Page 12 of Twisted Games of Revenge

“We’re looking for someone. A girl, thought you might have seen her?” This time it’s Ricky’s voice I hear, and I close my eyes, imagining his handsome face, a deep ache forming in my chest for him. I don’t know if I can do this. Part of me wantsto just spin around, tell them it’s me, and beg at their feet for forgiveness, but I know I can’t. I haven’t finished what I started, and if I do, my sacrifice will be for nothing. They will probably still hate me. And Enzo will try to destroy us all. “She was in here with us last week,” he adds, sounding like a shadow of himself.

“Oh, she’s pretty. Who is she?” Sloane plays along, and I know they must have shown her a photo of me.

“My fiancé,” Alessandro snaps, removing the pleasantness out of his voice. He’s a man on the edge.

Beads of sweat roll down my forehead, dripping onto the shiny black marble surface of the bar. I want the earth to swallow me up, anything so I don’t have to hear this conversation. Or be stuck in the same room as them. What if she gives me up. She might, I really don’t know her all that well. Alex on a rampage can be mighty intimidating. Also, there is that cash reward I’m sure wouldn’t go astray.

“I’m sorry, boys, haven’t seen her around here. But if I do, I’ll be sure to let you know.”

My shoulders visibly relax when I know she’s not going to throw me under the bus. She really is going to help me.

One of them emits a low, menacing growl, instantly recognizable as Maddox. I can picture him now, arms crossed over his chest, muscles bulging as he scans the room for any signs of me.

“You wouldn’t mind if we stick around a while then, would you? See for ourselves who’s hanging around tonight?” asks Ricky.

“Knock yourselves out,” she responds with way too much confidence for someone who is knowingly hiding the girl they are looking for. She’s so ballsy. “I could get you a table in our VIP room if you like. Why don’t you fellas enjoy a drink on me, check out some of my new girls.”

“The bar is just fine,” Alessandro mutters, not sounding impressed. And my heart does a little flip-flop thing. He doesn’t want to ogle other girls. Or at least he’s making it look that way.

“I’ll clear my best table, and Viv here can make you all a drink.” She pats my arm.

“Three Macallan 18’s,” Alessandro agrees.

As soon as I hear the order, I grab for some glasses, the clinking sound of ice fills the air as I quickly fill three tumblers with ice, then reach up to find their preferred drink on the shelf above me.

“Sally,” Sloane calls over our manager. “Show the Morettis to our best table in the back,” she directs her, and I know it’s because she’s trying to get them as far away from me as possible.

With trembling hands, I carefully pour the liquid into two glasses, trying not to spill a drop. As I reach for the third glass, my hand jerks suddenly, causing it to slip from my grasp and fall on the ground, sending ice flying in all directions. Fortunately, the tumbler remained intact, saving me from a messy cleanup. I bend to pick it up.

“Here let me help you,” comes a deep voice from beside me. Maddox had the same idea, and he makes it to pick up the glass before me. As I extend my hand for it, our eyes meet with such intensity that I can’t help but gasp. For a split second, I think he recognizes me. He blinks back at me, his forehead creasing in confusion. His eyes run down the length of me then back up to my face. He looks so damn fine in a pair of dark jeans, a T-shirt and a leather jacket. His blond hair is all messed up on top in a way that makes me want to run my fingers through it.

My heart races wildly. Those hazel eyes just broke my heart all over again. “Thank you,” I whisper, turning away from him and dropping my head before he has the chance to work it out, if he hasn’t already.

He steps away from me, joining his brothers as Sally arrives to lead them to their table.

I carefully arrange the three drinks on a tray for Sloane. She walks around to my side of the bar, leaning in closer so only I can hear her. “Sorry, didn’t want to kick them out of here and make it look more suspicious.”

“It’s okay. I don’t think Maddox recognized me,” I whisper under my breath, my heart still racing from the second of panic when he could have.

“I’ll take these over to them. While they’re distracted with me, sneak into my office and hang out there until they’re gone. I’ll come find you. Unless you want to test your disguise?” She shrugs, a wicked smile painting her lips.

I look her over, sweat trickling down my spine.

“I know what you were about to say before we got interrupted. You want to trick Enzo into thinking you’re one of us and giving you the work so you can get close enough to him to do what you need to do. It’s not a bad idea. And this is a good test. The brothers won’t kill you if they work it out, will they?” She’s seriously asking me that.

I look her over and shake my head, knowing they wouldn’t ever hurt me. “They will be mighty pissed and might just lock me up and throw away the key, but they won’t hurt me. Least I don’t think so.”

She smirks, a twinkle of excitement in her eyes. “Dramatic. Just act normal then. Deliver their drinks and play it cool. Then come back to the bar. Test it out, if your new look works on them, we can try out your plan on daddy.”

Bile rises in my throat at the use of that name. I give her a disgusted look. “Don’t call him that, it makes my stomach turn.”

“Sorry, sis, but that’s what all the girls call him. It’s kind of a thing, and if you want to be just like the others, you might have to get on board.”

A shudder runs through me, an image I try to block from my memory resurfacing of Pia and Enzo. I shake my shoulders, trying to banish it so I can focus on the shit show in front of me currently. She’s right, if I’m really going to be able to get close enough to Enzo, I can’t do it as myself. I need to prove this new look is going to work. I close my eyes and inhale a deep breath.

“You’ve got this, Viv.” She holds up the tray, and I take it from her, willing my hands not to tremble and give me away.

The walk across the room feels like it drags on forever, but I stride with confidence, and as I arrive at their table, I place the drinks down in front of Ricky.

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