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“That’s what they said,” I tried to explain but when he’s in such a mood, nothing I say can calm him down.
“Then why am I hearing that they are thinking of going with Fiorenzos?” he screamed down the phone.
That was news to me.
“I don’t know, but I’ll fix it.”
“You better fucking fix it, or we’re done.” And with that, he’d hung up the phone.
I’ve tried everything to be the son that he’s proud of. I’ve stopped partying, I’ve devoted my life to The Conti Company, I’m the first one there and the last one leaving at night. I don’t go to every single opening anymore, my social life is nonexistent. Except for the odd hookup, I’m only human. My life is spent in my office, trying to chase a ghost, but nothing I do is good enough. I will never be Dario.
“Are you okay?” Nico, my best friend, asks me, handing me a shot.
I take it and throw it back. Tonight, I want to escape being Alessandro Conti.
“Yeah, I will be, nothing I can’t handle,” I reassure him.
Nico’s brows pull together. He’s known me all my life and knows when I’m faking it. “Let me guess, you had a phone call from dear old dad?” He guessed it in one. I pour myself another shot and throw it back. “I don’t know why you put up with his bullshit. Go out on your own, like you always wanted to do.”
I look over at my friend as I throw back another shot. “I can’t leave him now.”
Nico shrugs. “He treats you as if it’s all your fault that Dario died.”
“He lost his son, Nico,” I argue. It’s the same argument we’ve been having ever since I started back working there. “I was never meant to be the heir.”
“You were never meant to be your father’s punching bag either,” Nico adds before knocking back his shot.
He’s right. But if taking out his anger and frustration on me helps my father’s grieving process, then it’s what I have to do.
“Forget about all that, we’re here for Rome and I want to get fucked up,” I tell him.
“Might do you good. It’s been a long time since the old Alessandro came out to play.” Nico smirks.
“Consider him out of retirement for the night.” I laugh, raising my glass high in the air.
Our booth is right on the dance floor, and I sit back against the leather seat and take in the bodies swaying before us. I’m mesmerized by a gorgeous brunette wearing the tightest and shortest red dress, which is molded to her curves in all the right places. I’m entranced by her peachy ass as it sways before me. One of my friends hands me a drink and I block out whatever bullshit they are talking about as my focus is all in on this woman. This is Vegas, there are beautiful women everywhere you look, but this is the first one that has made me sit up and take notice. Her chocolate locks cascade down her back like ribbons and all I can think about is how silky her locks would feel between my fingers as I fuck her. I wasn’t planning on hooking up with anyone in Vegas, but it’s been a while, maybe I need to let off some steam.
As the night continues, eventually I say, “I need to take a piss.” I stand up and shuffle out of the booth. The lights flash around me, the bass thumping through my body with each step I take. I fight my way through the crowd and head into the bathrooms where I take a leak before heading back out.
“I’m not interested,” a female voice says from the darkness.
“You’ve been teasing me all night. You’ve been begging for it,” a man’s voice answers.
His words raise my hackles as I squint into the darkness.
“I’ve been dancing with my friends. I don’t know who you are,” she says, and I can hear the concern in her voice. She’s not asking for this man’s advances. I step in their direction until I see the man has her cornered.
“You’ve been shaking your ass in front of me all night, of course you know who I am. Fucking tease,” he says, voice rising.
“I was dancing with my friends,” she reiterates, trying to step around him, but he blocks her retreat.
“No, you were doing it for me,” he says, grabbing her arm. “I saw you watching me. You want me and now that you’ve got me, you’re playing hard to get. I don’t like women playing games with me.” He sneers.
“Babe, there you are. I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” I say.
The man stiffens upon hearing my voice and steps away from the frightened woman he has caged in a darkened corner.
What the fuck?
