Page 102 of Toxic

"I wanted to see Bridget tonight," I confess. Gianni's the only one I've been straight up with about Bridget. He knows the entire situation. Even though he still believes it's reckless, he hasn't said anything to my family.

He sniffs hard and does something on his phone. He scowls then picks up the phone.

"Who are you calling?" I inquire.

He holds his finger up, his eyes in slits. He seethes, "Cara, I told you not to be anywhere in the vicinity of the club."

I shake my head at him, not sure why he's continuing to dwell on this. Cara is an intelligent woman. She can make her own decisions, and she's been clear Gianni isn't who she wants.

Several moments pass with Gianni going back and forth with her. He finally asserts, "Go ahead. Step foot in it. I'll take you right back out, and I'll make sure I make a scene."

"Jesus," I mumble, scrubbing my hands over my face. When Gianni gets in this kind of a mood, there's no predicting what he'll do. Drawing attention to yourself in the club isn't good for business. And Papà sure isn't going to approve.

"Don't cross me, Cara," he threatens and hangs up.

"You have to stop this," I warn.

He snarls, "Mind your own business. Her days of associating with Abruzzos are over."

20

Bridget

I take a bite of steak,attempting not to listen to Cara's phone call. I'm still trying to calm down from the anger I feel over Dante ignoring me all day, not to mention standing Sean up with no warning. Now he's back to sulking and snapping at me. This was after I got into it with Fiona. She decided to skip class and make out with her boyfriend in the janitor's closet. The principal caught them, and when we got home, she decided to scream at me. I grounded her and took her phone.

When Cara called to go to dinner, I needed to get out of the house and cool off. But the entire conversation has been about Dante and Gianni. It's not doing anything to help me forget about my problems.

"Ugh!" Cara exclaims and tosses her phone on the table.

"Who was that?" I ask but have a feeling I already know.

She huffs. "Who do you think?"

"Gianni?"

"Yep. Telling me that he warned me not to go near the club."

"We're a block away," I state.

She scoffs. "Yep. Which means that bastard has a tracker on me again."

I put my fork down. "Again?"

She rolls her eyes. "Yep. It doesn't matter how many phones I get. He always seems to know exactly where I am."

"Gianni's such a creeper." I pick up my wineglass and take a sip. A normal person would be appalled, but it's such a Gianni move that it doesn't shock me. He's always done whatever he wanted, just like Dante. Both of them stop at nothing to get what they want.

"Well, he must not have that good of a tracker on me because he thinks I'm at the club now. He and Dante are on their way." She puts a cherry tomato on her fork and plops it in her mouth.

My stomach flips, and my anger intensifies. "Dante is going to the club with him?"

She chews and swallows. "Sure. He's always there with him. You know how those two are. They're never separated, and even when they are, they still are joined at the hip."

I shift in my seat, staring out the window. All my insecurities about Dante not being faithful come racing back. Nothing good happens in that club. There's only one reason men go there. If Dante stood me up but has time to visit the club, it only means one thing.

Cara lowers her voice and puts her hand on mine. "Bridget? Sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

I turn back toward her, locking eyes with hers. "Let's go."

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