Every single eye was focused on us. Particularly Alessandro's arm that was wrapped around my waist. Albeit it was the opening of his club, the attention wasn't just on him. The looks of pure hatred and jealousy on the faces of all the women was refreshing. They were trying to make me disappear from the spot.

Too bad I was in the mood to put on a little show. I shouldn't have been so keen on drawing attention to my self but Alessandro made the little self control I had disappear. I felt alive-like I was breathing for the first time after nearly drowning. So I stood a little taller and leaned in towards Alessandro. A tiny smirk made it's way across his face as his hold on me tightened. He leaned in close, lips ever so slightly brushing against my ear, the hard planes of his body pressing against me "Be careful with the games you play. Some of these women are vicious, I don't want you on the radar"

Radar. I scoffed.

Practically every man's eyes followed me. I spotted two that were a little more excited than others.

"You put me on the radar the second you asked me out Mr. Raimondo, I'm not a fool" I said leaning in even closer. " You call these women vicious?" I chuckled slightly and he raised his brows. "I put vicious to shame " and I kissed his cheek ever so slightly before pulling away. Alessandro stared at me, analyzing for a moment before whom I recognized to be Joseph approached.

"I've been looking for you " he said slightly agitated and Alessandro gave him a hard glare ushering him to get to the actual point. "The VIP room wants a round with you." Alessandro chuckled darkly without a trace of emotion. It was like a switch flipped in him. His gaze was hard, posture straighter than a T.
"They expect me to come play a little charade of poker with them?" He said slowly "especially on the night of the opening- where I need to be over looking each and every thing ?"
Joseph nodded.

Makes sense why he was annoyed.
"Why are people who don't understand the business even permitted access to the VIP room" I said moving closer to Alessandro.

He looked over at me for a moment, letting my words sink in. Joseph gave me a look but quickly masked it.
"Those people are highly important to us. You don't know how Boss's business works or the people he deals with" Joseph spoke out challenging me.
Alessandro was hyper aware of everything. He expected me to ease down.
"Tell me something Joseph," I started out. "After all of the research you've attempted on me do you really know what I do? Or are you just aware of the fact that I'm a PA?" His green eyes were wide. He thought he was sneaky.

He only found out what I wanted them to find out.
Alessandro's head snapped up in surprise. "You have no idea of what I've done, what I do and who I've dealt with. Nor do you know what goes on my mind at any given moment. Do not assume I lack the knowledge you have because I'm a woman. " with that I left the two men astonished and conflicted and made my way over to the bar.

A man in his late thirties came up besides me and took a seat. I looked around, taking in the structure of the building a wide balcony was on the first floor like a theater of sorts and a staircase nearly blending in twisted to the second floor. The ceiling was two way glass . Bullet proof.
Every mirror and window above the first floor was two way. The ground floor was the commoners. The higher the floor, the higher the rank.

My eyes focused on the small surveillance cameras . There were hundreds. Recording anything and everything.

"Your best wine " I said to the bartender who quickly got to work. "It's on me" said that man near me. He voice was low and raspy. I looked towards him and he immediately gave me all his attention.
" Giuseppe Donatello " he said proudly as if I'd care who he was. "Who might you be?"
he asked. I sipped my wine before tilting my head towards him. "Ella" I replied smoothly.
He nodded his head finishing his scotch. The ice rattled in the empty glass as he placed it down "Ella" he repeated as if testing is out on his tongue. "Is that short for anything? Arabella? Isabella?" He questioned.

"No" I briskly answered "It's Ella. Nothing more, nothing less"

"Would you join me on the dance floor?" He offered extending his hand. He demanded it as if trying to show some kind of power. His eyes flickered behind me and I didn't need to look to know it was one Alessandro's men keeping watch. Logically I should steer away from Giuseppe, but I wanted to see how far this would go.

I slid my hand into his and he clenched with a little too much force.

His hands started out on my waist. Slowly but surely my personal space ceased to exist and his hands slid down lower and lower. By the time they past my lower back I lost sight of Alessandro completely. He was in my peripheral view the entire time, mingling, getting groped by women- the ordinary.

Giuseppe's hands traveled lower to cup my ass and I knew for a fact Alessandro was watching this. Giuseppe wanted a reaction from Alessandro. It was a show of control.

My hands wrapped around his wrists as I felt Alessandro approaching us. I gripped them hard enough to make his hands tremble and slowly pulled them away. "You shouldn't put your hands into a pit of fire for the thrill" I said calmly moving him away as he blankly stared at me. I twisted his arms in with a slight jerk "because in the end you will get burned " he hissed in pain from the pressure and I released him before stepping away with him rubbing his wrists.

"Good bye Giuseppe " I said as arms wrapped around me from behind. Alessandro's head was in the crook of my neck. His lips by my ear. "Be careful around him. He's petty and bitter"

Giuseppe shot Alessandro.

Giuseppe threw a malicious grin towards us "a dangerous woman" he said and I blew him a kiss as Alessandro's hold slightly tightened. Once he was out of our view I turned in Alessandro's arms.

"Why does he hate you?" I asked without missing a beat. "I can't just-"
"Alessandro to make this work" I said indicating the two of us "I need you to be honest with me. My life is quickly being sucked into all of this." My voice dropped into a whisper.
"I have power" Alessandro simply said . "Power that he wants " I finished and he nodded. His expression remained stoic . Lips in a firm straight line. There wasn't a single hair out of place. He was more complex than I thought. Constantly shifting moods behind a mask of authority.
His thoughts racing and the gears in his mind rapidly turning.

"Did you go play that game of poker " I asked running my fingers over the lapel of his jacket.
"No. I've been invited again to play" he said tracing my hips with thumbs. There needs to be something else going on. Why the hell do they want him there so bad?

"Alessandro" a high pitched voice called out placing her hand on his shoulder. Alessandro and I broke away and she stood next to me to prove something.

She could have been pretty, but the caked up unblended makeup just got in the way. She stood making her chest stick out. Her dress was a collection of thick and thin strips of fabric- it couldn't have been classified as clothing.

She was trying to go for sexy but the outcome was more like trashy. She shamelessly attempted to flirt with Alessandro whose attention was anywhere but her. She failed to notice that.

My eyes followed as small movement along the staircase.
"I could give you whatever you want " she purred running her hands over his chest.

"He didn't ask for an STD" I answered nonchalantly pushing my hair over my shoulder.

Her face turned towards me and she pretended like I wasn't there this entire time.

"My my who is this?"she gasped. Her beach blonde ended at her shoulders and dark brown eyes tried to make me vanish.

Even a witch like her couldn't make that happen.

"Ella, this is ... " Alessandro said oblivious to who she was "His close friend " she smiled leaning close to him.
"Yea.." he said resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

A few too many footsteps tumbled down the stairs and unusual hand gestures caught my eyes.

"I'm going to get a drink" she said before swaying her hips and walking away.

There were some clicks and a gleam of red caught my eye.

It was trap.

They were planning to kill him in the VIP room.

She was the distraction.

My hand went to the inside of my thigh.

I pushed Alessandro down his eyes wide and alert, my body was flush against his and I pulled the trigger.

That's when the bullets first began to fly.

*****
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