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.
Eyes flashing with veiled rage, yet he’s laying down his sword and raising a white flag. He’s in Carrero
domain and it’s not a place you want to pick a fight when you’re alone and unarmed. That stubborn set
of his jaw relaxes, and he leans back slightly in a less dominating stance, while still trying to pull off
confident.
‘‘Let’s not make a bit of skirt become a factor in a communication breakdown, there’s plenty of whores
in here to satisfy my needs. Fancy a few in my room tonight and maybe vary the styles.’’ He’s receding
with a smile but his face says everything; that anger is still there and Alexi is not relaxing either. I can
almost feel ripples of high octane hostility coming off him in waves, it’s a little suffocating.
‘‘Sure, pick a few and it shall be arranged. I have more on standby if we don’t have what you like.’’
Alexi steps back, but there is still a tiny subtle edge to his tone. When Santagato moves away he lets
go of my dress and glances back at me, his eyes skimming my face, and he drops his chin and tone for
my ears only, brushing his mouth almost against my ear.
‘‘Go to my office, now.’’ He breathes it at me and I swiftly remove myself from the room and head
straight for the lift, my heart in my throat, head swirling with dizziness and running like my arse is on
fire.
* * *
‘‘I don’t trust that bastard!’’ Alexi makes me jump when he comes walking into the room, and I almost
fall off the desk where I have been perched while waiting. I had been sitting picking my nails, lost in
thought when he appeared and I jump to my feet as he closes the door.
Lucie has stopped bothering to show up half the time so mostly we are alone on this floor nowadays
and it’s creepily quiet up here with all the new soundproofing downstairs. It feels like we are locked in
solitude, a million miles away from the club.
‘’What do you think he will do?’’ I ask impulsively, knowing he means Santagato, standing beside the
desk as I am too antsy to sit back down and my eyes are glued to him stalking around. He’s dressed
formally tonight and just looks painfully groomed and sleek in all black despite his agitated manner.
‘‘I insulted him by saying no to his demands, he’s not the type to just bypass something he wants. Stay
up here for the rest of the night and keep out of his way, let him leave and simmer. If you reappear he
will just try and goad me into another war over you.’’
‘’If it’s that bad … why didn’t you just let him have me?’’ I bite out bitterly, hating that in this world
women equal objects and it’s never going to change anytime soon. This is the reality of these men and
their archaic system and is one of the reasons why I can never get free or ahead in this man’s fucking
world.
Alexi throws me a dark look and I just shut my mouth, knowing I should still be wary of poking at him
when he’s brewing in a mood that isn’t one you want to escalate. ‘’That’s not how it works. He wants
what’s mine and I refused, it’s not about you, it’s about boundaries and power balance. The
Santagato’s and the Carrero’s have equal footing, so he and I are on the same level in the hierarchy. It
wasn’t about a woman; it’s about pushing dominance and standing. Why do you think he even comes
here, when he owns a million clubs just like this?’’ Alexi seems more agitated at my comment and
yanks off his tie and jacket and throws them on the desk carelessly, loosening his collar as he stalks to
the bar to pour a drink.
He drinks too much, every time I see him he’s pouring himself booze, and he needs to cut that shit
down before he puts himself in an early grave. If he drinks as much as he does here when he’s
elsewhere, then maybe I should worry he has a problem, not that he often gets drunk at all. Apart from
that night with Gino, Alexi never seems anything but sober. I just hate seeing him chucking it back
anytime he is here, and he drinks more than I do.
‘‘Men are complete twats. I will never understand any of you. All this dominance bullshit just makes
everything insane and dumbs you all down.’’ I blurt out in frustration and Alexi turns and smiles at me.
It’s a weird reaction but he props his arse on the edge of the bar and just looks at me for a long
moment. His face softening from that glacier frown to a softer, more relaxed look.
‘’I’m sorry.’’ He says it so matter of fact and emotionless that I just blanch at him.
‘‘For what? Santagato?’’ The great Carrero saying sorry! I should video this for the history books, and
yet I actually have no clue why he is apologising for something that is out of his control. He was the one
who stepped in to rescue me, once again. Seems to be becoming a habit with him.
‘’This morning.’’ He looks sombre when he says it and I instantly pause and just glance at him in
surprise, not sure how to react to that. I wasn’t expecting this.
‘‘I’m not a guy who says it very often but … I am sorry, I overreacted.’’ I just regard him and don’t know
what to say or feel.
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