Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
We’re ushered into a large entry room with a hanging chandelier. There’s lots of Southwest-style art all over the place, a tile floor, waiters moving around balancing trays on their arms laden with small bites and champagne glasses. There are other people here, some of whom Gavino recognizes. He introduces me to a judge, a banker, and a real estate broker, plus their pretty young wives. I get more than a few surprised stares.
“How come people keep looking at me?” I say softly as we move into the main living room where the bulk of the gathering is taking place. It’s ridiculously nice, with a bar on the far side staffed by a professional that keeps tossing bottles in the air, lots of couches, a crackling fireplace, and massive windows that likely boast a stunning view of the desert—though it’s mostly all black now with the sun down.
“They’re not used to seeing a girl on my arm,” he says quietly. “You’re with a gangster now and I tend to draw a lot of attention.”
“That’s less than ideal, considering.”
“I told you this wasn’t a great idea.”
“Let’s get a drink and try to drown our misgivings.”
He grunts in response, smiling slightly. We wade over to the bar, greeting people on the way, and he asks for a whiskey. The bartender makes a flashy show of pouring and I can tell it’s taking all Gavino’s patience not to say something. He snatches the drink when it’s done and tosses back half, grabs the bottle from the startled bartender, and refills it.
“Don’t be an asshole,” I say quietly as I steer him from away from the annoyed staff. “Remember, we’re being discreet.”
“Hard to do when half the men in this room are looking at you like they want to fuck you and the other half are pretending like they aren’t thinking about running a tongue between your ass cheeks to their wives and mistresses.”
“That’s not remotely true and really crude,” I say, blushing slightly. I brush my hand down the back of the couch and stop to face him. “Keep your eye on the prize.”
“I am,” he says, staring at me with his lips quirked up. He moves closer, his hand on my lower back. “Should I give the people something to talk about?”
“Gavino—”
He moves down and kisses me deeply before I can stop him. I grunt into his kiss, slightly annoyed at being a prop for his ego, but god, it does feel good. I’ve never been wanted before, not like this anyway. He breaks off and pats my ass, and I glare in response.
“Are you done marking your territory?”
“For now. You’re lucky I don’t bend you over and fuck you in front of everyone.”
“Gavino,” I hiss.
He laughs and pulls me close. “Relax. It’s all part of the game.”
“And what game is that?”
“Make everyone think I’m so horny for you I can’t control myself, so when we both disappear from the party, everyone assumes I’m fucking you in the toilet.”
I chew on my lip, glaring at the floor, blushing furiously. “Was that the plan all along or did you just come up with it now?”
“Just now, but you like it. I think it’s clever, and the best part is, it’s true.”
“God, you’re such a dick.” I take a breath, calm myself, and look around. “Where’s Malcolm?”
“Not here yet. I asked around on the way in, and allegedly, he likes to make a late entrance. We need to hang out here until he shows up, and once he’s in the room, that’ll be your window. Otherwise, we can’t be sure that he’s not in the house, lurking around. I’ll drag you off by the hair and we’ll disappear into the upstairs bathroom. But really, you’ll go to his office, the last door on the right, you can’t miss it. There, you do your thing. Five minutes, no more, then you come back and I fuck you for real.”
“Gavino.”
“All right, three minutes, but the fucking is nonnegotiable.”
“How about I take as long as I need and you fuck yourself for me? Make it nice and slow and finish before I show back up.”
“Mmm, I like it when you talk dirty.”
I roll my eyes, smiling, and tug his arm. “Let’s mingle and act like we’re here for something other than robbing the host blind.”
Gavino reluctantly leads me to a nearby group and we begin to talk about land deals and the real estate business in Phoenix. I’d learn a lot if I weren’t so nervous and if it weren’t so supremely boring. But despite myself, it seems that the Bruno family has been slowly getting into the development world for the last few years, and this deal with Malcolm is the culmination of all those efforts. For all his faults, it seems Casso’s a clever businessman and good at building networks of friends and allies, which makes it easier for him to shift more and more of the family’s capital into legitimate deals. The city’s full of gossip about them, or so it seems based on what people are willing to say with Gavino present.