push him away. With his eyes still on me, he says something at her ear and has the fucking audacity to smirk at me. That’s when she extends her arms to move him away.

Good girl.

But I’m seeing red, more than just from the lights in the place. I step forward. I don’t want to make a scene in here, but it’s not below me to follow that asshole outside and put a bullet in him. As I take my second step toward her, a hand lands on my shoulder, and I move to grab the person’s wrist when they speak.

“Sono cosi orgolioso.”

Enzo.

I stop my movement, recognizing his voice just in time withhim saying that he is so proud.

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