Page 17 of Lies like Rubies, Part One

LORENZO

Sofia leanedher forehead against the frame of her car, the sharp lines of her body softening with an emotion I couldn’t identify. After a few heartbeats, she straightened and stiffened her spine. She took a deep breath, as if steeling herself, then turned around to watch her daughter dash into her parents’ house, her lips curved up in a polite, bland smile. I ached to smooth the furrow in her brow with my thumb, but that ship sailed long ago.

More cars pulled in, dragging my attention back to my job—security for the Russo family. To my surprise, Patti texted me from the car to inform me that Dante Oscuro had accepted her invitation to lunch. His armored SUV didn’t stand out among the luxury vehicles in the Russo’s driveway. Still, the dark menace radiating from him set him apart from the other families in the neighborhood.

Four years of peace, genuine peace, wrought by Ginevra Russo’s marriage to the Irish and her insistence that her father, Tony, compromise and collaborate. Rather than respond to every threat with violence, he rebuilt the Russo legacy after running it to the ground. Legitimate businesses meant we got a little soft, a good thing most of the time. Nothing was soft about Dante Oscuro, and I wondered for a moment what kind of viper we were allowing into our home.

Tony called me over to introduce me. “Dante, I’d like to introduce Lorenzo Morelli, my enforcer, and head of security.”

Dante watched me curiously, his gaze more intent than the introduction warranted. What did he want? I held out my hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Lorenzo practically grew up in this house. He’s family,” Tony continued.

In addition to being my boss, Tony was like a father to me. He took me in when a bitter dispute between the Russos and the Costas led to my parents’ murder. I wasn’t the heir. I wasn’tLuca, but Tony’d raised me, put me through school, and never asked for anything but my loyalty in return. I’d take a bullet for the man, for any of the Russos.

Dante’s eyes swept over me. “I’d like to have a drink with you later. I believe we have mutual acquaintances.”

“It would be my pleasure,” I answered, my curiosity piqued. His gaze sharpened as he looked at something over my shoulder. I stepped away to let him pass and saw Sofia shiver when she met Dante’s eyes. Tony swept him away to introduce him to everyone who was anyone under the Russo’s protection, and leaving me to wonder at her reaction.

Luca tapped me on the shoulder. “Got a minute?”

“For you? Always. Walk with me.” I could check the perimeter while we talked.

We made our way through the throng of guests, and I swept my eyes over the line of vehicles in front of the Russo mansion. Nothing was amiss, but I couldn’t shake the bad feeling in my gut. I’d learned to trust my instincts—something terrible loomed on the horizon.

When we were out of earshot of the Russo guests, Luca began, “Dante Oscuro and Sofia were flirting at mass today.”

I raised my eyebrows in surprise, and to hide the sharp pang of jealousy that shot through my chest. “He’s bad news.”

“He works with Sergio Accardi,” Luca continued. “And Papà’s still sore that Sergio skipped town rather than make an honest woman out of Sofia.”

As rage overcame me, I pressed my lips into a thin line, not trusting myself to speak. Had Luca forgotten that the Irish chased Sergio out of town so hecouldn’tmarry Sofia? Or did the Russos regret that?

“Oscuro’d be a good match for her,” Luca mused thoughtfully. “He could take care of her like these assholes here in Yorkfield can’t.”

I said nothing, afraid to give away the depth of my feelings for his sister. My heart hammered out of my chest as I realized I might never get to fix what I’d broken so many years ago.

“I know there’s more to the story with Sergio and Sofia than she’s shared with me,” Luca said. “She was relieved when Ginevra’s husbands sent him packing. She should’ve been furious they’d chased off the father of her child.”

Luca didn’t know about the night Sofia came home covered in bruises. She’d been bleeding from a cut on her cheek, her fingers broken, blaming it on a car accident. No one knew about the fight we’d had where she threw my cruel words back in my face, asking me why the fuck I cared.

“I know he was the end of your friendship with her. I hope one day the two of you trust me enough to tell me what happened.”

Luca was wrong. Sergio hadn’t been the end of our friendship. I’d fucked up weeks before that. I’d been so fucking in love with her and so fucking scared of ruining her life. When she confessed her feelings for me, I lashed out with cruel taunts, calling her a spoiled princess, lying, and telling her I’d never be interested in a brat like her. Instead of sheltering and protecting her as I should have, my words sent her into Sergio’s arms, seeking reassurance and validation from another man.

“I’ll find out what brought Dante to Yorkfield,” I said, ignoring the delicate request for more information.

“There’s nothing more important to me than keeping Sofia and Lizzie safe, Lorenzo.”

The Russo family kept Sofia safe by locking her in a goddamned cage. One day she’d break out of it and stand on her own two feet, and when she did, we were all gonna be fucked.

When Luca and I arrived at the back of the house, I scanned the party. Oscuro and Tony sat with close family and friends, all businessmen. My eyes caught on Sofia, her back stiff as she slipped in and out of the masculine gathering. Her smile never dropped as she avoided the gropes and touches her family never fucking saw.

The older women were inside, supervising the preparation of the meal and drinking, leaving Sofia alone to serve as eye candy while her father closed deals.

My uncle Tom bent over to kiss her on the cheek, his hands lingering too damn long on her shoulders. Ruthlessly, I suppressed the rage that coursed through me at the part her father expected her to play. Not my place to criticize how Tony Russo treated his kids. Not now, not ever.

Oscuro watched Sofia with narrowed eyes as she poured whiskey for the men under the canopy. Shock, then fury, raced through me when he took her hand and kissed it. To my surprise, Sofia didn’t make a charming comment and pull away like she usually did with the men her father introduced her to. Instead, she smiled sweetly—sweetly!—and accepted his affection as her due, allowing him to hold her hand and pull her to his side.

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