Page 12 of Lord of Little Italy

She's right. God help me, she's right.

But better a coward than the man who destroys a crucial alliance over a woman he's known for mere weeks. Even if those weeks have changed everything. Even if she's the first thing in years that's made me feel alive.

I start the car again, pull away from the curb. Maybe if I drive long enough, fast enough, I can outrun these feelings. Outrun the memory of her taste, her touch, her smile.

Yeah. And maybe I'll wake up tomorrow and none of this will have happened.

Chapter 8

Isabella

"You're in love with Tony Rivera?" Elena nearly spits out her martini. "Holy shit, Bella."

I sink lower in our corner booth at Lavo, grateful for the dim lighting and pulsing music that swallows our conversation. The club is packed tonight, beautiful people in designer clothes dancing and drinking like they haven't a care in the world. Must be nice.

"Not so loud, prima."

"Sorry, sorry." My cousin leans forward, eyes sparkling with interest. She looks stunning tonight in a red dress that probably cost more than most people's rent. But that's Elena - always perfectly put together, even when she's just hearing her cousin's romantic disasters. "But Tony? Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Terrifying? When did this happen?"

"While Dom was away." I trace the rim of my glass, remembering Tony's hands, his mouth, the way he looked at me before everything went to hell. "It just... happened."

"Details. I need all of them." She signals the waitress for another round. "Start at the beginning."

I tell her everything - the training sessions, the tension, the kiss that changed everything. By the time I finish, we're on our third round and Elena is shaking her head in disbelief.

"And now he won't even look at you? After all that?"

"He looks. When he thinks I won't notice." I down the rest of my drink. "But he's pulling away. Acting like nothing happened between us because God forbid we upset the precious alliance between territories."

"Men are idiots," she declares. "Especially men in our world. Always putting business first."

"It's not just business though. It's Dom. Tony won't betray his trust."

"Honorable. Stupid, but honorable." She studies me over her glass. "Have you talked to your mom about it?"

I snort. "Right. 'Hey Mom, remember that guy who runs Little Italy? The one Dom made an alliance with? Well, funny story...'"

"Your mother might surprise you. She's more understanding than you think."

"Maybe." But the thought of disappointing my mother, of causing problems for the family... "It doesn't matter anyway. Tony's made his choice."

Elena's expression softens. We've been each other's confidantes since we were kids - sharing secrets, dreams, heartbreaks. When my teenage crush married someone else, she was there with ice cream and trashy movies. When her father died last year, I stayed with her for a week, just being there.

"When was the last time you took a break?" she asks suddenly. "Got away from all this?"

I laugh. "You mean besides the constant 'business meetings' that are really just excuses for Dom to check up on me?"

"I mean a real break. Actually leaving New York." She pulls out her phone, starts scrolling. "My college roommate Rachel has this amazing ranch in Montana. Tiny town called Heart River. Middle of nowhere, absolutely gorgeous. She's always telling me to visit."

"Montana?" The idea is so absurd I have to laugh. "Me? I don't exactly do nature."

"Why not? Fresh air, beautiful views, hot mountain men..." She waggles her eyebrows. "Might be exactly what you need to get your mind off a certain mobster."

"I don't know..."

"Come on, when's the last time we had a girls' trip? We could go for a long weekend. Dom can survive without you for three days."

The music changes, something slower and sultrier filling the air. Around us, couples pull closer together on the dance floor. I try not to picture what it would be like, here with Tony, free to do as we please.

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