Page 160 of Sins of the Orchid
“Family secrets,” I joked half-heartedly.
“And Amore Bennetti has plenty of those.” My back tingled in awareness as Santi’s voice washed over me like the waves of the warm seas. Turning around, I met his gaze and narrowed my eyes. Why was he here?
I kept my expression closed off as my eyes skimmed up to his face to meet his gaze. Bitterness swelled inside me that I should be subjected to his presence during a Regalè event. He looked too damn good. Too tempting.
Even wearing his gear in a Venezuelan rainforest during our encounter at the compound, he looked good, but in a suit… he had wistful gazes turning his way. Santi was born to wear a suit.
He wore a black three-piece with a crisp, white dress shirt and a black tie. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his strong, broad shoulders. His whole body was a muscular masterpiece. The way he stood there watching me, commanding me with just his gaze. Like he owned me.
The urge to lean into him was so strong, I dug my fingernails into the palm of my hands to keep still. My eyes lowered and locked on his tattooed hand at his side, holding his phone. I swallowed hard, and my heart fluttered so fast I had a hard time breathing. Those hands were mine; they belonged on my skin.
I had no right to him. He had no right to me.
His eyes dropped to my outfit, then lazily returned and lingered on my lips. A spark flickered to life in his eyes and his expression darkened.
From the corner of my eye, I spotted Grandmother approaching and groaned inwardly. It was getting too crowded.
As if Uncle Vincent and Maria heard my thoughts, they disbursed.
“Amore, darling.” She hugged me and pressed a kiss on my cheek.
Adriano threw me a glance, rolled his eyes and left, pulling DeAngelo along. Adriano didn’t care for my grandma. DeAngelo never let on either way.
She didn’t even glance their way as they walked away.
Ignoring everyone else, she focused her attention on me. “I didn’t have a chance to tell you earlier. You look so beautiful. I love the dress. Your design?”
I smoothed my hand down my waist. “Yes.”
She took my hand in hers, and by the expression on her face, I knew I wouldn’t like her next words.
“I want to make a speech today,” she announced, her lips curved into a slightly sadistic smile. The one that she usually reserved to spite my father.
“Not today, Regina,” my father’s voice growled. Where did he come from?
“This is my party, Bennetti, and I’ll do whatever I please.” Her tone was full of venom. “Just because we shared a dance or two doesn’t mean we are on the same side.”
I shook my head. It wasn’t like they were enemies but hearing them talk, you’d definitely think they were. There would never be any love lost between Grandmother and my father. And I was so tired of being stuck in the middle. My skin burned with the need to lash out, to scream, to tell everyone to go to hell, but I kept a tight lid on it.
“Cut your shit, Regina.” Dad’s jaw ticked; he was teetering on the edge.
I was an heiress to the Regalè Empire, the Perèz Cartel, started my own business, a daughter of an Italian Don, yet I was being pushed and jerked around as they saw fit. I was so fucking close to my limits.
Grandma’s green eyes studied me, and I kept her gaze. A wave of agitation ran through me. She was waiting, looking for something… but I kept it together. Though in my head I screamed.
“It’s getting late,” I muttered, forcing a smile. My eyes skimmed over Dad, Grandma, and Santi. Others were smart and had left the battlefield. “I’m going to find DeAngelo and get going.”Before I lose my shit.
Grandma just ignored me, her gaze shifting to the right of me where Santi now stood.
“Russo, thank you for allowing us to have this party here.” Her eyes darted over Dad and rested on Santi for a few seconds before returning to me. “Amore’s wedding will be the event of the century,” she continued, and I swore she was taunting me. “It will be covered by papers around the globe.”
“How do you know about it?” Dad hissed, and my eyes snapped to him, then to my grandmother. She wasn’t supposed to know. I didn’t tell her and just assumed Dad did. Then who would have told her?
“I have a right to know everything about my granddaughter, Bennetti.” Her eyes flashed to me and then returned to my father, a storm lurking in her green gaze. “Have you noticed all the reporters and coverage Regalè Fashion is having tonight? It’s all thanks to Amore’s hard work.”
Something was about to happen. I could feel it in the pit of my stomach. I stood still, my spine rigid, the tension around us so thick you could cut it with a knife.I’m going to snap. Any second now.
“I don’t know why in the fuck you insisted we all come,” he gritted out. “I already know Amore knows her stuff.”
