Page 72 of Fortress of the Soul

I stare at her.

It’s a strip club.

“Absolutely not.”

She smiles sweetly. “Don’t be a stick in the mud, E.”

“Don’t you be a pain in my ass.”

She pats the side of my face. “You’re so cute when you’re all protective.”

I lean to her ear. “You’re going to see a different side to me altogether if this keeps up, and trust me, baby girl, you’re not gonna want to see that side.”

I look over her head at Rocco giving me a chin lift, telling me to hurry the fuck up.

“Where to, Val?”

She narrows her eyes when my gaze meets hers again. “Fine. You win this round. The Panic Room.”

“Another nightclub?”

“The night’s still young, Enzo, who knows what could happen.” She flounces off and ducks under Rocco’s arm to climb in the limo.

I walk toward him and rub my chin. “She’s gonna be the death of me.”

“What’s the deal?”

“Tried to tell me we’re going to Suspenders.”

Rocco frowns. “I’m guessing you said no?”

“You guessed right. The compromise was The Panic Room.”

“God help us.”

It’s the fucking last place I want to go to; ridiculous door charge, expensive drinks, over-the-top music—if you could even call it that—and it’s well known to be a dealers hot spot.

Angelo is going to owe us one for this. He might be the King of Boston, but his little sister is going to be Queen of the Damned by the time tonight is out.

14

VALENTINA

If he thinksI’m trying to piss him off on purpose, then he would be well and truly right. My whole choice of outfit was based on that exact theme, and he can suck it if he doesn’t like it. I just love how he wants his finger in every pie all the time, but can’t take it when it’s served to him piping hot.

His eyes almost bulged out of his head when he saw what I was wearing, and I don’t think the thigh-highs are too much, though I’m sure it’s going to get a rise out of him before the night ends.

I sensed a storm brewing long before he came storming across the dancefloor.

I’m not sure if he realizes that this is what people do when they go to a club with their friends; they have a few drinks, dance with random strangers, and have a good time.

I don’t understand why he can’t deal with that. What does he actually think happens at these places?

Why the hell does he even have to be here watching my every move is beyond me. Just because Angelo has some mafia mess brewing, and he has to up the ante with security.

It’s not my fault he was assigned to babysit with Rocco and that he has a front-row seat on how I’m going to live my life from now on, that’s on him. He chose to work for Medici security, and sometimes it involves menial little tasks like looking out for the girls while they get shitfaced.

It’s very clear in the tight set of his jaw that he isn’t happy about any of it.

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