CHAPTER 12
EVE
Vincent texted me earlier with Tom’s number, letting me know Tom will be picking me up for the movies at seven. It’s six-thirty and I’m already dressed in a jean skirt and a simple black T-shirt. I was worried I’d be late, and so I overshot my timing. I’d pick up a book, but my nerves are too frayed. And every time I look in the mirror, I find something else about my face that I’ve recently decided I can’t stand. After spending all of my life trying to cover up what I look like, it’s weird to all of a sudden give a shit. I know all I have to do is get through this movie, make Daniela believe the truth—that is, there is nothing going on between Vincent and me—and then, move on.
The fact that I’m going against my sister’s better judgment has me feeling incredibly guilty. Still, what choice do I have? If I can just get through tonight…
I pull up my phone and see Daniela’s newest post on Instagram. She took a selfie of herself in a long mirror, showing off her outfit. Pointy blood-red pumps, light denim that’s perfectly distressed with a hole at each knee, a plain white T-shirt tucked in at the front, a long camel sweater, and of course—a gorgeous red-quilted Chanel bag. Twenty-five thousand likes.
Out to the movies with bae tonight. Not sure I’ll be able to watch the movie, though… #luckiestgirlalive #hotterthanhollywood #datenight
I stare, unable to take my eyes off the picture. I know he told me this entire thing is for show but it all looks so… perfect! He told me he can’t turn from me, now he knows I’m here, but I don’t have the type of personality to decipher between social media lies and truth. I can’t understand the difference between what my eyes see and what my ears hear from Vincent. I Just can’t.
My phone pings.
Tom: I’m in the front of the quad.
Me: K
I walk out of the building, breathing in and out. In front of me is a gorgeous white Range Rover, windows darkly tinted.
I open the door, sitting in the passenger seat and buckling up. He’s silent next to me. I finally turn to stare at him. He’s wearing a black shirt and jeans. Holy crap, he looks scarier than I’ve ever seen him. Gone is the smiling playboy.
“Let’s talk a second.”
I exhale loudly, mentally gearing up for what I know won’t be a pleasant conversation.
“I know Vincent told you the truth about his relationship with Daniela and the family. And I know you guys had a thing going on last year.” I stare at him, trying not to show any emotion.
“Tonight is about you and me pretending to be more than friendly. We’ll do what we need to do to clean up Vincent’s fuck-up yesterday.” He stares at me expectantly, waiting for a reply.
“Yes, I know.” My voice is full of attitude. I’m furious, and for whatever reason, not afraid to show it.
“Do you also know that I’m going to have to touch you so that she understands you are not a threat to her? I don’t want you freaking out—”
“How do you know about that?” I ask accusingly. What has Vincent told him? Internally, I boil.
“I know a lot.” The asshole actually smiles, perfect white teeth shining.
“Part of my job description is to have Vincent’s back.” I blink a few times, understanding that Tom isn’t just a typical best friend. He’s Borignone mafia—here to support the prince.
“For what it’s worth,” he continues. “He had no choice but to explain it to me. I mean, shit, after all that went down with Carlos, someone had to clean up that mess, right, Eve?” He says my name with disdain.
“Listen to me.” I stare up at the roof of the car, gathering my strength. “I’m not sure what Vincent said or didn’t say to you, but it doesn’t matter anymore, does it?”
“That’s right,” he smirks, looking somewhat relieved. “So, I guess you really do understand that whatever you had with Vincent is finished. I was worried you had some hope in that pretty little head of yours. But you’re too smart. And you’d never want to be the cause of Vincent going to prison, right?” I bristle from his condescending tone.
He pulls out a piece of gum, unwrapping it slowly and sliding it into his mouth.
I blink. “Prison?”
“Daniela’s father launders our illegal cash. We can’t bury that shit in the fields Pablo Escobar style, can we? Ending things with Daniela means ending business with her daddy. And ending things with her daddy, means the family having dirty cash. The cops will be on our asses in seconds.” He chews his gum casually.
“And you’ve got plans for your own future, don’t you? To be the cause of an important man like Vincent Borignone being put away in prison would make a lot of people very. Fucking. Angry.” He blows a huge bubble with his gum before it explodes back into his mouth.
I swallow, understanding making my mouth dry up. This is a threat.
“Vincent is family, understand? Nothing comes before that. Not now, and not ever. Especially a piece of ass like yourself.”
I clench my teeth. “I heard you, asshole.” I stare at him, hard. I may be trying to run from my shitty upbringing, but I also refuse to be a scared little girl, threatened by the big bad mafia boy.
“Look, I’m not trying to hurt you,” he says, shrugging a shoulder. “I’ll make sure Daniela knows you aren’t a threat. I know you’ve been through a lot—and that for whatever reason—you and Vincent seem to be connected in some really intense way. I’ll play along tonight, and then we can all move on.” He snaps his gum again and I pull the seat belt down, buckling it over my body. It closes with a click.
I raise my head high and with dignity. “Yeah, okay. I get it. No more Vincent or risk putting him in jail. Lie to Daniela. The end,” my voice snaps.
“Quick learner.” He smirks, facing the wheel. “I see why Vincent is so enthralled. Behind that shy demeanor, you’re a damn shark.”
We drive for ten minutes down the West Side Highway and finally exit into the city streets. Pulling his car into a private parking lot, the sign reads: $75 per hour. Holy shit! The movie is two plus hours long. I can’t believe what he’s about to drop in parking costs.
He throws his keys to one of the guys who works there. We finally get to the AMC Theater and through the doors. The place is huge, but I immediately spot him.
Vincent stands by the closest ticket booth to the door, with Daniela by his side. She’s staring down at her phone in the same gorgeous outfit that I already saw…thanks to social media. Vincent and I lock eyes for a moment, and then I let my gaze take him in—from his dark jeans to his black hoodie. He’s wearing a red and black baseball hat, showcasing his straight roman nose and chiseled jaw. He’s scary and huge and sexy as all hell. My legs freeze up, but Tom grabs my hand, ushering me forward.
“Just breathe,” he tells me as we walk farther inside. I take his advice and try to relax as I move toward him.
“Yo,” Tom starts, pounding his fist with Vincent. Daniela puts up a manicured finger, the universal sign for give me a minute. “I just have to reply to this …” she says to no one in particular as she stares at her phone, furiously typing.
“Eve, I brought your jacket. You forgot it in the library the other day.”
My eyes widen as he holds up a coat. What. The. Hell? I’m staring at a beautiful silvery gray puffer jacket, that until this moment, I’ve never seen before in my life.
“That’s not mine,” I say under my breath, staring at him in confusion.
“Yes. It’s yours. You left it in the library, remember?” His eyes flit over to Daniela, who is still totally oblivious to us; her entire focus is on her phone.
I swallow hard, taking it from his hands. It’s exactly what I’d buy if I could afford it. Tears prick my eyes, but I swallow them back.
I squeeze the jacket in my hands before trying it on. It’s so soft and light. I zip it closed, tying the belt in a knot around my waist. It’s a perfect fit. I touch the hood and my jaw drops to the floor when I feel it, realizing that it’s lined in what feels like real fur. I look at Vincent, whose eyes have so much warmth in them that I die a little inside.
I turn to Tom, who looks like he’s about to rail. He’s squinting at Vincent with a what-the-fuck look on his face.
When Tom sees I’m watching, he looks me up and down, almost resigned. “Look at you. You look like a beautiful little Eskimo.” He smiles not unkindly, throwing the hood over my head playfully so I’m practically drowning in warmth and softness.
I pull the hood back down and watch as he looks at Vincent. “Good thing you brought her jacket, man. It’s supposed to be a freezing winter.” The sarcasm drips off his voice.
“Yeah, it is.” Vincent’s standing tall with an almost dead-eyed stare when Daniela pops her head up, breaking the tension.
“Hey guys,” she says happily, completely having missed the exchange.
“Daniela, you remember Eve?” Tom asks, throwing a heavy arm around my shoulders.
I stare up at her, probably looking as scared and nervous as I feel. She is so tall, staring down at me with a wry grin as if she’s trying not to laugh. Insecurity blazes through me.
“Yeah, of course.” She raises a perfectly plucked eyebrow. “We met at a party and then the library. While Vincent was tutoring her. Right, baby?” She holds onto Vincent’s arm possessively, pursing her lips that somehow look bigger today than the other night.
All of a sudden, her face morphs—as she looks me up and down—with something like shock. “Wait. Where did you get that jacket?”
“Uh, a friend bought it for me.” I dart my eyes to the side nervously.
“How is that fucking possible?” she quickly replies. “I’ve been looking everywhere for that coat in that color, and it’s impossible to find! Is it Moncler?” She’s fuming. I’m ready to rip it off my back and hand it to her if she’ll just calm down and leave me alone.
She puts her hands on the belt of my coat, and I guess it confirms her suspicions. “It doesn’t make sense that you have it.”
“You’re hilarious, Daniela. It’s just a fuckin’ coat. Go to Bergdorf or whatever and pick one up if you like it so goddamn much.”
“You’re funny, Vincent,” she says mockingly. “I can’t just pick it up because that color is not available.” She moves her hands to her hips, waiting for me to speak.
“Well,” I say, my voice quivering. “A friend of mine works at Bergdorf, so I’m sure that’s how she managed to get it.” I shrug, trying to act as if one of the biggest socialites in New York City isn’t about to rip my head off.
“What department?” Daniela counters.
“She’s, um, at the hair salon,” I say with my head high. The lie twists in my gut, but I do my best to act like the words out of my mouth are truth. And since Janelle does actually work at the salon, I’m sure I could back up my story if need be.
“Whatever.” She pulls the phone back from her purse and furiously types, probably ripping her assistant a new one for not getting her this jacket before I did.
Vincent grunts something that sounds like, “The movie’s starting soon,” and gives the tickets to the bald guy at the ticket booth. He rips them in half, handing the stubs back to each of us as we pass. Vincent chooses seats in the back; no one is behind us.
“Anyone want popcorn?” Vincent asks. I’d love some, but there’s no way in hell I’m opening my mouth to say yes. I need to get through the night in one piece.
“Get me a small. No butter. Not even a little bit. Totally plain, okay?”
I’m internally cursing Vincent. He couldn’t just buy me a regular jacket from The Gap or something? He had to go and buy me something like this? God, it must have cost a fortune.
Vincent leaves the theater. I think about the crunchy, salty popcorn and sweet fake butter, and my stomach grumbles. Too bad I won’t be having any tonight.
Tom takes my hand, lacing his fingers through mine. His hands aren’t hard and calloused like Vincent’s, but they are still warm. Daniela watches us with a smile on her face. One thing is for sure—Tom is in it to win it. I’ve got to get my head back in the game and make sure she believes that I’m here for Tom. I snuggle closer into his side.
“Aw! You guys are seriously cute together.”
“Thanks,” I reply, trying my best to act happy, even though I’m anything but. This movie couldn’t start fast enough.
Daniela clicks her tongue. “So, Evelyn, where are you from?”
Tom laughs. “Come on, Daniela. What is this, the inquisition? And her name is Eve, not Evelyn.” Tom squeezes my hand in what feels like solidarity.
“Get a life, Tom. I’m trying to make conversation.” She smiles, and I feel my palms start to sweat. “If she’s your girlfriend, I’m going to be spending lots of time with her, right?”
“She’s from the city. Grew up downtown.”
“Really? What part?” She seems happy, but a nagging voice in my head reminds me that this is a test.
“Near SoHo,” he replies smugly, staring at me as if I’m heaven on earth.
She looks at us skeptically, and I do my best to stare back at Tom as if I couldn’t be happier.
“What school did you go to?”
I put my hair behind my ears. “I went to a public school, actually.”
“Public?” she says incredulously. “And you still got into school at Columbia? Holy shit, you must be freakin’ smart then. Half of these kids got in because their families donate or went here themselves.”
“Isn’t she something?” Tom says, staring at me with stars in his eyes.
Daniela hums, looking me up and down. “You’re so… small. Kind of like a little girl, actually.” She’s doing that thing again, where she’s laughing at me with her eyes. She hasn’t said anything so bad, but the energy she’s giving off is vile.
“Little girl?” Tom stares at my boobs blatantly and my face heats. “Not in any of the ways it matters, she doesn’t. She’s definitely…fresh, though, if that’s what you’re implying.” He licks his lips and I’m so embarrassed, I can’t bear to look up.
Moments later, the previews begin and the theater darkens. Tom lets go of my palm and I feel relieved. I’m trying to settle into my seat when Vincent returns, handing Tom two drinks.
“Eve,” Vincent whispers, handing me a huge popcorn and four different candy boxes. My eyes widen, and I want to jump up and down and scream in excitement. He turns to Daniela next, giving her a small bag.
Movies are expensive as hell, and add in all these treats? It’s something I’ve never been able to afford. When Janelle and I were younger, we’d buy bootleg DVDs from the guys in Chinatown who would bring a camcorder to the movies, record the entire film, and then sell the recording for $1.99 to kids like us. The picture was always a little shaky because no one’s hand can stay perfectly straight, and the screen would black out for a minute or two if anyone in the audience stood up to use the bathroom or something. But still, it was as close to a movie-going experience as I could expect.
My gaze moves to Vincent and Daniela, whose hand rubs up and down his leg possessively. His form is rigid. “Ugh, I can’t see with this guy in front of me. Can we switch seats, Vincent?” Daniela asks.
They both stand and Danielle squeezes by Vincent, rubbing against his body like a cat before planting herself in his old seat. Shit. Vincent is now next to me. His muscular thigh brushes up against mine and I squeeze my legs together, sitting straighter in my chair. He reaches over to me, pulling out boxes of candy from my side. “You feel like chocolate tonight?” I turn to face him and swallow hard, nodding. He opens a box of Reese’s Pieces and pours them into my popcorn. “Eat them together; it’s the best. Used to eat this as a kid and loved it.”
I stare at him dumbly.
“Go on,” he says. I put my hands into the popcorn, pulling up a handful of popcorn mixed with the chocolate. The minute I put it all into my mouth, I let out an involuntary moan. “This is beyond good,” I tell him with a mouthful. He chuckles and nods at me. “You sure you don’t want some?”
He puts his hand in the popcorn, smiling. Bringing up a handful, he puts it into his mouth. “Delicious,” he tells me, staring at my mouth. The tension between us is so loud nothing other than him registers.
He leans over me, lifting a drink from the holder next to my seat. “I brought you Cherry Coke and regular. Try them both to see which you want.” I bend down, wrapping my lips around the straw. “Cherry,” I tell him, my voice a whisper.
“Regular Coke for you,” he tells Tom. His eyes don’t leave mine.
“Damn. I love the cherry!” Tom complains.
“You want mine?” I immediately ask, turning my head.
“No,” Vincent interjects, leaving no room for negotiation. I risk a glance at Daniela, who is thankfully completely focused on her cell phone.
Finally, the movie starts, and I try to relax. Staring at the screen, Vincent leans toward me, shifting his arm so we share an armrest. Then his leg rubs against my leg. I want to concentrate, but it’s basically impossible with him this close. I can smell him, all woodsy, soapy, and clean. With each passing minute, he inches closer until his enormous hand is wrapped around my thigh. I clench my teeth, unsure what is going on right now. I shift forward to see Daniela; thankfully she’s totally oblivious and still staring at her phone.
Vincent’s fingers rove higher on my leg. I keep my head forward, staring at the screen, trying not to pant. My mind and body are engaging in a war right now.
A little higher…
I should make him stop!
His hands are so warm…
His fingers begin to move up and down in a steady rhythm, turning my body into a furnace. What is he doing to me?
I turn toward him, wanting to give him a what-the-fuck-are-you-doing look, but he’s still facing the screen. I can see the outline of his dark lashes and the shadows across his sharp cheekbones and scruffy jaw. His face looks even more fierce in this dim light. I never thought it was possible for someone to be so captivating.
His hand roams even higher now, and I lean my head back against the seat, all rational thought disappearing. I’m assaulted by memories of what these fingers can do. Sweat beads on my lower back as his hand drifts upward, centimeter by agonizing centimeter, moving closer to my core. I forgot how possessive he is, but he’s showing me right now—loud and clear—that he’s the only one in control. Holy shit, but I want to straddle him and then punch him in the face!
I watch from my side-eye as he lifts my Cherry Coke, bringing the straw to his full lips. Tilting his head back slightly, I can see his Adam’s apple move with each swallow. It’s as if he is completely unaffected. Meanwhile, my panties are damn near soaked. I’m mindless, all rational thought exiting my brain.
Tom stands, walking past all of us to I guess use the bathroom.
Daniela stands up next. “I’ve gotta make a call.”
We turn to each other at the same time; he puts his hands around my ass and lifts me straight into his lap. Oh my God. He’s so hard. Insistent. Grinding me against him and kissing me like his life depends on it. His tongue drifts down my throat. Before I can even process being on Vincent, he moves me back to my chair. Not a moment later, Tom and Daniela both shuffle back to their seats. Can they hear my heavy breathing?
He doesn’t touch me for the rest of the movie.
When the film is over, Tom throws an arm around my shoulders. I know I’m supposed to act like we’re together, but after that kiss with Vincent, I feel confused and dazed, my heart still beating erratically. We walk out of the theater as a group, and I try not to stumble over my own feet.
Daniela seems relieved; as far as I’m concerned, mission accomplished. Now that I’m no longer an issue, I’m ignorable.
We all say goodbye and Tom drops me off at my dorm. Before I can get out, he locks the door, keeping me within the confines of his car. I turn around, wanting to ask what the hell he’s doing when he starts. “Eve. Stay away from Vincent. Our life—and our lifestyle—isn’t for a girl like you. Go meet some nice normal guy. You deserve that. That’s what Angelo would want, too.”
I exhale. For a moment, I forgot that my Angelo is an associate. He may be lowly in their ring, but he’s still part of them.
I hear the pop of the door unlocking. As I walk to my room, Tom’s advice is on repeat in my head. Still, I can’t ignore what Vincent does to me—not just in body, but in mind, too. I need to stay away from him because when we’re together, the tension is too much to manage. How could I have made out with him like that, and in a public place no less? He makes me completely mindless.
I wish I didn’t know who he was behind the mafia man; I wish I had no clue how loving and caring and brilliant he is beneath the hard surface. I sigh, taking off my clothes and gently placing the jacket on my desk chair, and then sliding on an old band T-shirt I got ages ago from the thrift shop.
I know I should give the jacket back, but I don’t want to.
Crawling into bed, sleep refuses to come. The thought of tonight being the last time my lips will ever touch Vincent’s is killing me inside. I shut my eyes and somehow catch his scent; my heart slows down and I fall asleep, imagining him next to me.