Here we go, she thought as the man coming through quickly closed the distance between them.
“This is my brother.” She watched something flash in the handsome man’s gold eyes.
“Lucca Caruso.” Her brother held out his hand.
“Kayne Evans.” He took Lucca’s hand, shaking it. “I teach English here.”
He’s a teacher? How come I never got teachers who look like that?
Maria looked at their hands. Kayne’s grip matched Lucca’s; not to mention, he could shake his hand while looking Lucca straight in the eye. She could tell that was really starting to piss Lucca off considering not many men could, let alone an English teacher.
Lucca finally let go of his hand. “English, huh? You don’t seem like the teaching type.”
“And you don’t seem like the type who would listen when I said there is no smoking on school grounds,” Kayne said.
Oh, no. Maria tried to brace herself.
Lucca reached into his pocket and pulled out his pack of cigarettes. Grabbing a stick, he put it between his lips then began to talk as he held it there.
“Considering I never listened years ago when I was here”—he flicked open his Zippo and lit the end before taking a long, deep hit then blowing out the smoke, making sure it hit Kayne in the face—“I’d say you’re right, teach.”
“Well, I’m glad we know our roles here. Now, if you’ll excuse me, my students are about to graduate.” Kayne then smiled at Maria. “It was nice meeting you, Maria.”
“It was nice meeting you, too.” Maria tried to keep from blushing and staring into the molten gold of his eyes.
“Lucca,” Kayne said as he passed by him.
“Kayne,” Lucca returned as he dropped the butt on the floor, stepping on it.
Well, that could’ve gone worse, she thought as she watched Kayne walk down the hallway. Damn if his walk wasn’t somehow sexy.
“What the fuck, Sal?” Lucca roared when Sal came back around the corner.
“Sorry, she fucking drilled him right in the face with the door. I couldn’t quit laughing.”
While Maria closed her eyes, feeling bad all over again, Sal began laughing once more, clearly replaying what had happened in his mind.
Lucca wrapped his arm around his sister, dragging them back to the gym. “What have I told you about hitting harder?”
*
Lake watched Maria walk through the door again. I knew it. A second after that thought, the two men walked through the door, staying close behind. Holy shit, they are bodyguards.
A million thoughts ran through her head as she watched them walk up the bleachers. She had no clue who she was sitting by; she only knew she didn’t want to sit next to her. Clearly, anyone worth guarding must be a target. I don’t want to be next to a freaking target!
“Get ready to scream. Nero’s next,” Adalyn whispered to her.
Lake swallowed at thinking about Maria, feeling as if at any second rounds of bullets were going to be shot in her direction. She looked around, seeing everyone preparing to jump up and down, and then she realized they were surrounded by the mob sea. Whoever the girl was, she was pretty fucking important.
She heard the man come back over the microphone. “Nero—”
Lake put her weight to her feet to stand.
“Caruso.”
You have got to be shitting me. She blinked her eyes over and over as she listened to the howling. She couldn’t see anything except black standing in front of her, because she couldn’t quite make it to her feet.
Lake looked over at the tall, golden blonde who was practically royalty. It all finally made sense, and she knew exactly who Maria was. The mob princess of Kansas City.
Chapter Fourteen Staring Into the Eyes of a Demon
Lake sat uncomfortably in the bleachers, unable to stop fidgeting. Adalyn was going to get a nice piece of her mind when they were alone, since she deliberately hadn’t said who they were. She has got to be shitting me if she thinks I’m going to Nero’s party.
It wasn’t much longer before they all stood to their feet to cheer for the big guy, Amo. All she had left to do was cheer for Vincent, and then she could get the fuck out of there.
Lake couldn’t take her eyes off Vincent as he came closer and closer to having his name called. She just wished she was nearer to the stage. He was so different from before, and she desperately wanted to see it up close.
Stop it!
Lake’s knees were bouncing up and down at that point. She needed to get out of the confined space next to all those suits. It was also Vincent she needed to get away from, though. If she kept watching him for much longer, she was sure to fucking lose her marbles.
“Vincent Vitale,” the guy spoke into the microphone.