Carmine

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When I wake up the next morning, Eva’s head is resting on my chest and my arm is wound around her waist in a much too intimate embrace. The heat of her body seeps into mine, keeping me warm, and her knee is touching my morning wood. Since I’ve never woken up holding a woman – simply because I haven’t wanted to – I’m frozen in shock. I must’ve fallen into a deep sleep last night to not have noticed her cozying up to me.

I typically leave after I fuck so that there’s no danger of finding myself in a vulnerable position with some random woman; however, even though we didn’t fuck, that’s exactly where I am now. Suddenly, it crosses my mind to check to see if my gun is still on the nightstand and, thank god, it is.

Trying to get my bearings, I lie there staring at the ceiling. But when Eva moves her leg across my hip, I jump into action, grabbing her wrists and pinning them beside her head. Her eyes fly open, and I can tell I’ve scared the shit out of her.

“What the fuck?” I demand, clearing my dry throat as she blinks and blinks.

“What?” her voice is sleep-laden and husky, which is sexy as fuck.

“Why were you in my arms?”

“Oh, my god,” she declares, horrified, yet a smile pulls at her full, red lips. “I don’t know. I swear.”

Her nipples are hard and poking into my chest, stirring my hard-on, so I scratch my head and flop onto my back. “I’m tempted to believe you.”

In a flash, the previous evening comes back to me, and I realize that the drinks probably knocked us out.

Christ!

In addition, I was very loose-lipped last night, but so was she, and she also misspoke a few times. She said my parents left us, which means that she has siblings. And I’ve finally figured out why she looks so unique, because she’s half Indian. Moreover, she doesn’t know her mother is deceased, or she’s lying. And how can she have never eaten sushi? Our lives have been so vastly different.

A knock on the door in her room has Eva firing up into a sitting position while rubbing her eyes.

Without hesitation, I climb out of bed and get my gun, approaching the connecting door and signaling toward her room as I instruct, “Open it. If you’re questioned, you were with the two men from the orgy last night. Do not say anything else.”

She opens her mouth and then clamps it shut, undecided, before she nods and complies.

I close the door and try to listen, but it’s useless.

Eventually, I toss my gun onto the bed as I pass it on my way to the bathroom and take a quick shower. After getting a clean charcoal suit and white dress shirt from my bag, I throw them on, disliking all the wrinkles. Yet I have no time to be bothered about that, so I pack my old suit. But when I reach into my slacks to fish out my phone, it’s missing.

Searching the room, I don’t spot it anywhere as I recall how Eva was pretty interested in my pockets last night.

Goddammit! Did she play me?

Infuriated, I wrench open the connecting door, but she’s gone. Barging back into my room, I get my gun and stash it in my waistband before I storm out. I stride down the corridor, and as I round the corner, I bump into Eva, who’s wearing an odd expression very unlike the one she woke up with.

“Where the hell is my phone?” I crowd her, and she pushes me back with force.

“I don’t know.” She peers around and says, being seemingly honest, “It must be in your room because I didn’t take it. I need to go; Roman’s coming.” Then she hurries off.

I return to my room and check beneath my bed, and to my surprise, it’s lying on the floor. Relieved, I pick it up, and since it’s already ten a.m., I have numerous missed calls from Adriano, my sister, and my parents. I text everyone that I’ll call them later, except Adriano, who I immediately contact to give an update, and he answers quickly, “Brother, I’m glad to hear you’re still alive...”

“I’ve been busy,” I reply, plowing my hand through my messy hair and reprimanding myself for my carelessness – all I managed to do last night was fight not to fuck Eva.

“Apparently. With what? Did you discover anything?”

“Nothing yet, but Roman is definitely up to something, because I think he instructed one of the escorts to target me.” I don’t reveal that the escort is Eva, who worked at Club 7. Why? I have no fucking clue.

“That doesn’t bode well. Is he trying to suspend our contract maybe?”

“Could be. I’m still here today, and I’m going to drill Gwen now because I haven’t had a chance.”

“Well, contact me more often, Carmine,” he orders in his boss’s tone. “Momma called to ask me where you were since she didn’t talk to you all day yesterday.”

I’ve been too preoccupied with Eva. Ordinarily, at least once a day, I speak to my mother, who suffers from lupus.

“I’ll call her later. I need to go.” With that, I cut the call and pace out again.

Unluckily, I run into Gwen in the hall.

“Good morning,” she greets, batting her eyelashes.

“Buongiorno.” Good morning.

I offer her my arm. Since she’s here now, I might as well start seducing her into telling me what her brother’s up to. If I’m around Eva, she’ll only confuse me more with her games.

“Did you sleep well?”

“I did,” I respond. With a certain thief who I can’t figure out at all.

While escorting Gwen to the living room, I vow to concentrate on grilling her, but once again, I search for a different woman, curious to know if Eva stuck to our story.

“Do you want a coffee?’ Gwen asks.

“I’d actually like some breakfast.”

“I’ll go see about it. Be right back.” She approaches the door to the adjacent kitchen and disappears through it.

At that moment, Eva enters the room, and as I take my seat, I note the graceful way she walks among these other women.

I’m straightening my crooked collar when she comes up to me and taunts, “I presume you found your phone.” Then she frowns, having caught me adjusting my clothes, and motions her hand up and down the length of me. “What’s up with the mess that is your clothes?”

Ah, she’s noticed how I’m normally dressed. Chuckling, I retort, “Believe it or not, this was a conscious decision.”

She perches on the edge of the chair across from me, ready to leave at any second, and leans forward, displaying those breasts that are, once again, only contained by a ribbon.

Christ! Does the woman do it on purpose?

Shaking my head, I make sure to look into her eyes. “Who was at your door this morning?”

“A guard.”

“And?” When I roll my hand, silently commanding her to elaborate, she sighs.

“And I was supposed to be ready at ten a.m. I tried to sneak out to get your watch,” she explains further, and I realize I must be somewhat more relaxed since I’m inclined to believe her.

Nevertheless, I fail to focus for one goddamn moment and she starts to get up as if I’m just going to let her go. In reaction, I lean halfway across the table, gripping her wrist so that she doesn’t stand up. “You only have today left. My patience has its limits. And, little thief, has anyone ever told you that your clothes rarely cover your delicious tits?”

Instead of sending me her usual glare, she quips, “Yes, and that my ass won’t quit.”

My smile widens on purpose while I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket, so I fish it out and set it on the table after I see a message from my sister.

She pulls up the top of her dress, grumbling, “I was given this to wear. I’m freaking cold. It’s January and I get a skimpy dress.”

“Perhaps I can warm you up?” I wag my eyebrows, entertained by her playfulness.

“I’m still wounded by your harsh rejection.” She winces teasingly, making me grin as our eyes meet and hold.

Then, unexpectedly, a shadow falls over us and we both rear back instantly. Another girl wearing a dress that’s bound around her like cling wrap fills the glasses on the table with orange juice.

Eva folds her fingers around her flute and says, “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a pauper, and...”—a crease wrinkles her forehead—“...and whatever people say.”

I keep quiet as she downs it and a drop of orange juice remains at the corner of her lips.

“Oh, really? Who says that?” I feel my mouth curve up into a fleeting half smile.

Scowling at me, she responds. “You know, people.”

“You’re misquoting another expression. It’s lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper. But orange juice hardly qualifies as a king’s breakfast.”

“You would know, King Carmine.”

I disregard her comment, bend forward, and brush my thumb across her lip to remove the drop of juice, causing her breath to catch for a second before she sits back.

“But your versions are much more amusing than the actual ones.” I wink at her, turning her shock into a smirk.

Once more, another woman approaches us, and this time, I scan the room to see if anyone is watching us, but neither Roman nor Gwen is in sight. Still, I get the sense we’re being observed.

However, Eva gazes around as well and states in a hurry, “Stash your phone.”

“What?”

“If you don’t want to lose your phone, keep it on you at all times, Carmine,” she advises in a conspiratorial tone.

To my utmost surprise, she’s given confirmation that escorts here have been instructed to steal my phone. And since it’s the last day, Roman’s probably becoming restless. But why is Eva tipping me off? Simply because I helped her? I’m unsure of her motive, but I go with my instinct and take my mobile off the table to place it in the inside pocket of my suit jacket right before another woman rests her hand on my shoulder.

“Would you like more company today, sir?”

Eva rolls her eyes while the other woman continues, trying much too hard, “I’ll be the best you’ve ever had.”

Eva snorts as I point to her, saying, “No, I’m taking her.”

And she sends Eva a glower before turning on her heel.

“Oh, that was bad,” Eva pipes in jokingly, while both of us shift to our previous positions, leaning across the table toward one another.

“It wasn’t great,” I reply.

“I can hear you,” the woman sneers, and we look sideways in unison to discover that she’s just a step away, her lips pursed together as she glares at us.

I give no reaction whatsoever, igniting her wrath. But I don’t give a damn because this girl is the least of my worries, so I tell Eva, “You should really learn to talk a bit quieter.”

“I really should,” she concedes around a smile. “Although I think she heard you too.”

We stare her down until she practically stomps away when she realizes she isn’t going to get an apology from either of us, and then we’re interrupted again by Gwen, who seems to have come out of nowhere.

Goddammit. Now I know how people feel when I sneak up on them.

“Why are you here?” Gwen speaks icily to Eva. “He’s coming with me.”

Annoyed at Gwen’s bossy attitude, I narrow my eyes, but she beams at me arrogantly until, fortunately, her brother starts to advance toward her and she spins around to meet him halfway.

“Well, she’s possessive,” Eva mocks as she gets up to leave. “Gwen’s gone bonkers on you. Good luck.”

“Eva, stay here.” I try to reach for her wrist since I’m not sure we’re in the clear. Plus, I need her with me so that I can keep an eye on her, but she’s faster than I am and steps out of my reach.

“Oh, no, she’s your problem...I have my own.” She rushes away as I rise.

However, when Eva passes Roman, he stops her and whispers something. I arc a brow, wondering what’s going on, yet she becomes stoic, detached...different.

She bobs her head to Roman as Gwen returns to me and Liam enters the room. He was supposed to be with her the previous night, and I still owe him five hundred dollars. He greets Roman and the two of them start speaking with Eva.

While Gwen chatters, I nod absentmindedly, anxious to find out if Eva is honoring her part of the deal, because if she’s not, I’ll lose my upper hand with Roman. And as I consider Eva’s relaxed manner while she interacts with Roman and Liam, it irks me to no end.

As of now, Roman still thinks I believe she’s his girlfriend and that I’ve barely seen her, but since I don’t trust anyone here, I need to listen in on their tête-à-tête to make sure it stays that way.

Then, to my amazement, Gwen offers, “Come say hello to my brother.” And she heads his way.

I follow her, my gaze drawn to Eva like a magnet while she watches in shock as we approach.

What the fuck did Eva discuss with Roman?