“Only a few minutes.” He gives me that charming smile again that does nothing for me.

“Okay,” I agree. It’s better than going into the parlor and having a bunch of them all over me.

“Stay close,” my brother orders before he steps away to join everyone else.

“I want to take you out so we can have some time alone to really get to know each other. See if there’s a connection,” Falco says. Even if we did go out, my brother would never allow it to be alone. There would be guards.

“I’m sorry. To be honest, I don’t feel a connection.”

“Maybe not yet. We just met. We need more time together. Besides, our families together would make a wonderful connection,” he counters as if this is a business deal.

“If this was about making a family connection, a marriage would have been arranged. I’m free to choose who I want to be with.”

The smile drops from his face. I’m sure he’s not used to women having free say in his family. Another reason to knock him off the list.

“Your brother gives you a lot of leeway. Is he also the one who taught you how to shoot?”

“What?” I ask, confused.

“Don’t play dumb.” He steps closer. “You’re far from it, Carina. You blew up my warehouse. Shot at one of my men.” My stomach drops. No. “Did you really think you wouldn’t be recognized? You’re quite stunning. Unforgettable really.”

“What do you want?” I’m not sure what else to say at the moment. I’m shell-shocked. How pissed would my brother be if he knew what I’d done? That I had stepped over into someone else's territory and didn’t know it? I thought I was fucking with some stupid nobody. Falco is making and selling ketamine and Rohypnol? Does his father know that?

“A date.” That stupid smile returns to his face. I want to slam my palm up into his nose and knock it right off his face. Instead I ball my hands into fists to keep control.

“And you think this is the way to get it?”

“We have things to discuss. Think about it. You are far more cunning than anyone realizes. We could be powerful together.” If he thinks I’m so cunning, why is he threatening me? This is a threat, isn’t it? Falco reaches out to touch my face. I’m about to step back when a hand comes out and grips Falco by the wrist.

“We don’t touch,” Gilly grits out before he flings Falco’s hand back.

That’s rich coming from him.

13

GILLY

Angelica and Antonio show the last of the little pricks out, Falco lingering longer than the others.