Trapped in his End Game (Series)

He laughs, bending down to give me a quick kiss. “Your engagement party.”

A flood of happiness rushes to my face and my lip trembles. No one’s ever done anything like this for me.

“I can’t believe you got Maria to come, too. How did you do this without me knowing? How did you even get her number?”

He just smiles, rubbing my back as my arms wrap around his waist in thanks.

His mouth bends to my ear. “I was going to invite your mother, but I wasn’t sure if you wanted her there.”

Speechless, I try not to smudge my makeup as I wipe away tears. I can’t say anything, but Vince smiles like he understands.

“Adriana!”

Maria runs up to me and I fling my arms around her neck.

“I can’t believe you’re here.”

“Of course.” She squeezes back. “I’m happy for you.”

I blink. “Really?”

She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, I know I gave you a hard time about him,” she says, glancing at him nervously. “But he’s good to you.”

Vince beams at her. “I figured if I convinced your best friend that I was a catch, half the battle would be won already.” He winks at me and a blush creeps over my cheeks.

Jackie hovers near his cousin’s elbow and gives me a shy smile. “Congrats, Ade.”

“Thanks for coming.”

As I look at him, I remember that it was all down to him that we met. If he never brought me to that card game, I would have never met Vince or been involved in New York’s seedy underworld.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

It’s crazy.

With Vince by my side, I walk down the table and thank each person for coming. My lips spasm as I glance over Giacomo.

I don’t like him, and I doubt I ever will.

“I’m so happy that you came, Mr. Vittorio.”

The old man gives me a shadow of a wink and a smirk as I shake his hand.

“Never thought I’d see the day, Vinny,” he says with a bemused smile.

Mrs. Vittorio jabs her husband in the arm and looks at me with a sweet smile. “I’m so happy for you, Adriana.”

“Thank you.” I feel like I’ll be repeating that phrase over and over today.

“Is your mother here yet?” She glances down the table and doesn’t see my reaction.

It’s an innocent question, but it’s like hammering a rusty nail through my heart. Beside me, I see Vince’s face tense up.

“No, she’s not coming,” I say in a low voice. “Vince is really the only family I’ve got anymore.”

Her face falls like a Greek mask, her perfectly ironed curls trembling as she shakes her head. “We’ll be your family. God forbid, if something happens to Vince you’ll be taken care of.”

The thought of Vincent actually being killed never crossed my mind, but it does now. Jesus Christ. What if something does happen to him? What will happen to me?

All it takes is one look at Giacomo, who nods in agreement with his wife. There will be no one standing in his way if he decides I’m not trustworthy.

Then it’s lights out.

I grin painfully and move along the table, greeting Giacomo’s other captains whom I’ve never met, and some more of Vincent’s family-his mother, his cousins, aunts, and uncles. It’s overwhelming to have all these strangers wishing me their heartfelt congratulations with Vince at my side, squeezing my hand occasionally. Finally, I reach Maria and Jackie.

“We can’t stay for too long because it’s my mother’s birthday,” Maria tells me.

I collapse into a seat opposite her as Vincent moves towards his mother, who is ecstatic.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” I murmur.

I don’t know whether it’s from too many sleepless nights or a creeping fear crawling in my gut, because none of this seems real.

“You look pale. Are you okay?”

I’m just scared shitless of Vince’s boss, that’s all.

Forcing a smile on my face, I nod to Maria. “Just not used to all this attention.”

“Better get used to it,” she grins. “Wait till your wedding. It’ll be a spectacle.”

Wedding. My throat closes as if I’ve just inhaled poison. It’s such a foreign word to me. When Vincent comes back to sit across from me, he looks so incredibly happy to see me sitting across from him that I can’t help but feel lighter. Maria’s attitude towards him seems to have taken a complete 180-degree turn, and she even gives us wistful looks.

After a half hour, she leaves with Jackie and I’m sorry to see them go. They’re the only ones I know in this restaurant. I don’t talk much. I concentrate on my food. Only water sits in front of me. I suspect Vincent warned the waiters about serving me alcohol. My fists clench under the table as the possibility enters my head.”You okay?”

His gentle voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

“Yeah,” I look up at him, smiling. “I just don’t know any of these people. I can’t believe they all came for us.”

“Of course,” says Mrs. Cesare. “We’re your family now.”

I give her a smile and my eyes turn back to the tablecloth, lost in thought.

Most of the restaurant is deserted, but Vincent’s eyes routinely scan the area behind me. I’m used to it by now, but it’s still unnerving. His eyes widen and I look behind me in alarm, seeing shadowy forms moving behind the glass. There are at least half a dozen of them, all lined up against the glass.

An electrical, hot feeling sears through my veins. It’s like liquid fear. Instant and intense. My subconscious knows something that I don’t. Without questioning it, I dive under the table, knocking my head hard.

Glass shatters and I duck, grabbing Mrs. Cesare as deafening shots blast through the windows. Glasses and dishes explode and shrieks stab my ears, but nothing is louder than the explosive gunfire pinning everyone to the ground.

A scream tears from my throat as the table topples over to its side and a vice grip closes over my arm and drags me behind him. I grab Mrs. Cesare’s arm and pull hard, but the woman is immobile. Tears stream down her face as she screams over and over for her son. Vince shields me with his body as he tears the gun from his ankle and swings over the table.

BAM, BAM, BAM.