Page 304 of Hate Mates

I shook my head. “Not in the mood, Rico?”

He held up his hands in mock surrender. “Perdóname, amigo. I’m trying to change that.”

He signaled to one of the waitresses, and she immediately brought us two more glasses of whiskey. We clinked them in a silent toast before downing them in one go. The burn felt good as it traveled down my throat.The waitress was back with another one just as quickly.

“So,” he drawled, “It’s been a hell of a week, and I’m ready to blow off some steam.”

I nodded, half-listening. He was already deep into that celebratory mood, a smile spread across his face like it was permanent. “Yeah, it’s been one of those weeks,” I replied, my tone even, my mind drifting elsewhere as I scanned the crowd.

I could feel his eyes on me like he was trying to get a read on my mood. He always did that—read people like an open book, except when it came to me.

“Everything alright?” he asked, his usual grin never leaving his face.

“Yeah, just…” I swallowed the whiskey, then waved him off. “You know, same old shit. Our fathers, this business, it’s never gonna stop,” I paused, the words coming out in a heavy sigh. “How can those fuckers be in business together when they barely trust each other?”

Rico chuckled, clearly not catching the fullness of my words. “Man, that’s just the way it is. Deluca and Saviano have been at each other’s throats for years. Why change it now? Let’s just have a good night. Forget all the bullshit for once. The old men can sort their mess out. Soon, you and I will be at the helm, and in a few years, we’ll be pointing guns at each other.”

I looked to the dance floor, the movement of bodies blending into the flashing lights of the club. But it wasn’t the dancing that caught my attention—it was Isabella. She was there, moving to the beat, her body a fluid wave of motion that drew everyone’seye. I could see the guy next to her, his hands a little too low on her hips, his body too close for comfort.

The heat in my chest flared, a possessive, irrational anger rising at the sight. My grip on the glass tightened. I was aware of Rico still talking beside me, but the words blurred, drowned out by the primal feeling surging through me. She didn’t belong to him.

Rico slapped me on the back, his voice loud and carefree. “Dominic, you’re really not listening, huh? Get your head in the game! Come on, let’s have some fun.”

But I didn’t hear him anymore. All I saw was Isabella—too close to that guy, her body pressing against his. A sharp breath left my lungs. Without another word, I stood and headed straight for the dance floor, ignoring Rico’s shouts behind me. He’d survive. He’d have a girl on his lap in a few minutes, and I would be the furthest thing from his mind.

I didn’t even think about it. I just moved.

The idea seemed ludicrous, but there was no denying the urge in me. Something about watching her with that guy's arms on her felt wrong—it felt like I couldn’t stand it.

I kept my eyes locked on Isabella, ignoring the others around me. She didn’t notice me at first, too lost in the music, her head tilted back slightly, eyes closed. The guy, oblivious to my gaze, pulled her a little closer, his hand sliding dangerously lower on her hip.

Something snapped inside me.

I couldn’t think straight anymore.

In one swift motion, I reached out and gripped her wrist, pulling her away from the guy. She looked up at me in surprise, her eyes wide, lips parted as she tried to pull away.

“What the hell are you doing?” she asked, her voice sharp, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes that made my chest tighten.

I didn’t answer. I didn’t have to. My fist connected with the fucker’s face, and he went down, with a bloody nose and probably a bust lip.

Without a word, I swung her effortlessly over my shoulder, ignoring the startled yelp she let out. She wasn’t going anywhere—not with him, not with anyone.

“Dominic!” she hissed, her voice laced with both anger and confusion. “Put me down!”

I didn’t, though. Instead, I pushed through the crowd, ignoring the stares and murmurs that followed us. She kept hitting my back with her fists, but the weight of her body over my shoulder only made my pulse race more.I could feel her body shifting against me, her heat against my skin.

“You can’t do this!” she continued, her voice a mix of frustration and something else I couldn’t quite place. “Let me go, now. Rico will see.”

But I was already heading out the door, my mind made up. I wasn’t going to let her stay there, dancing with a man who had no right to have his hands on her. The bouncer nodded a greeting, knowing better than to try to intervene.

I didn’t care what anyone thought, and I sure as hell didn’t care how reckless it was.

The cold air hit us as I stepped outside, and I could feel her body stiffen, the rhythm of her breathing changing as I carried her toward my car. My driver opened the door, and I set her down just outside the car, her feet hitting the pavement, but I didn’t let go of her.

“Don’t move,” I commanded. I took off my jacket, draping it around her. The flimsy dress did nothing to hide her curves.

“Dominic,” she breathed, her eyes meeting mine. There was something raw in them, something I couldn’t ignore anymore.

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