Faked: A Dark Mafia Romance Read online

  “Speak of the devil.” Michael grinned as the man got up. “Li, join us.”

  “Hey, Liana. How are you?”

  “I’m good. It’s Leo, right?”

  Leo beamed, as though his name falling from my lips had made his night. He offered me his chair. “I’ll let you catch up with your brother.”

  “Thanks.”

  I took my seat, and he drifted away. My elbows upset the pile of cards, earning a hiss from Michael.

  “Watch it.”

  “Sorry. What are you playing?”

  “Hand and Foot. Not that it matters.” Michael shoved the cards together and clicked his tongue. “Vinn can’t sit still long enough to finish a round. Anyway, thank you for coming. I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”

  “What’d that guy want?”

  “You.” Michael chuckled, packing his Ziplock. “He asked for permission to date you.”

  “Really?”

  “He’s a bit old, though. Thirty-eight.”

  I spotted Leo nearby. He caught my eye and winked. “Someday, a man will ask me out instead of going to you.”

  “Not done in our world.”

  “A girl can dream.”

  He snorted. “You’re thinking like an outsider, not a Costa.”

  Daniel’s constant refrain.

  My throat tightened. “He would’ve wanted me to follow my heart.”

  “Daniel would’ve sold you to the highest bidder.”

  That sank a stone in my gut. Daniel wasn’t perfect, but he was like my dad. Michael felt the same way, but it had never stopped him from insulting Daniel.

  “Sorry,” Michael murmured, looking remorseful for once. “I’m trying.”

  I nodded.

  He’d turned a one-eighty after marrying a kind woman named Carmela, whom he’d met after Serena died. I was happy for my brother, but a pang of jealousy hit my chest. I’d kill for a relationship like theirs.

  “I just want what you have, Mike.”

  He raised a brow. “Carmela?”

  I threw a straw at him. “You know what I mean, idiot.”

  “I didn’t expect to love her,” Michael conceded, smiling wistfully. “Though I’d hoped it would lead to something more.”

  “I can’t have that, too?”

  “Sure you can.” Michael eyed the seashell hanging around my neck. “Where’s the guy who gave you that?”

  Dead.

  A vision consumed my mind—navy dress pants with a red stripe, seagulls cawing, warm waves lapping my feet, and the soldier who folded my fingers over a jagged shell. Our love was never allowed to blossom, because it’d been one-sided. Unrequited.

  When I finally realized he was gone, I smothered those feelings. I mourned and moved on. I shook my head, clearing my senses of the sea and his gentle touch.

  “He’s out of the picture.”

  Michael digested that, his brows creasing. “So you know, I’ve received offers demanding your hand in marriage. I’ve said no to them, but you have a very aggressive suitor. He’s a biker in Legion.”

  My heart pounded as I pictured the man who’d terrorized Michael’s wife.

  “A biker? Who?”

  “You’ve never met him, but he’s seen you at events.”

  My chest tightened as the sounds in the bar seemed to magnify. “You’re not considering this.”

  “It’s not that simple—”

  “After what happened to Carmela, you’d give me to them?”

  “I’m stalling him,” he ground out. “There’s a difference.”

  “When did he propose?”

  “A while ago.” Michael tucked the cards into his jacket, his hooded eyes narrowing. “You’re my sister. You’re more than a bargaining chip. That’s why I want to set you up with someone who will treat you well. I don’t care who you pick but do it fast. This guy is relentless.”

  “Can’t you tell him no?”

  “Unfortunately, we’re in a bind. He’s high up. I can’t say no without a good reason, like if you’re already engaged.”

  “Ah. Engaged. I get it.”

  “No, Li.” His lips pulled into a taut smile. “None of my guys will settle for a fake engagement.”

  “But you just dumped this in my lap! How long do I have? Two weeks? One? You expect me to find a husband like that—and why am I even considering this? I’m not getting married. I’m barely legal to drink.”

  “It’s not what I wanted, either.”

  “I have my own life, Michael—separate from this mafia shit.”

  “Mafia shit,” he repeated, his tone cooling. “You wouldn’t have a sick-ass apartment in Allston-Brighton if it weren’t for mafia shit. You wouldn’t be able to afford the tuition at your ridiculously expensive Ivy League school or have any money for shopping, food, and clothes, if not for me.”

  “I need those things.”

  “I know you do, but show some respect for the Family.” Michael leaned over the table, pinning me with his intense glare. “You’ve had it easy, baby girl. You have no idea what it’s like to grow up hungry. You’ve had a cushy upbringing, and I’ve never asked you for a goddamned thing. All I want from you is your part.”

  I followed his gaze to Leo. “Which is?”

  “I’m not saying you have to marry him, but give Leo a chance.”

  Fuck. “What if I hate him?”

  “You won’t. He’s nice.”

  Whatever.

  It wasn’t a big deal to talk to a man for a few minutes. I’d entertain Michael, make my excuses, and split, but my brother was high if he thought I’d elope with a stranger. No, I’d get out of marrying the Legion biker on my own. I stood and headed toward the bar, forcing a smile as I approached Leo.

  He was handsome in the traditional sense, but he wasn’t drop-dead gorgeous. Crow’s feet wrinkled his skin, and gray peppered his brown mane. He stepped aside, giving me his stool.

  “Hey, there.”

  I liked his voice. It was smooth and thick, and as tempting as a warm bath. I sat beside him, which unfortunately gave me a front-row seat to Vinn making out with the flavor of the week.

  “So.” Leo stared at me shrewdly. “You old enough to be here?”

  “I’m twenty-one.”

  Relief rippled across his brow. “What’s your poison?”

  “I’m still figuring that out.”

  “Then I’ll have to guess.” He flagged the bartender. “Two Moscow mules.”

  Leo passed the copper drink and bumped his mug against mine.

  I sipped, my nose wrinkling at the harsh taste. “So, what do you do?”

  “I deal with construction. I’m a project manager. Lots of meetings with architects and city hall officials.” He waved it off and leaned into his hand. “What about you? College student?”

  “Yeah. Bourton.”

  He whistled. “Wow.”

  “Don’t be impressed. I have no clue what I’m doing.”

  “They don’t let just anyone into Bourton.”

  “Sure they do. You just need deep pockets or a family member who was an alumnus.” I motioned him closer, whispering. “Have you heard of Alessio Salvatore?”

  “Of course.”

  “He paid off the board to admit his wife. She didn’t even take the SATs.” The injustice of it burned every time I glimpsed her on campus.

  “Sounds like my line of work. Bureaucracy gets waived with enough cash. Do you know what you want to do?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Well, a girl like you has a lot of options. Especially for dating.”

  “Because I’m Michael’s sister?”

  “Because you’re beautiful.”

  “Thank you.” The compliment stroked my body like warm feathers. It was a little cheesy, but I liked the attention.

  “I saw you here a couple of days ago. All by yourself.” He clicked his tongue. “No bodyguards, either.”

  I grabbed his wrist. “Tell Michael, and I’ll kill you.”

  “
Do I get any last requests?”

  “None.”

  He laughed, his rich voice smoothing to a decadent silkiness. “I won’t say a word, but I insist on walking you home.”

  “If you must.”

  My brother’s promotion to consigliere came with its consequences, like an increased risk of being shot. Michael often complained that Vinn refused his security.

  I hated him, but still hoped he was safe.

  My gaze darted to Vinn.

  Leo’s finger slid along my jaw, pulling me toward him. My skin tingled as he released me.

  “Your hand looks heavy. Can I hold that for you?”

  My cheeks burned, but I nodded.

  Leo’s rough calluses glided over my palm, and then he balled me in his fist. Warmth buzzed inside me as he stroked me, right there on the bar counter.

  I chanced a look at Vinn, who’d stopped reacting to the girl on his lap. His stare struck me through the smoky lighting. Seconds ticked by, and Vinn stood, a fortress of power.

  He muttered something that made his date flinch. Abandoning her, he stormed across the room. He was like a dark cloud, gaining energy, siphoning attention.

  What the hell?

  Men in suits gathered behind him like predators sensing a kill.

  This would not end well.

  Vinn was tall and packed with enough muscle to fuel a football team, and he seemed to despise Leo, who greeted him warmly.

  “Mr. Costa. Can I help you?”

  “Who are you?”

  Vinn’s graveyard voice was like a magic spell, infecting the atmosphere with fear. A deathly quiet interrupted the clinking of pool balls, the laughter, and the clattering of flatware. Everybody watched us.

  Leo cleared his throat. “Leo DiMaggio.”

  Vinn didn’t seem soothed by the information. He stared at Leo as though he’d just admitted to fucking me without a condom. His lip curled, taking in our closeness with apparent disgust. His accusatory gaze landed on me.

  My stomach clenched.

  What did I do?

  Leo squeezed my hand. It felt nice, like lukewarm tap water, but Vinn’s presence made it off-putting.

  Vinn glared at our linked hands. “DiMaggio, a word in private.”

  “Be back soon.” Leo sighed heavily, following Vinn to a deserted corner.

  Chatter broke out as they walked away. I fiddled with my jewelry until their animated discussion pushed my curiosity and overwhelmed my common sense.

  I approached them, Vinn’s baritone railroading Leo’s softer, insistent words.

  “This isn’t happening. You’re not dating that girl.”

  Unexpected warmth shot through me. Since when did Vinn take a vested interest in who I dated?

  “You can’t be serious,” Leo croaked, gaping at Vinn. “What’s your problem with me?”

  “I don’t have to explain myself.”

  “So it has nothing to do with you wanting to add her to your Rolodex of flings?”

  “Nobody uses a Rolodex anymore, but you wouldn’t know that because you’re too fucking old.” Vinn’s sneer rose to a shout as he cornered the increasingly rattled Leo. “I can make a scene and hurt you, or you can walk out of here. Those are your options. No. Don’t look at Michael. He can’t help you.”

  “He gave me permission!”

  Vinn’s black eyes flickered in the direction of Michael, whose stare burned with an air of a ravenous wolf waiting for the other to kill his struggling prey. “Doesn’t matter. You didn’t ask for mine.”

  “I wasn’t aware I had to.”

  “Not everybody knows how close I am to Michael’s family, so I’ll give you a pass. One fucking pass. I don’t approve, and it stops now.”

  “Based on what?”

  “She is a catch.” Vinn’s glare could’ve melted paint from the walls. “You are not.”

  I winced, the pain from that vicious comment nailing me in the gut. “Vinn, stop. You’re way out of line.”

  Vinn kept his focus on Leo, pointing at the door. “Go.”

  Leo’s dejected gaze flicked to my shoes before he murmured a goodbye. Then he turned and disappeared into the crowd of smirking men.

  Mortified, I went after him.

  Vinn grabbed my arm, pulling me into his orbit. “You’re not seeing him again.”

  “What is wrong with you?”

  Vinn’s grip tightened. “Me? What are you doing with a loser like DiMaggio?”

  “We were getting along fine.” I shrugged, irritated. “You didn’t have to run him off. I liked him.”

  “Unless you’re into changing adult diapers in a few decades when he turns geriatric, I suggest you move on.”

  The bastard was probably right.

  That didn’t mean I’d thank him for ruining my night. Annoyance darted my heart as he winked, apparently taking my silence as submission. Then the arrogant fuckhead dragged his fingers through my hair, patting my back as though he’d done me a huge solid.

  Rage festered inside me like an infected wound, boiling to the surface. He was such a condescending asshole.

  I couldn’t take it anymore.

  “Fuck off, Vinn.”

  Michael’s groan cut through the male, scandalized jeers, but I ignored his chastising Li-ah-na and stared Vinn down.

  “What did you say to me?”

  I squared my shoulders. “Fuck off.”

  Michael shot upright. “Li, that’s enough.”

  No.

  I’d never been so rude to Vinn. I’d always been a tongue-tied, stammering mess, throwing myself at the nearly-ten-years-older man with an embarrassing lack of self-control, but I was finished with being nice. I didn’t care how bad it looked.

  “Everybody here might scrape and bow to this asshole, but I won’t.” I tore my gaze from Vinn and glared at a horrified Michael. “I’m not a sycophant. If you don’t like it, my middle finger salutes you.”

  I flashed it at them and strolled for the exit, elbowing past grinning men. A couple of them cheered as I burst outside into the streets clinging with a warm mist. I headed toward the subway, heart hammering.

  “Li, wait!”

  I kept walking.

  “Hey.” Vinn jogged to my side. “You’re ignoring me now?”

  “You’re not worth it.”

  “Says the girl who used to be all up in my shit.”

  “Yeah, well.” My face burned at the reminder. “Those days are over.”

  “You’re telling me. I don’t tolerate—”

  “Go nurse your wounded pride with someone else.”

  He laughed. “When did you become so difficult?”

  “About the same time I stopped giving a damn about you.”

  “Liana.” He gripped my elbow, stopping me. “I’m not messing around. You can’t talk to me like that.”

  “I’ll insult you however I want when you mess with my personal life.”

  “You won’t—”

  “And whenever you’re with another woman, I’ll be there to make a big stink about how their vagina isn’t the right fit for your cock and run them off.”

  Vinn raised his brow so high that it was in danger of joining his hairline. I’d never said the word cock in front of him. If anything, he seemed amused.

  “Have at it. I’d pay good money to see that.”

  I snorted. “You might change your mind when you can’t get hookers to line up for you anymore.”

  “You have a filthy mouth.”

  “I’ve grown up, in case you haven’t noticed.”

  Judging by his bobbing throat, he hadn’t. “Leo’s not your type.”

  “How would you know?”

  His mouth thinned. “What were you doing in there?”

  “Looking for a one-night stand.”

  A flash of warmth passed through his stony expression, like a match igniting kindling. “What was the plan? Leave with the first guy who paid you attention?”

  “Yeah. So?”

  I smirked w
hen that seemed to infuriate Vinn.

  “I should’ve let you take off with DiMaggio,” he said acidly. “He would’ve lasted about five seconds.”

  “I doubt it. I’ve dated older men.” I hadn’t, but Vinn’s outrage tickled my stomach. “I think he would’ve been quite the ride. Handsome. Confident. Nice. A great flirt. Gosh, the things he said.”

  “He’s lucky I didn’t hear them.”

  “Would you have hurt him?”

  “Of course.” He ground the word out. “That’s sick.”

  He still saw me as a little girl.

  A ripple of anger went through me. “I’m not a China doll. I won’t break if I go out with Leo DiMaggio.”

  “No, but he will.”

  I shot him a penetrating glare. “Not up to you.”

  A shadow flickered over his face. “Liana, I’m trying to protect you.”

  “All you did was massage your ego.” My gaze dragged down his body and flicked to his slanted eyes. “Makes a girl wonder why you feel the need to flex your muscles. Are you not measuring up in another way?”

  “I’d tell you to go fuck yourself, but I’m sure you’ll be disappointed.”

  “Hilarious.” I stepped around him, and he uttered a frustrated noise.

  “How are you getting home?”

  “The same way I arrived,” I threw over my shoulder, surprised that he still followed. “What are you doing?”

  “You can’t take the subway.”

  “Yes, I can.”

  “Martial law. Mandated curfew.” He gestured at the walled-up businesses. “There’s a biker war tearing apart this city. Michael would lose his shit.”

  “Leave me alone.”

  He grabbed my elbow and yanked me into his chest. “Stop blowing me off.”

  “It’s annoying, isn’t it?”

  “Enough.”

  He clutched my neck, startling me. Then he pushed. My back struck the wall, but the hand didn’t pin me there.

  His eyes.

  Fathomless, black, and fiery.

  They wouldn’t let me go.

  Vinn’s frosty demeanor rarely thawed. He was a beautiful, giant block of ice suspended in outer space. I used to think he was unbreakable, but I was mistaken—he was unreachable. It seemed that I’d provoked him into an unreasonable rage. The freezer burn spread where his touch lingered, and, as he closed the distance between us, heat consumed me.