Page 63 of His to Ruin

Alessia shakes her head. “It’s done. Signed in blood and all that.”

“Fuck! Are you sure? I mean, Piotr could…”

She puts a hand on my arm. “Don’t worry about it, Liv. Just say you’ll be my matron of honor and everything will be okay.”

I seriously doubt that, but I’m not about to refuse her. “Of course I’ll be your matron of honor.” I can’t hold back an incredulous laugh. “You’re really going to marry him.”

“Oh, I’ll marry him alright.” Her words sound like a threat and suddenly I wonder if Dante’s the one I should feel sorry for. “Anyway,” Alessia shakes her shoulders as if casting off all negative thoughts. “I have some gossip for you. Renata Romano has been making eyes at Jimmy all night.”

“Jimmy? My Jimmy?” I’m surprised not just to hear he has an admirer, but that he actually came tonight. I scan the room and find him sitting at a corner table by himself.

“Yeah. She’s hot for him.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive. I heard her asking your mom if he’s still single. They were sweethearts back in high school apparently and it seems she never got over it.”

“Renata’s a widow, right?”

“No, she never married. Her fiancé was killed in a shootout with the Bianchis twenty years ago and nobody else ever offered for her.”

“Wow. You think I should do something about it?”

The idea of playing matchmaker for Jimmy is irresistible. Alessia shrugs. “Will he appreciate that sort of interference?”

“Only one way to find out.”

Leaving Alessia in a better mood than I found her, I head for the corner table where Jimmy is sitting alone, nursing a beer.

“Liv.” He gets to his feet to greet me. Before he can object, I throw my arms around him and pull him in for a hug. Someone behind us gasps, scandalized. The people in our world are assholes. Most of them look at Jimmy with either pity or disgust. They’ve long forgotten he received his injuries while being more heroic than most of them will ever be. “Go and ask Renata Romano to dance.”

“She doesn’t want to dance with me.”

“Yes, she does.”

Jimmy looks hopeful for a moment. Then he shakes his head and gestures to his face.

“Okay,” I say with a sigh. “Enjoy your night.”

My bodyguard slumps back into his seat. I hate the air of defeat that surrounds him, but if he thinks I’m so easily deterred, he’s mistaken. I make a beeline straight for Renata and sit in the vacant seat next to her.

“Miss Volante.” Her pretty brown eyes widen in surprise. “I mean, Mrs. Rez…”

“Call me Livvy.” I don’t have time for formalities. “Tell me, you and Jimmy Marrone, you were high school sweethearts, right?”

“A lifetime ago.”

“Do you want a second chance?” I don’t waste any time trying to feel her out.

“Uh, what?”

“With Jimmy? He’s single. You’re single.”

“He isn’t interested in me. I’ve been trying to get his attention all night, and he hasn’t looked at me once.”

I take her hand. “He wants to ask you to dance, but he’s so self-conscious.”

Renata frowns. “Because of his face?”

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