Page 35 of Queen of Misfortune (Shadows of Redemption)
"Niko has a club out here. I've got to meet someone there."
All of a sudden, I question why I’m along on this outing. “Am I some sort of bait?” I recoil as a new thought comes. “Are you trading me or something? Luca won’t?—”
“Fucking hell, Lucy… no.” He holds his hands up in surrender. “You have no involvement in my meeting. I really just thought you’d like to get out of the house and have some fun.”
Am I being unreasonable? No. I know how men like Niko and Donovan think and work. Still, I doubt Niko would have Donovan do something to me because that would make Elena unhappy, and Niko wants her to be happy.
“You’re paranoid.”
I gape at him. “Can you blame me?”
His expression confuses me because it looks like hurt. “Nothing is going to happen to you. I promise.”
I want to believe him but I know I can’t. My fate really lies in Niko and Luca’s hands. One word from Niko, and Donovan would have to follow orders even if it was to hand me to my father or send me to Italy or kill me.
We arrive at the club and Donovan escorts me up to the bar. The throb of the bass vibrates through my body. I can’t remember the last time I’d been to a club. It fills me with excitement for at least the possibility of fun and forgetting how lonely my life has become.
He settles me on a stool and calls over the bartender. “Whatever she wants. On the house.” Then he turns to me. "Behave yourself.” His lips quirk up and he winks. He’s back to being smug Donovan. But I get whatever I want on the house, so I turn to the bartender and order an Old-Fashioned with his most expensive whiskey.
I sipmy drink and look around the club. Across the room, Donovan has settled into a booth, leaning forward toward the man with him. I’m not sure whether he’s trying to listen better or is threatening the man.
I decide that if I’m out in the real world, I’m not going to give attention to Donovan and whatever business he’s up to. It’s been so long since I’ve been out. My life in Italy was for the most part calm. It was clear from day one that my marriage was about caring for Giuseppe during his illness. I did the best I could knowing being his nurse was a better situation than ending up with someone abusive. There had been a lot of rumors about Giuseppe and his violent streak, but I never saw it. In fact, my impression was he never used it on those he cared for. Outside the Family, yes, but not inside. That was so different from my father who would kill anyone, including me and Elena, for power, money, or to save his own skin.
Life in Italy was slow and calm, but often boring. I had a few female friends, wives of Giuseppe’scapos, but they were older than me. I tried to take up hobbies, but none stuck. I enjoyed walks around the compound, but I longed to see more of the country, of the world. I wanted to see or at least talk to Elena and know she was all right.
I look down into my nearly finished Old-Fashioned and realize that I’ve gotten some that I wished for. I’m away from my home. I’m with my sister, and she’s happy. So, why do I feel so empty and lost?
Loneliness seeps in, cold and relentless. In the reflection of the mirror behind the bar, I catch glimpses of life playing out. A couple leans into each other, sharing secrets and smiles. Friends toast to whatever triumph brought them together this evening. And here I sit, alone, invisible, inconsequential. I take another sip, wishing the expensive whiskey would dull the pain of my epiphany.
I’m considering ordering another drink when someone sidles up next to me.
His shoulder brushes mine. "Can I buy you a drink?" A smile tugs at one corner of his mouth as if he knows exactly what runs through my mind.
"Depends on the drink." I feel like I’m playing with fire. It’s dangerous, and yet I don’t want to stop because at this moment, I feel alive.
“Whatever you want is yours.”
“That could be dangerous.”
He smirks. “Nothing is going to happen to you. I promise.”
11
DONOVAN
Isit in the booth of Niko’s club across from the informant when I’d much rather be taking in Lucy. Fucking hell, that dress she’s wearing nearly gave me a stroke. It shows off every fuckable curve of hers.
The man across from me is twitchy. He keeps glancing toward the door like he expects a bullet with his name on it to come whistling out of the darkness.
"Spit it out. What do you have on Giovanni?"
The guy swallows hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "He got clipped in the shootout with you and Don Leone. Been laying low… but he's been sending scouts. They're looking for someone."
"Who?" I push, already knowing the answer and ready to rip someone’s arms off.
"The daughter.”
My jaw clenches. “He has two. Which one?” On the off chance that Liam’s intel was wrong about Lucy being the target.