Page 58 of Scorching Sienna

This conversation was actually the perfect opener for one of them.

“I am going tomorrow for another one if you want to join me.”

She looks surprised and then smiles.

“I’d actually love that. I was thinking of getting a tattoo myself. Something small. I just don’t know what.”

“I’ll design you something.” Her smile starts slow and then becomes like a spotlight, its beauty blinding. Is this what being in her orbit was like?

“I would love that,” she finally says, as I pull on my suit jacket, holding my hand out.

“Let’s get this over and done with. My tolerance level has been eroded.”

She burst out laughing. The fighter from earlier, sitting on one of the benches close to the door, gives her a curious glance as we leave.

“You don’t have a tolerance level.” Her smile is so cute as she jests.

“I do with you,” I joke back, wrapping her hand securely in mine as we make our way to the VIP section.

“Mio figlio,you look…relaxed.” Marcello's words make Sienna blush while I brush him off and sit on one of the armchairs opposite him, pulling Sienna onto my lap as I do.

Alessandro’s eyes stray to my rainbow’s thighs, which, in this position, are now on display. She tugs on the hem, only revealing more of her cleavage. This dress I both loathed and loved.

Lucy laughs as I eye Alessandro, who shrugs his shoulders and then looks away with a smile. Fuck him. Tomorrow, I will redirect one of his cocaine shipments. Maybe divert it to his rival's territory.

“Here. I heard you like this.” Lucy hands Sienna a glass of RoséDom Pérignon while Marcello dips his head towards a server standing nearby, a whiskey on a tray ready for me.

It would be the good stuff, at least. Marcello stocked only the best.

While I intended to stay for only one drink, Sienna started relaxing with the first genuine smile since The Reaping. Getting out and socializing seems to be doing her good. Perhaps I was wrong to presume she wouldn’t want to come tonight.

While I was glad she was here, I couldn’t shake the tension, constantly wondering if her stalker was nearby. I knew Bob was lurking somewhere in the shadows, watching us. Once they saw she was with me, Jordan and Kai returned to Sienna's place to continue their investigation.

We had no leads at this point, which was disturbing, to say the least. My guys were excellent, so whoever was behind this was very good at hiding their trail. That meant we either had to wait for the stalker to make the next move or that whoever was behind the videos would contact me again. Neither of them was appealing, as they both meant Sienna was involved.

“If you need help with…whatever is going on,” Marcello says quietly, his hand pointing to Sienna's neck, “you must just ask.”

Marcello has a sweet spot for Sienna. And not just because she is mine. Something about her intrigues him in a non-sexual way. Perhaps she reminds him of his first wife. I heard him talk about her years ago, how innocent she was, considering the dark world she married into.

Whatever it was, it left Sienna in a favorable position, having the mafia on her side. Perhaps I would enlist his help.

“I will let you know soon. Thank you.”

Marcello smiles and nods his head before taking another puff of his cigar.

Three drinks later, Sienna is more than tipsy. Her red cheeks andanimated storytelling allude to this, but everyone at our table is enraptured.

“I think it is time for us to go,” I say as she finishes her current glass of champagne, helping her to stand as I do.

“Thank you so much. I had a lovely time.” Sienna hugs Lucy, then Marcello. Alessandro is luckily on the other side of the table, so she just gives him a small wave.

I shake Marcello’s hand, his parting words to let him know what I need, luckily not heard by Sienna.

She grasps my hand tightly, using me to steady herself as we descend the stairs to the floor below.

Bob is waiting at the front door by the time we get there and has already done a sweep outside to ensure it is all clear.

Bob drives while Sienna and I sit in the back seat. She doesn’t last long before her eyes are closed, and there is a peaceful expression on her face. Fuck, I wish it would stay this way. But we had to talk about everything. All the demons driving me to the ring night after night. I know she wanted answers, and I couldn’t keep avoiding the truth.

---