Page 76 of Salvatore

I shake his hand. “Hey,” I say. “Just on my way out.”

“Who’s this?” he asks, tilting his chin toward Aedry.

“Sal’s woman,” Donnie chimes in.

Donnie answers before I can respond with something vague that won’t fucking give away Aedry is more than a one-night stand. My anger flares, feeling betrayed. If Donnie wasn’t high, she’d know better than to tell Vin who Aedry is to me.

If that’s not bad enough, she rushes forward, slinging her arm around Aedry and kissing her cheek. “Hi, sweetie,” she says, making it clear they’ve spent time together. “I’ve missed you!”

“Hi, Donnie,” she answers, carefully returning her hug.

When she’d showed at Aedry’s, she’d hit rock bottom. I hated how she made Aedry feel, but as messed up as Donnie was, I couldn’t just let her walk out. I needed to make sure she wasn’t going to do something to hurt herself before I returned to Aedry.

The day after, me and Donnie had a long talk. I told her to keep her distance from Aedry and that if she needed a friend, to come to me and leave her out of it. She agreed, only because she didn’t want it to hurt my relationship with Aedry. But the way she’s clinging to Aedry now is stirring things up in a way I don’t need.

Vin’s shit-eating grin widens, irritating me more than it should. I’m ready to walk out, let him believe Aedry is just one of Donnie’s slut friends I’m fucking, and hoping Donnie will sober up to tell him as much. But Vin, for all he does a lot of stupid shit, picks up on more than I want him to.

“Your woman?” he says, his focus on Aedry as she returns to my side. “I didn’t know you had a woman.”

Aedry straightens. I need to get her out of here, but I’m too slow.

“I’m Vincent,” he says, offering his hand. My back stiffens as he turns her hand beneath his grasp and kisses it. “Sal’s boss.”

Aedry blinks back at him. “Oh, hi,” she says, her smile wide, yet unsure. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“Finally?” he asks. He keeps his grin, but a lot of words go unsaid behind those teeth. “How long have you been together?”

“Not long,” I say, before either woman can answer.

Based on my gruff tone, Donnie’s common sense pokes through her haze and she realizes her mistake. Too bad it’s too little, too late. She quiets, but so does Aedry. In trying to protect her, I disrespected her, which is the last thing I want.

“This is Adrianna,” I say.

“Lovely,” he says. “So, you have yourself a woman.”

The change in who I was during dinner to who I am now doesn’t go unnoticed. Aedry looks to me, appearing confused. I want to take her hand, assure her she’s safe, and avoid embarrassing her any more than I already have. But Vin already knows there’s something different about Aedry. I don’t need him to realize how much or that I’d bleed for her without thinking twice.

I clamp my mouth shut as Donnie leans in to say something to him.

Vin cuts her off. “You like Italian food, Adrianna?” He smirks. “Or should I call you Aedry?”

“Italian is my favorite,” she answers, smiling politely. “And please, call me Aedry.”

He points at her. “Then you need to come to our house for dinner. My woman makes the best gravy in Jersey.”

She clasps my hand, looking hopeful. “We’d love to,” she says. “That’s so nice of you to invite us.”

Vin’s full attention bounces to me. “Then we’ll see you tomorrow at eight,” he says, making it clear he’s not asking.

“Vin, our table is ready,” Donnie mumbles.

He smiles at Aedry, making like he’s this Boy Scout, instead of the guy who was wiping blood off his face just two days ago. “All right. We’ll see you then.”

I watch him and Donnie step toward the dining area, followed closely by his men. I put my arm around Aedry and lead her away, pretending like Jersey’s biggest crime boss didn’t just invite us to dinner at his place.

Vin turns around, his stare meeting mine briefly before it skips to Aedry.

It’s then I know I can no longer keep my two worlds from colliding. And that I can no longer shield the woman I love from their darkness.

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