Page 46 of A Beautiful Crime

“Surely not,” I reply in what I hope is a teasing manner, but more often than not my tone always ends up flat.

However, Gino’s lips pull upwards. Like Giuseppe, Gino has never given up on me. Not since he’s become my bodyguard the day after my mamma’s death ten years ago. “Would you prefer to have me replaced?” He does succeed in sounding amused.

“No,” I say to appease him but I’m finding it within myself to be true. Yes, on most days the man annoys me to no end, and I find him more of a bother than anything. But. . .but Gino has been with me since my mamma died. He consoled me when I cried myself to sleep and he stood by my side. Gino reminds me of the part of myself before my rebirth, just like Giuseppe. And that’s why I can’t find it within me to give either of them up. My heart may be black, my soul tainted, but even I am not that cruel.

He smiles brilliantly, his teeth flashing like sparking diamonds. Then he winks at me. My skin doesn’t even flush. And it should because Gino is also a harmless flirt who is charming and handsome. He has a face made for Hollywood and a physique that’s impressive and eye catching. I understand why when we walk on the busy streets of New York City women and men will give him a second look.

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep your secret.” His voice is hushed.

My lips purse as my brows pull together. “What secret?”

He leans in, the scent of cigarettes and lemons assaulting my nostrils. “That you care for me.”

I want to scoff. I want to roll my eyes to the heavens. I want to laugh.

But I don’t.

I offer him no reaction.

And I haven’t offered anyone such a reaction since my rebirth.

Anyone except Constantine Donati.

Staring at him blankly, hoping that he’ll drop his assumption that proves to be more true than I’ll ever care to admit, I ask nonchalantly, “You said my time was up?”

He leans back but a hint of a smile remains in his steel-blue eyes. The dagger dances between his fingers again but this time at a faster pace. If I hadn’t seen him do this for the thousandth time I would expect him to cut his own finger off. “Constantine Donati has requested your presence at his home.”

There’s a saying that if a demon walks inside a church they’ll begin to burn.

Well, here I am, in a church nonetheless, and my blood boils, burning my skin as I hear his name.

“Requested? Doesn’t that mean for one to ask politely?”

Gino snorts. “Good one. Really, Carina. I knew you still had a funny bone in there somewhere.”

I blink at him, my only show of my exasperation.

“I thought requested had a better ring to it than he ordered for your presence to be at his home immediately.”

The burning intensifies until I feel the flames swallow me whole.

This man.

The sheer audacity of him.

To order me as if I’m an animal. As if I’m his dog.

I’ve had enough of being ordered around.

“No.”

Gino’s eyes go comically wide as his mouth gapes open before snapping it shut. “No?” He repeats, stunned.

I stand tall, pushing my shoulders back and jutting my chin out in pure defiance. An act only he has been responsible for bringing out in me. “If Constantine wants to see me then he can come to me.”

“Carina-”

“No, Gino. Today I had planned to visit mamma’s grave and not even The Devil of the East Coast is going to keep me from her. He can wait.”

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