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She steps back, and an admiring light enters her stare. “Okay, little nanny. You’ve got backbone. Despite your usual lack of fashion flare, tonight being the exception, you don’t seem hurt for money. The quality of your clothes shows you drop a mint on your wardrobe, and you don’t appear to be spending Sansone’s money to clothe yourself.”
“Are you going somewhere with this?”
“Yes, I think I am.” Sloane circles me, scrutinizing everything about my appearance. “I must have been worried over nothing.” She smiles and pats my shoulder. “Get something to eat while you can. If Sansone is anything like his brother, you’re going to need your energy for the ride home.”
Heat suffuses my cheeks as she walks away. If I hadn’t received the text from Omari, Sloane’s prediction would become a reality. But not anymore.
I end up at the buffet. I’ll need sustenance for what comes later, although the activity will be a different kind of enjoyment, even Sloane wouldn’t fathom.
I still haven’t heard from Omari when Sansone finds me. He steals a shrimp from my plate.
“How was your meeting?” I ask, snatching the last shrimp before he takes it. I get half in my mouth before Sansone claims the other half with a kiss. The public display leaves me stunned.
“I’m not sure. The host is a bit too sly for my liking. I don’t trust he’s representing his organization honestly.”
“So, what will you do?”
“Right now? I’m taking you back on the dance floor.” He removes my empty plate from my hands and leads me to the room with the live band.
I follow his lead, but I’m not as free as I was before texting with Omari.
Sansone stops us in the middle of the dance floor. “Where’d you go?” He raises my chin until he can peer into my eyes.
I open my mouth to give him an excuse when someone bumps me from behind.
Sansone spins me to his side, his hand secure around my waist.
“Mr. DeLuca, how clumsy of me. I’m not a good dancer but my wife insists I try, which inevitably ends with a dance floor collision.”
“I’m not the one you bumped.” Sansone’s arm tightens around my waist, the only sign he is holding back his anger.
The man turns to me with a smile that doesn’t meet his eyes. “Apologies…”
“Zakiya,” I offer without a smile.
“Apologies Zakiya. I hope you aren’t hurt.”
“I’m fine.”
“Good… good. Oh, Mr. DeLuca. My wife has been dying to meet you. She was furious with me earlier for leaving her out of our initial conversation. Nedi, dear, this is Sansone DeLuca.”
Nedi holds her hand out for Sansone to take. “A pleasure.”
After a few seconds where Sansone makes sure everyone knows he doesn’t agree with Nedi, he takes her hand and gives an air kiss above her knuckles before dropping the limb like a hot coal.
Nedi turns to me. “I was given the impression the infamous Sansone DeLuca doesn’t date, yet he’s chosen a lovely companion for the night.”
“Nedi, I think we’re interrupting the couple. They seem to be in the first stages of a budding new love. We should give them time alone.”
Nedi pinches her lips, clearly dissatisfied with her husband’s interruption. Then she clears her face and dons a smile. “Dusan is right of course. He always is. We’ll leave you two to enjoy the rest of the evening.”
Her husband’s name gives me pause. Its uniqueness makes it stand out, but I must be imagining things. This is a small world, but it’s not small enough for the name I learned of once to belong to the man standing before me. Maybe I have the name wrong and Dusan has a similar ring to it.
Sansone nods. “Have a good night, Mr. And Mrs. Gianopulos.”
I freeze upon hearing his surname, but I keep hope alive. He can’t be the same person.
Dusan narrows his eyes at me for a moment. Did I give something away? Times like these are why I prefer to be incognito. But maybe I’m panicking for no reason.
