Page 3 of Lord of Little Italy

The way he says it, low and rough, sends shivers down my spine. There's heat in his eyes now, barely banked, and I realize I'm playing with fire. Tony Rivera isn't just dangerous because of his position or his skills - he's dangerous because he makes me want things I shouldn't.

I want to see him smile again. Want to know what other sounds I can draw from him besides that reluctant laugh. Wantto feel his hands on me again, this time without the pretense of sparring.

Before I can respond, the bell chimes again, and the temperature in the room seems to drop ten degrees. Reality crashes back in as two men from the Vitale family swagger through the door like they own the place. Salvatore and Marco.

I feel Tony tense beside me, his hand probably itching for the gun I know he usually carries. His entire demeanor changes, the playful tension between us morphing into something deadlier. It shouldn't be attractive, how quickly he shifts into predator mode, but God help me, it is.

My hand instinctively moves to my thigh where my knife is strapped, but Tony's already shifting, positioning himself between me and them. It's a smooth movement, almost casual, but I recognize the coiled tension in his shoulders. He's ready for anything.

"Well, well," Salvatore says, his voice dripping with fake friendliness. "If it isn't the Lord of Little Italy himself. And who's this lovely lady?"

I note how his eyes linger too long on my body, the way his lips curl into something meant to be charming but comes off as slimy. Next to me, Tony's energy changes – the grumpy bear is gone, replaced by something far more lethal.

"None of your fucking business, Sal," Tony's voice is quiet, dangerous. "What do you want?"

Marco steps forward, and I catch the slight bulge of a shoulder holster under his cheap suit. Amateur. If you're going to carry, at least learn to conceal it properly.

"Just saying hello to our neighbors." Marco's smile turns predatory as he looks at me again. "Heard Dominic Esposito was out of town. Thought we'd check in, make sure everything's... running smoothly."

I feel Tony's leg press against mine under the table – a warning, maybe, or reassurance. Either way, it grounds me. I paste on my sweetest smile, the one that makes my brother nervous because it usually means someone's about to bleed.

"That's very thoughtful of you." I lean forward slightly, watching their eyes track the movement. Men are so predictable. "Please, give our regards to Carmine. Tell him not to worry about the Esposito family. We're doing just fine."

I see the moment my words register – the slight widening of their eyes when they realize who I am. Salvatore's face darkens at the mention of his boss.

"We'll be sure to pass along the message." His tone has lost its fake friendliness. "Enjoy your coffee."

They leave, but the peaceful atmosphere of earlier is shattered. I turn to Tony, expecting to see anger or worry. Instead, I find him watching me with something like admiration.

"You've got balls, princess," he says softly, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Good thing, since apparently everyone thinks I need them to run this business." I take another sip of my coffee, but my hand is shaking slightly. Not from fear – from anger. "We need to send a message. They can't think we're weak just because Dominic's away."

Tony leans in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper that sends shivers down my spine. "What kind of message did you have in mind?"

I meet his gaze steadily. "The kind that reminds everyone that the Esposito family isn't just Dominic."

A slow, dangerous smile spreads across his face – nothing like the reluctant ones I'd teased out of him earlier. This is the smile that earned him his reputation, and it's absolutely thrilling.

"Isabella..." He pauses, and my name on his lips sounds like a warning and a prayer. "This could get messy. Are you sure you're ready for that?"

I lean in until there's barely any space between us, close enough to smell his cologne mixed with coffee and something uniquely him. "I was born ready, Tony. The question is, are you ready to follow my lead?"

Chapter 3

Tony

It's been three days since the coffee shop incident, and Isabella hasn't left my thoughts. Not that I have much time to dwell on it – we've been busy sending our "message" to the Vitale family. But even in the middle of orchestrating their downfall, all I can think about is the way she smiles when she's plotting something particularly devious.

I'm sitting in my office at the Downtown Social Club, nursing a glass of whiskey and reviewing the day's reports when my phone buzzes. Isabella's name lights up the screen, and my heart does something ridiculous in my chest.

"Meet me at Vincenzo's. 20 minutes."

I smirk at the text. Ordering me around like she owns me. The funny thing is, I'm already grabbing my jacket, already moving before my brain can remind me of all the reasons why I shouldn't.

Because there are reasons. So many fucking reasons.

She's Dominic's sister. She's young, brilliant, and could do a hell of a lot better than a grumpy bastard with blood on his hands and too many ghosts in his closet.

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