Page 117 of The Devil Can Be Kind

That was how many ‘key’ La Torres I had met leading up to and during the course of dinner. Eliyana had introduced me to them all with so much affection and warmth, that by the time our dessert plates were cleared away, I was starting to feel less like an unwelcomed guest and more like a part of the family.Eliyana and her sister Catarina seemed to have that effect on people, I noted.

Even when some of Marco’s cousins began heatedly arguing over a boxing match coming up, they managed to deescalate the dispute within seconds. They were balm to the boiling hot tempers of La Torre men and who, ultimately, seemed to keep the family as strong as it was.

A little while later and toward the end of a conversation with Eliyana’s cousin Francesca about her flourishing new garden, I excused myself in search of a drink. I wandered over to the bar and placed my order: coconut lime spritzer. The last time I’d had one was back in Chicago at one of Marco’s clubs. I smiled at the memories that came with it.

“So, you’re Adalyn Mannino.” An unfamiliar female voice said, coming up beside me.

Unfortunately, her face wasn’t as unfamiliar as I would have liked.

Sofia.

“It’s Rossi.” I corrected. “And you are?” Though I knew all too well her goddamn name.

“Sofia.” She had a smile on her face, but her tone was anything but sweet. “I’m afriendof Marco’s,” she hinted suggestively.

I knew I shouldn’t feel jealous of this woman. That her hint of beingfriendswith Marco didn’t mean a whole lot—at least not according to him. Yet, I still found myself bothered by her insinuation and questioning Marco’s truthfulness…which was, of course, exactly what she wanted.

Instead of showing that she had struck a nerve of insecurity within me, I took a deep sip of my drink and did my best to look bored. “Good for you,” I muttered.

“We’ve known each other for years. Practically grew up together,” she continued, while I put on my best show of ignoring her.

That was until she took a step in my direction.

“Consider this a warning, Adalyn.” An edge creeped into her tone and her expression soured. “Someone likehimdoesn’t want to fuck Mannino trash like you. Especially not when he has someone like mewarming his bed at night.”

I chuckled darkly. “I think you need to check your facts, Sofa. Since he alreadydidfuck Mannino trash like me.”

Her face contorted into rage, and she immediately flushed scarlet red.

I felt a familiar warmth hit my back.

“What’s going on?” Marco’s hard voice cut into the thick silence.

Sofia’s face morphed into a sickly-sweet smile as she turned her attention from me to the Don.

“Nothing at all, Don La Torre. I was just giving Adalyn some advice.” Her voice took on an almost childlike tone as she pressed herself against his side in a well-rehearsed maneuver.

Bitch.

“Indeed. She was telling me all about Mannino trash and how un-fuckable we all are,” I said with an equally innocent smile.

Marco’s indifference turned lethal, and he took a deliberate step away from the woman, wrapping an arm protectively around my waist. My smug smile of satisfaction only grew when I saw the outrage on hers.

“I would never!” She feigned hurt at the accusation. “Youknowme, Don La Torre. She is clearly very bitter about ourfriendsh-”

“There is no friendship.” Marco cut her off. “We used to fuck, Sofia. You need to get over it already.”

She made a small noise of indignation. Her face growing even redder than before at his blatant rejection.

“But we’ve known each other for years!” She insisted, clutching onto Marco’s arm like it was a life raft. The desperation in her appeals to the Don were as obvious as they were fruitless.

“Give it a rest, Sofia.” He sighed in exasperation and pulled his arm from her grip, leading me away.

He led me down one of the nearby corridors and didn’t stop until we were in a secluded room away from the bustle of the restaurant. The door closed immediately behind us, and it took my eyes a second to adjust to the dimly lit function room he had brought us into. I walked toward the lone lamp that stood in the corner.

“Are you alright?” He asked after a moment.

“Yup,” I answered quickly, popping the ‘P’. I looked about the room, avoiding the heavy gaze I could feel settling on me.

---