Chapter 70

If I thought feeling safe that night at the opera was weird, then right now, after everything today, it’s even weirder that I feel it when he’s standing beside me protectively. One thing I can never doubt him for—he will never let anyone else fuck with me the way he does.

‘‘You’re no fun Lex! Getting me all hot and bothered over a new little morsel of delicious, the hair really does it for me.’’ Santagato picks up a strand of my hair and twirls it around his finger, tugging it from my scalp and pulling my face towards him slightly. I try to stand my ground, but I have no strength in me tonight, and I know better than to be obviously combative with this type of man.

Still leaning in close, Alexi yanks it free in a smooth abrupt motion that brings a halt to playfulness.

‘’Not a hair on her head, I don’t share.’’ His voice has an edge, he sounds huskier than normal, and my heart rate ups a gear as I see a similar darkness move into the new man’s eyes. He has that same dangerous air about him, exuding sinister control and physically the two of them are matched. I don’t think I know which one would be victorious if this came to blows, and my heart ends up in my mouth at the thought of Alexi getting physical and possibly hurt.

Alexi stands up straighter and moves in front of me slightly, smoothly with a charming smile, yet my mind hits a chaos of confusion as I panic on his behalf and have to still the desire to grab onto him.

‘‘She’s not into your kind of games, Sid. She’s more my style, and I can get you a redhead if that’s what you have a longing for, just not this one.’’ I slide away from behind him and try to edge out, but Alexi catches me by the dress and stops me from going anywhere else. It’s subtle and concealed by his body but I don’t move, pausing and knowing I should do as I am told for whatever reason he thinks I shouldn’t leave. I stay right behind him and just look down at the grip he has on the hem of my dress, trying to concentrate on those strong hands and zone out the possible drama that seems set to erupt around me while my body hits another wave of internal freakout.

‘‘You know I’m a bit of a spoiled asshole and when I see something I want … Nothing else really gives me the same buzz. I have my eye on this one and ONLY this one, what’s a little sharing between friends?’’ Santagato gets right in Alexi’s face and I swear sparks fly. The air around me instantly sizzles with it, and I am struggling to breathe normally and hold my composure. I cower behind Alexi, placing a hand on his lower back as I shelter against him and hide myself fully from the terrifying other man, heart in my mouth.

Oh shit!

Alexi just stands his ground, but I can tell by his posture there’s a subtle change in him. He’s no longer in charm mode but poised and stiff like he’s ready for something more physical and I begin to feel claustrophobic behind him, stuck by the wall. I just want to get out of this corner. I’m scared, hating that I am the centre of what’s happening, and he is all that stands in front of me if this goes badly.

I note security moving closer without drawing attention and Alexi’s shadow, Mico, appears right behind Santagato with a look on his face that says he will kill for his master.

Mico is a Carrero; another huge muscular Italian with good DNA and faulty brain wiring that makes him a psycho. He’s usually with Alexi wherever he goes and I feel a hint of relief that he’s swooping in to do his job and flank his boss to exert force if need be. Gino appears behind Alexi, to my left, like a creepy double take and leans in behind him against the wall in the pose his brother just vacated with a smirk plastered on his face. Seemingly hustling to get in on the fight in an oddly happy way and I second guess his brain wiring too.

He just looks smug in a deranged way as a little army of Carrero men encircle their guest intimidatingly. I can see other men in the room turning and heading this way—all on Alexi’s pay packet and loyalty and realise he has himself a hell of a lot of backup in his own domain. Santagato has no chance when faced with the sea of Carrero men who pull together should you threaten one of their own. It doesn’t completely rid the wave of sickening anxiety, but it does ease it a little, knowing nothing will happen to him.

‘’She’s not an option. I told you I’ll find you an alternative.’’ Alexi grits his teeth and that tone is the danger alarm that I swear makes me feel faint every time I hear it—it never gets old. Swathed in friendliness but I would recognise it anywhere. If you ever wanted to know how Satan himself sounded, then it would be that tone right there that he adopts right before someone flicks his kill switch. It has the power to put the fear of God in any man.

I guess Santagato feels the vibes too, and the impending crowd of black suits moving in intimidatingly, so he breaks into a smile and pats Alexi on the shoulder in a macho yet wary way.