But he’s not my dad. Not even close.
They were estranged, and the only reason we found him was because Maks had gotten a birthday card from him not too long before the attack. It was the only address we had for him, and thankfully, it led us straight to him with only the clothes on our backs.
He put up with raising two teenagers because he realized very fast what we could do for him and how we could make him money. He didn’t care what kind of danger we’d walk into as long as we walked out with cash, drugs, or stolen goods he could turn around and sell. And then Maks died and I graduated to hired killer.
And now he really is all I have.
Sometimes I wonder if I’d be better off with nobody.
My heart aches as I gaze at myself in the mirror, the tight, white dress clinging to my every curve.
Fresh, bright, white — on the outside, anyway.
I just hope all of the red staining my ledger doesn’t seep into the fabric. I’d hate for the devil inside to tear through and ruin the angelic effect.
Even though it’s a total façade.
I smooth down the front of the dress and can’t help the smile that lifts my lips.
God, this feels so incredibly surreal…
I try to enjoy the moment until my gut knots, my mind trying to process what in the hell plans my uncle has concocted. A strange sensation floods my insides when I think about Aisling. Whatever happens, she can’t be involved.
Hurt.
Or worse.
I feel so oddly protective of her, maybe because of the fact that we’re kind of kindred spirits. What will become of her? She’s young, so however this plays out, it won’t torment her emotionally the way it did me when my parents were killed.
Blood rushes between my ears.
How it plays out…I still have no clue.
He still hasn’t told me a single detail…about anything.
And the biting question continues to feed on my brain…how much can I really trust him?
If push comes to shove, deep down, I know he’ll pick money and power over me.
I’ve tried to deny that to myself over the years, but after Maks, it was a hard realization to not bury. Everything unraveled faster than a cheap rug after that and Uncle Boris just spiraled.
He never really stopped.
Just changed his manic direction.
The only thing that keeps me on course here is the fact that these people need to pay for taking away something so precious from me. I don’t care if they weren’t the ones who pulled that trigger. Anyone who wanted to hurt my family like that, anyone who made the decision to carry out the murder — they’re all guilty as far as I’m concerned.
I take a few deep breaths.
I just have to stay on course for a little while longer.
But being immersed in this life makes it so damn hard.
Part of me just wants to scream and cry and beg them to just tell me why!
The other part knows it’s too dangerous.
Just like my feelings for Dante.
Exposing either would be disastrous.
Tiny hairs on the back of my neck prickle as Heaven’s voice carries into the depths of the closet. “Are you ever coming out of there?”
I walk out to the bedroom, balancing carefully on the carpet. The skinny heels make me teeter slightly with each step I take into the thick carpet. I stick my hands on my hips and do a little half-twirl. “What do you think?”
Heaven’s green eyes sparkle. “It’s perfect. Just like I knew it would be. You look beautiful, Anya.”
“Hey, Heaven, what time are—?”
I look toward the door to find Dante’s blue eyes glued to me as his question dissipates in the air around us.
My breath hitches, and when our gazes tussle, my mind trips back to the last time I saw him. I still can’t look at that window without feeling those delicious tingles assault my body.
He’s definitely been avoiding me. That much is clear.
And it has to be because he doesn’t trust me.
Smart guy.
But my God, as the days pass, I find myself fantasizing more and more about reliving those stolen moments. If I had to guess, it’s because I crave human contact. It has to be why I’m so attached to Heaven and Aisling, and why radio silence from my uncle really didn’t bother me much.
Deep down, I want to live this fantasy life for just a little while longer.
I feel wanted, needed, and cared for.
I haven’t felt that in a damn long time…not for the right reasons, anyway.
Whenever I’ve had time to myself over the past couple of days, I either sit out by the hotel pool or hole up in my room to read one of my romance novels or I go for a run.
And all I think about is him.
Part of me is glad he’s been MIA.
Dante saw too much of what I’ve been trying to bury, and that made me retreat into myself.
I already told him more than I should have.
Even though it was liberating to let some of that poison seep out of me, I can’t give him anything else.
It would make me too vulnerable, too exposed, too emotional.
And it might dilute my hate and kill my resolve.
Bad, bad, bad!
I catch Heaven look from Dante to me and then back again, a tiny smile lifting her lips. “What time what?” she asks, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes.
She obviously sees something.
And I feel it again, way down to the tips of my toes and all the way up to the ends of my hair.
Wanted.
Desired.
Craved.
A shiver shimmies down my spine and my shoulders shudder in response.
“What time…” Dante repeats, as if he can’t even remember his question. Wow, am I really that much of a sight?
Or is he just sidetracked by the fantasy of fucking me against a window overlooking the entire Las Vegas Strip?
Heaven makes a point of looking at her diamond-encrusted Rolex and lifts a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. “Any day now, Dante. Can’t you see we’re a little bit busy here?”
He blinks fast, dragging his gaze off of me. “What time are Patty and Maura flying in?” he finally asks.
“They’ll be in at eleven,” she says.
He nods. “Okay. I’ll take care of it.”
“Thanks. Don’t tell anyone else, but you’re the best brother-in-law ever!” she squeals.
“Whoa! What in the ever-loving fuck is that supposed to mean?” a booming voice demands from out in the hallway. “You cheatin’ on me, sis?”
A tall, dark, and delicious version of Matteo and Dante pops his head into the room. “We made an agreement, remember? Nobody but me gets that title!”
Heaven’s cheeks turn bright pink and she claps a hand to her mouth to stifle a giggle.
“Busted!” Dante says with a snicker.
The new guy gives me a long, appraising look. “Here I am, coming up to welcome the new nanny, and I find you feathering Dante’s ass. What kind of shit is that?”
He walks into the room and sticks out a hand to me. “Sergio. I run this place.”
“Anya,” I reply. “And well done. It’s beautiful.”
Sergio nods, a smirk lifting his lips. “Dante said you were staying at the Bellagio before my sis hired you.” He shakes his head. “You don’t wanna be caught dead in that shithole, sweetie.”
“So I’ve heard,” I say with a snicker. “Jeez, it’s like you guys all rehearse from the same script,” I murmur.
Dante shrugs. “Maybe we all just share the same brain.”
“Scary!” Heaven squeals. “I refuse to admit I think like a Villani man!” She waves her hand around. “Okay, boys, hit the road! We’re still beautifying in here!”
I sneak a quick glance at Dante. My breath hitches when I see his eyes darken with lust, the same lust flooding my insides right now.
Oh my God, why do you have to be so goddamn irresistible?
I need to hate you, not constantly want to mount you!
Dante pushes Sergio out of the room. “Come on, let’s go.” He gives me a long look that makes goosebumps pebble my arms and legs before he pulls the door closed.