Page 15 of Hot-Blooded Killer

“Lorenzo Beneventi,” Adele says, her voice echoing across the club in a rare moment of silence. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen you.” She bats her eyes at me, her dark brown irises ringed with fake lashes somehow reminding me of a cartoon cow from my favorite show back when I was a child. I have to force myself not to snicker.

“I didn’t think you came to clubs like this,” Sarah chimes in. “Everyone says you spend all your time hanging out with strippers.”

Her tone is more than a little snide, and Gia reaches across me to swat her friend on the arm. “Don’t be such a bitch,” Gia says. “I think it’s about time you got out again,” she continues, speaking to me. “Anyway, haven’t you been off on family business for a while?”

My jaw clenches as I consider all the ways that I have had to renegotiate that family business sense the death of my brothers Leonardo and Frederico and my father.

“I have been away quite a bit,” I finally say. “But I’m back now, and ready to secure my place in the Vegas Families’ businesses.”

We sit together for a solid hour. Gia is actually a good conversationalist, I realize. I shove my hatred for her family down deep, allowing it to serve as fuel for the game we’ll have to play. And once I do, Gia begins drawing me out, asking me questions about my time in Italy with my grandfather’s family and sharing stories of her own visits both to Sicily and to northern Italy.

I can see why her father treats her like a capo. She’s smart, socially smooth, and charming.

Everything I might actually want in a wife.

If not for the fact that her father had arranged to have my father killed, I might have found her absolutely alluring.

As it is, I have to keep reminding myself that this is not what it seems to be. We are not flirting, aren’t building a relationship, and will never be happy together.

Still, by the end of the evening, she’s resting her hand on my thigh, giving me teasing glances from underneath her lashes.

And I am as hard as the landscape in Red Rock Canyon.

Something about this game between the two of us turns me on even more than the endless chase I’m used to with the other women in my life.

I’ve had just enough alcohol to lower my inhibitions, enough to make me want to take her into my arms and kiss her.

If not for the fact that I’m playing a long game, I might actually do it, too.

Instead, though, I stand up.

“Sorry, ladies. But I have to call it a night. I have work to do tomorrow.”

Adele pouts. “No, really? You don’t have to go. Tomorrow won’t be that bad if you stay just a little bit longer.”

“Are you sure?” Sarah asks at the same time.

“Absolutely certain.” I turn to Gia. “Can I call you sometime?”

She flutters her lashes. “Absolutely. What’s your number? I’ll text you mine.”

I fish a card out of my wallet to hand to her, and she taps it on the table with a nod.

I’m not even all the way out the door when my phone pings with a text from Gia.

Nice show. I think Sarah and Adele bought it.

I stare down at it for a long moment, trying to decide how to answer.

As I wait for my car to arrive after I hand my ticket to the valet, I respond.

Dinner tomorrow night at La Sérénade. I’ll pick you up at eight.

Gia doesn’t answer until I’m almost all the way home. And when she does, it’s only to say,See you then.

I’m smiling as I make my way to my suite in the family house.

Gia has absolutely no idea how good my game is.

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