Page 42 of Forbidden Arrangement

CHAPTER10

“Hey, Gabriella,” Sergio called out as we walked into the small bar.

“They didn’t tell me Gabriella was going to be here.”

“Hey, I didn’t know you cared,” he said with a wink.I shook my head and looked over at Stefano, who was grinning.Santino was checking something on his phone and not paying attention.

“Hey there, Sergio.”Gabriella stood with a wide smile on her face.Next to her was a younger version of herself.

“Hey Sam, hey Santino, hey Stefano,” she said, stepping forward and giving each of us a hug.“This is my sister, Ella.”

“Hi.”I smiled at Ella.“Is Valentina going to be here as well?”I asked, looking around.

“Oh no,” Gabriella said with a small laugh.“She’s out tonight.”

“Oh really?”I pretended to be nonchalant.

“Yeah.She’s on a date with Shane.I think they went to some poetry slam or something.And then he’s going to take her uptown to dinner at some fancy hotel.”She looked at me and smiled.“You know how it is.”

“I guess so,” I said.“Who wants a drink?”I turned around and headed toward the bar without waiting for an answer.I slammed my fist on the counter to get the bartender’s attention.

“Hey, dude, I’m the only one working tonight.I’ll be with you in a second.”

“I really need a beer,” I said.He looked over at me and grimaced.

“Shit, what happened to your face?Too many beers last night?”

“Something like that,” I said.“Give me a Guinness.”I looked back at my brothers.“You know what?Make it four.”

“For you?”

“Not for me, dumbass.I’ve got three brothers back there.”

“Okay.I was just asking because you don’t look like you need four beers right now.”

“I’m not asking for your opinion on anything.Get me four Guinnesses, and make it quick.”

“Okay, okay.Shit, this is why I don’t like working in these New York bars.You locals are—”

“We’re what?”I said, narrowing my eyes at him.

He held his hands up in the air.“Nothing.”

Stefano made his way next to me and raised an eyebrow.

“You okay, dude?”

“I’m fine.Why wouldn’t I be fine?”

“I don’t know.You were fine like five minutes before we got here.And as soon as Gabriella told you that Valentina was on a date with Shane, you got kind of upset.”

“I’m not upset.I’m just getting myself a drink.Is that allowed?I thought we lived in the United States of America, where freedom reigned.And—”

“Dude!What are you, a politician?Stop being so defensive.”

“I’m not being defensive.I’m fed up with looking like a fucking moron with my face all black and blue because you convinced me to fight when I had no business being in that ring.”

Stefano started laughing and shaking his head.“Dude.I hope the pussy is worth it.”

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