Twisted Hearts(32)

She shook her head with an apologetic grimace. She had no reason to be sorry. Savio Falcone had. “You know how he is. I doubt she’s the only one.”

“She’s Diego’s Ex! Isn’t there some kind of codex against that?” I couldn’t believe him. I was so angry, I had to resist the urge to smash something. I curled my hands to fists, trying not to lose it.

Toni’s lips thinned at the mentioning of Diego. I wasn’t sure what was going on between them, she insisted nothing, but she always got that pinched expression when I mentioned him. “I don’t think he cares. It’s been years since Diego and Dakota danced the horizontal limbo.”

I burst into laughter despite my anger. Someone in the relaxation area shushed us and I clamped a hand over my mouth to stifle the sound.

Toni shrugged. “It’s just sex for him. He uses those bitches, Gemma. You don’t have to worry. You’ll be the one who’ll be his wife, not some skanky plaything. Apparently, Dakota is super smug about getting Savio into bed.”

“I don’t know what she has to be smug about. As if it’s such an achievement to get Savio to sleep with her. He sleeps with pretty much anything with a vagina,” I muttered.

Toni rolled her eyes. “She’s only one-quarter Italian and still thinks she could be part of our world, stupid ass bitch.”

My eyes widened. Toni hardly ever cussed. I didn’t mention that Toni wasn’t a full-blooded Italian either. Her paternal grandmother had been Corsican, which was why her father hadn’t been allowed to become a Made Man when Benedetto Falcone had still been Capo, even though he had to swear loyalty to the Camorra. Things had changed since then, and he had by now made the official vow.

She shrugged with a grin. “She brings out the worst in me.”

“What if he keeps sleeping around once we’re married?” I asked quietly, hating how insecure I sounded. I wasn’t like that, but for some reason, Savio made me feel that way all the time.

Toni touched my arm. “It’s still some time until your wedding. Maybe he’s trying to sleep around as much as possible now so he won’t feel the urge once you’re married.”

I gave her a look. “I don’t think it works that way. He’s such a player.” I couldn’t believe I was repeating what Diego had been telling me for years, but it was an undisputable truth.

“Many men are. I’m not sure if there’s anything you can do.”

“There’s always something I can do. I’ll talk to him.”

Toni shook her head. “Don’t be crazy. You can’t just tell him what to do before you’re even married. He’s a Falcone for God’s sake.”

“As if I could ever forget. Everyone reminds me. And then there’s this,” I said with curled lips as I raised the atrocity that Savio called an engagement ring. The sight of his initials like a goddamn branding still made my blood boil.

Toni stifled a smile. “I’m sure your wedding ring will be better.”

“I sure hope so.”




Toni’s dad picked us up afterward and drove me home. Nobody was in the house when I stepped in. Worry overcame me. I called Diego because he was the only one who usually carried his phone with him. “Did something happen?”

“Sorry, Gemma. The stove in the Capri isn’t working again. Dad and I need to get it running. The place is booked tonight. We’ll be back as soon as possible.” He paused, and I could practically feel his hesitation.

“Is anything with Carlotta?”

Our little baby sister had been born with a heart defect and had spent a great amount of her first year in hospitals, which was why Dad worked even harder in the restaurants to pay for the medical bills. Without the money Diego earned as a Camorrista, we wouldn’t get far anyway. That was why I had been spending more time with Toni recently.

“She turned blue today, so Mom and Nonna took her to the ER. I don’t know when they’ll be back.”

“Is she okay? Should I go to the ER?”

“No, they’ll do the usual check-ups. She needs a new heart, or this will keep happening.” He sighed. In the background, I could hear clanging then Dad cursing.

“I’m sorry, Gemma. We wanted to celebrate with you. Nonna baked a cake. It’s in the kitchen.”

“Don’t worry. I had a great day with Toni in the Spa. I’ll put on something comfortable and watch a movie.”

“All right. See you later.”

I hung up. It was strange being in the house all by myself. Usually there was always someone home and that’s how I preferred it. I was about to head upstairs to exchange my jeans and shirt for something more comfortable when the bell rang.

Peering through the peephole, my stomach did a little flip. Savio stood on the doorstep, smiling.

I jerked back, stunned by the strong way my body reacted to his presence. I hadn’t seen him in over a year. He’d avoided me, I knew that now, and today he showed up as if nothing had happened.

I opened the door, trying to act casual, even as my emotions warred between fury and delight.

“Happy birthday, Kitty,” Savio said before I could tell him off and pulled out brand-new boxing gloves and shoes from behind his back. I’d been wanting these forever, but they cost too much so I’d kept using Diego’s old things.

My eyes widened and I snatched the shoes from his hands. I preferred to wear shoes when I sparred with Diego because he had a habit of stepping on my feet, and these boxing shoes were ultralight.

Savio smirked. “Good to know that you’re more excited about shoes than your fiancé. A typical girl after all.”

I bit back a comment, actually happy that he was here. The quiet house seriously freaked me out.

“Won’t you ask me in?” Savio asked with open amusement.

I hesitated. I was alone and explicitly forbidden from having male visitors. But Savio was my fiancé.

“I’m alone.”

Savio’s brows drew together. “On your birthday?”

“Emergency in the restaurant and my mom and Nonna had to take Carlotta to the ER.”

“Fuck,” Savio said. “Is she all right?”

His honest concern for my little sister made me forgive him momentarily. “Yeah. Her heart is too weak.” I stepped back and opened the door. Savio strode in, as usual, impeccably dressed in black jeans, white T and leather jacket. He looked impossibly good and it was the worst idea to invite him in when no one was around.

“Your dad and brother need to stop being so stubborn and accept the money my brothers and I offered to lend them.”

“To just interest rates?”

Savio turned and in our narrow corridor that brought us closer than I’d intended. His eyes slid over me. “No interest, Gem. We want to help our men. And we’ll soon be family. We wouldn’t even want it back, but your dad refuses to accept money.”

I nodded. That sounded like Dad and Diego. They both wanted to take care of us without help.

It was strange being alone with Savio, and suddenly I wasn’t sure how to act around him. Before seeing him, I’d been furious at him, but now I felt mostly confused.

“You look gorgeous. Eighteen suits you,” Savio said and set the boxing gloves down on the sideboard.

“Thanks,” I said, then quickly walked past him and into the living room to bring more space between us. Savio followed. He looked relaxed and self-assured as he took me in. He shrugged out of his leather jacket and the tight shirt beneath did nothing to hide his muscles.

I stopped in the middle of the room. Suddenly completely at a loss what to do. I’d never been on a date, of course. I hadn’t even spent time with Savio alone except for the few times he’d trained with me when I was younger. This was new to me.

Savio didn’t share my hesitation. Of course, he didn’t. He came closer and stopped in front of me. “Did you miss me?”

“You distracted yourself pretty good from what I hear, so you probably didn’t waste a single thought on me,” I bit out.

Savio took another step closer. I tilted my head back to keep an eye on his face, wary of his motives, and worse, my traitorous body. “Did Diego badmouth me again?”

“Is it a lie then?”

“Is what a lie?” he asked in a low voice. His head was closer than before and his gaze slid over my body once more. The possessive glint in his eyes sent a shiver down my back.

I stood my ground, however. I wouldn’t let him distract or sweettalk me. Diego’s warning and Toni’s words about Dakota rang in my head. “That you were with Dakota yesterday and God only knows how many more girls in Reno.”

Savio grinned, but there was something dark about it. “It’s true.” At least he didn’t lie, but my stomach turned, all the same, hearing the words. “But it’s also true that I thought about you every fucking day. I couldn’t get that last image of you in that dress out of my head. You were always in the back of my mind when I was with other girls.”

Did he expect a thank you? Anger surged up in me, and I turned around. My skin throbbed and I wanted to scream. “I’m glad to hear that you honor our engagement this much.”

Savio appeared in front of me again. “I do honor our engagement. I promised to marry you and I will. I enjoy seeing my initials on you.” He motioned to my ring and I lost it.