Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 151410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
When many of the racers gathered around the bonfire, which was the tradition after every race, I finally emerged, too. I snatched a seat beside Dinara on a log. Adamo shared another log with the Unholy Trinity, and Roman rushed over there too.
My eyes briefly met Alessio’s. He looked almost sympathetic, but there was a hint of I told you so in his expression too. And he had warned me about Nevio. I’d like to think that I would have pulled away much sooner if I’d known what my infatuation would lead to, but if I was honest, I couldn’t be sure.
Dinara gave me a strange smile, her eyes keen. “Everything okay? You’ve been acting strange since the three showed up.”
I gave a small shrug. I didn’t want to lie, but I couldn’t tell the truth either. I had to call Carlotta again tomorrow, even if I knew what she’d say, the same thing she’d said when I’d shared how Nevio had stalked me in New York, minus the killing part, because I was worried the FBI or someone else was eavesdropping. She wanted me to tell on him, to talk to Remo, and if all else failed, even my father. But I simply couldn’t do it.
“I had an argument with them, so I’d rather not see them.”
I could tell from Dinara’s expression that she didn’t believe me. “Hmm.”
“Hey, can I join you?” Gigimo asked and sat down cross-legged on the dirty ground in front of us before we could say anything.
Dinara leaned over to me. “Do you want to be alone with him?”
“No,” I pressed out quickly. I didn’t even want him close.
Gigimo knew who I was and who my father was, but he wasn’t part of the mob, so maybe he didn’t understand what it meant. Plus, he didn’t know anything about my crazy stalker.
I glanced toward the log with the trinity, and of course, Nevio’s eyes were on us.
I wasn’t sure what to do. I was sick of him telling me what to do. If I wanted to chat with someone from the other sex, that was my business, not his. He probably still banged every girl he wanted.
“Are you and him an item?” Gigimo asked quietly, leaning closer so I could hear him over the blaring country music and the crackling of the fire. His arm bumped my shin.
“No,” I said, shocked that he’d think that.
Dinara emptied her beer with a chuckle. Apparently, she found the situation entertaining. I couldn’t blame her. I probably looked like a deer in the headlights.
Like the animal, I simply wanted to run away but couldn’t.
“I think I’ll go to bed,” I said eventually and rose to my feet.
“Do you want me to walk you to your trailer?” Gigimo asked and made a move as if to get up from the ground. That was the absolute last thing I needed.
Dinara rose to her feet. “I’ll take her. We have girl stuff to discuss anyway.”
I gave her a grateful smile when we were out of earshot and sight from Gigimo. Dinara wasn’t a woman who did girl talks, but she’d saved me from an awkward situation. “You can talk to me about everything, you know that, right? I’m not obligated to share any information with the Camorra.”
I nodded. I often forgot that Dinara sat between the chairs because her father had been the Pakhan of the Russian mob in the Chicago area before her half brothers had taken over.
We reached my campervan, and the motion sensor cast its dim glow on us. “If you don’t feel safe for any reason, I’ll help you figure something out, all right?”
“Nobody’s safer than Rory.” Nevio’s low voice came from the dark, almost giving me a heart attack.
Dinara and I whirled around to find Nevio a few steps behind us. His stalking talents were disturbing, albeit not surprisingly, outstanding.
“For heaven’s sake, Nevio, you almost made me pee my pants!” Dinara hissed.
Nevio stepped closer to us into the light, his hands casually tucked in his pockets. “I need to talk to Aurora.”
Dinara frowned at him, then glanced my way. I nodded my okay because I’d have to talk to him eventually. He was here because of me, and he wouldn’t leave.
“I’ll be over at the bonfire if you change your mind about going to bed.” Dinara gave Nevio a stern look, which he ignored before she walked away and disappeared behind another trailer. Now Nevio and I were alone and out of sight from prying eyes, which made my pulse spike. I wasn’t scared of Nevio, not in a way many people were scared of him. Maybe that was my main problem.
Nevio reached up for the lamp and turned it in the other direction so we weren’t in its direct beam anymore, then he leaned against my campervan. “Gigimo looked quite cozy next to you.”