Page 32 of A New Days Don

The shadows of the club absorb him like he owns them and they answer to the darkness that, somehow, is always present around him. His eyes scan the room, not stopping on anyone in particular as he analyzes and takes note of what is around him. When the dark abyss of his eyes lands on me, he nods his head to the hallway in a silent command to head that way.

I do as I’m told, brushing past the curtain. When Massimo doesn’t follow me in, I pull the heavy black curtain back to watch him as he maneuvers through the growing crowd like he doesn’t just own the space, but the city itself—which I suppose he does. He approaches a man standing in the corner, keeping an eye on the club. He is dressed to the nines in a three-piece suit and a glare that promises death.

I can’t hear a word that passes between them, but the shorter man is clearly displeased with Massimo. Yet, with the same cool, collected energy, Massimo brushes the man off. The tension is palpable from here, and on reflex, I place my hand where my belt should be. My heart skitters, but I don’t let it stop me from keeping my eye on the situation, ready to make a move with a weapon.

The man’s face turns an awful shade of red before Massimo leaves him, walking back towards me. Dark eyes pin me to where I am peeking from behind the curtain, his face unreadable.

“Couldn’t help yourself, could you?” He muses, stepping past me and heading for the exit.

“Who was that? Why did he look like he was about to blow an aneurysm?” I ask, making Massimo chuckle and shake his head as his dark eyes dance with amusement.

“That was my cousin, and I am sure he will have a few of those ruptures before the end of the night.” Massimo drawls, opening the door for me and allowing me to step out into the humid night air. When we stop at his car, his smouldering eyes trail down the length of my body, leaving goosebumps in their wake.

My blood hums at the way he takes me in while the tattoos on his chest peek through his shirt. It’s only a little tease, but I know exactly what that chest looks like, and the dull pulse of desire begins its song inside of me.

“What’s with all the…” I gesture awkwardly to his undone state. He can’t walk around like that. Not around me. Not when I can’t trust him, let alone myself.

A lopsided, amused grin pulls on his lips at my question, stealing my breath, “This is your first time going undercover, isn’t it?”

My cheeks flush as I try to avoid staring at him.

“Whatever. Are we walking?” I brush his question off.

“No, we are headed to the other side of town.” Massimo holds his hand out for me, giving me a daring look, “We will take my car.”

I don’t accept Massimo’s hand. Instead, I brush past him, keeping my head held high.

“If we’re going to make this seem more real, you will have to work on your acting skills.” Massimo muses, keeping himself slightly behind me, “Girlfriends typically hold their partners' hands.”

Girlfriend.

I want to snort at the thought. The concept is outrageous. Preposterous. Ridiculous.

Me, a girlfriend? And of whom? Him?

Is that what we are doing this evening? Pretending to be different people in some alternate universe where he and I are dating?

Massimo opens my door for me, his sharp features illuminated by the neon lights shining from over the club in front of us. His jaw clenches as he takes me in. His hand clenches the door of some fancy black car, and I slide in awkwardly.

“We’ll work on it.” He shuts the door behind me before running to the other side and sitting in the driver’s seat.

Chapter 14

Mila

The ride to the South end of Vegas is silent. I pick at the loose threads dangling from the edge of the shorts. I try not to wreck them, considering this is probably how the person who owns them wants them to look, but every second I sit next to Massimo, surrounded by his leather and mint musk, makes the dead butterflies in my stomach attempt to flutter their broken wings. I can feel his eyes whenever they drift from the road to me, making the ponytail I’m wearing feel far too revealing.

We come to a sudden halt that makes my mind whir with a quick throb of panic until I see that we have pulled over on the side of a quiet, desolate road. I don’t have time to say anything before Massimo is out of the car. I follow suit, only to be met by Massimo’s hard glare. A look that I am sure doesn’t bode well for most. Subconsciously, I reach for my belt while holding his glare with one of my own.

His hand stops me from closing the door. His body caging me in, “Next time, wait until I open the door.”

“Why?” I tilt my head, and he looks over his shoulder, surveying the area around us.

The muscle in his jaw flicks as the hand on the door clenches, “Listen, I know you’re law enforcement, but the streets are filled with criminals. I would prefer it if you allowed me to check our surroundings before you step out. Especially…” He shakes his head, not continuing that thought. Something in his tense words tells me he is saying this out of concern for my safety, and not because he thinks I can’t take care of myself.

My lower lip finds its way pressed between my teeth, and Massimo tracks the movement. His eyes darken to something near black, making my stomach swoop.

He can’t really care about me. Wouldn’t that be a little soon?