Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 126522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Giovanni huffs at his sons before boldly turning his back and striding into his busy dining hall. Men and women fill the room in gowns and suits that are worth more than I made in a year.
Marcus discreetly steps into my other side as we make our way around the room and I do what I can to walk normally and act as though every step I take isn’t killing me inside. I try to commit every face to memory, knowing that these are likely the men and women the brothers will one day lead. Assuming we’re still alive by then.
Levi leads me straight to the long table, pulling out a seat for me as the people watch on around us. Lingering stares capture my attention and I force myself not to look. I’m nothing more than property in this room, and I can guarantee that the other men here sure as hell haven’t brought their midnight entertainment along.
Marcus and Levi drop down in the seats on either side of me, watching the people around them with trained gazes as Roman sits directly opposite, a bored expression resting on his face.
Their father looks on with a narrowed gaze, shifting over all four of us in disapproval. I can guarantee that tonight’s invitation didn’t extend to me, but if he was surprised to see me, he didn’t let it show. Though, I have a feeling that stepping out of line in front of their father’s business associates isn’t exactly something new to them. Giovanni would be prepared for the worst where his sons are concerned, which more than likely explains why the room is littered with security.
Arrogant, loud chatter fills the room as men drain their glasses filled with scotch and whiskey. Women stand at their sides, pretending to be interested in their husband’s conversations as their gazes linger on the other men in the room, wondering which one they should try and seduce later in the night.
Ariana drops down beside Roman with a sultry smile resting along her lips, her seat immediately next to the head of the table. I let out a nervous groan. A part of me had hoped that Giovanni would be sitting way at the opposite end of the massive table, but with Ariana right here next to Roman, my chances are dwindling.
Ariana looks at me and I can’t help but stare right back as I watch her hand disappear under the table to rest on Roman’s thigh. She laughs as Roman’s expression hardens, and while it’s obvious that they have something going on, it’s clear in Roman’s hard glare that he’s not interested in pushing those particular boundaries tonight.
He pushes her hand away and a thrill travels through my veins. I have no right to feel jealous of their strange little relationship, yet here we are.
Ariana falters at Roman’s rejection, causing a soft chuckle to pull at the back of my throat. Her hard stare instantly shoots back to mine, and her eyes narrow in suspicion. As Giovanni moves into the space at the head of the table, she wipes the irritation off her face, looking up at him adoringly with both of her hands visible on the table.
“Let us take our seats,” Giovanni announces over the noise of the room, instantly gaining everyone’s attention as the chatter falls away to a distant hum. “Dinner is ready.”
33
What the ever-loving fuck have I got myself involved in?
Giovanni sits and within mere seconds, the men and their wives are filling each of the seats around us as though they have some kind of assigned seating. Their asses barely touch the chairs before waiters in penguin suits come pouring out of a side entrance with plates of food piled high on trays.
The waiters begin serving dinner with Giovanni and his wife, moving on to his sons before handing out meals to the other guests. I stare cautiously at the plate of roast chicken and vegetables in front of me, wondering if it’s safe to eat. After all, the boys warned me that people tend to lose their lives during these events. When you’re an enemy of the boss, I suppose anything could happen.
Conversation turns into hushed chatter as people speak to only those who sit around them, almost as though exceptional table manners is a requirement of sitting within Giovanni’s presence. Not wanting to draw attention to myself, I do everything I can to appear small. I eat small bites and only sip my water every now and then. My head is kept down at all times and I ignore the leers coming from Ariana across the table.
“It seems you’ve managed to get your girl under control,” Giovanni says to his sons, making my head snap up, fearing that he’s referring to me, but who else could he be talking about?