Page 21 of Dex

I don’t want to expose Rio, but the guy is making it too damn obvious.

“When did he turn into a wuss?”I mutter.“Rio is usually calm.Sharp.Guy has big dick energy that women love.He’s slick and sharp, and has attitude.But now?”I shake my head.“He looks like a wet mess over this woman.”

Cari frowns.“He’s not talking much.”

“No.He’s gawking.Like a spotty teenage boy at his first strip club.”I sigh.“Let me go save him.”

I walk back inside.

The room is dimly lit, jazz music floating through the air.The scent of expensive perfume and catered hors d’oeuvres lingers.People are talking, making deals, laughing over glasses of aged scotch.

Rio and the heiress are still standing together and it looks like they’re talking.Zach and Enzo are back, too.These two are like puppy dogs.Zach more than Enzo.I’m not sure about Enzo.He seems quiet but deadly.In any case, they don’t stand a chance.The heiress is too much woman for them.

I stride over.“You okay, Rio?”I glance at the Beauty Queen.He nods stiffly.“You need another drink?”

“He sure looks like he could do with a couple of shots.”Enzo grins.Rio mumbles something and disappears.

“So touchy,” Zach says.

Before I can go after him, the old man steps into view.

“Daniela,” he says smoothly to the woman at the center of our group, “come with me.”

The heiress hesitates but follows him, seeming a little flustered.Or maybe she’s just glad to be free of Rio eyeballing her so blatantly.I exhale, feeling a sense of relief that she’s gone.

“What do you think she’s doing here?”Zach asks.

“You interested?”I examine his face, notice that it’s flushed.Notice that his pupils are dilated.

“In what?”

Jesus.This kid hasn’t even pieced it all together.He’s just been busy admiring the goods.

“Maybe she’s here for a business deal?”Enzo suggests.It’s strange that we don’t often get together in a social setting like this, that it’s always been around the dining table or the conference room table, always doing deals.This is different, and usually when our father hosts events like these, they’re in a big hotel suite, and there are hundreds of people around.It’s easier to go all evening without running into the rest of the Italian Knights.

But, being around them this evening, I see they’re not so different from us.Rio and I get along, sure … but, the other brothers?

I shake the thought from my head.It’s too raw and painful because thinking about the old man’s secret family brings back bad memories.Things I’d rather forget.Things I’m ashamed of and hate myself for.The guilt never leaves.

I feel his gaze first, a prickling across the back of my neck and I realize that my father is watching me.When I turn to look, he motions me over, so I go to him, shoulders tense.

“It’s been a long day for Daniela,” he says.“Do you mind dropping her back to her hotel.”

I blink back shock.“What?”Yes, I do fucking mind.I open my mouth to protest.I don’t want to take her home, and I quickly scan the room looking for Rio but can’t see him.

“You were probably going to leave soon anyway,” the old man persists.

“I wasn’t.”

“You can come back,” the old man counters.

“Idomind dropping her back.”

“Don’t be so rude,” he snaps.

“No, no, it’s okay.”The Brazilian Beauty Queen steps around me, her deep, rich and lightly accented voice catching me by surprise.“If Dexter doesn’t want to …”

Shit.I didn’t realize she was standing nearby.

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