Page 42 of Sexting His Son's Ex
“You can count on it, Mr. Salvati.”
He stands there, staring for minute or two longer like he doesn’t want to leave. Santino takes one step, hesitates, and then he’s gone, strolling to the kitchen with purpose. Omar and Lorenzo don’t say goodbye. They follow behind Santino, protecting him from the dangers of the outside world.
Except, I don’t think that’s how it works.
Santinoisthe danger.
And the world will never be ready for him.
12
SANTINO
I sit alonein the kitchen, drinking a glass of scotch, the only light on being the one above the stove. It’s quiet. Peaceful. There isn’t a soul around. There’s the light hum of the refrigerator and a drip coming from the sink that irks me enough to get up and head to my bedroom.
I loosen my tie, unable to get the image of Jovie in that fucking dress I saw her in at the restaurant out of my head. She looked fucking beautiful. It took all I had in me not to drag her to the bathroom there, lift her dress, spin her around, and fuck her senseless so she knows who she belongs to.
My secret admirer be damned. I’ll pretend whoever I’m talking to is Jovie. It isn’t fair to them, but I no longer care. I need an escape from all this fucking temptation.
“Sir?”
I must’ve had more scotch than I thought because the sound of Lorenzo creeping up on me, in the middle of night, in the dark, has me spinning around and aiming my gun drunkenly at him. Scotch spills over of the rim of my glass, wetting my hand.
“Damn it, Lorenzo. You can’t just sneak up on people in their own homes.” I holster my weapon, taking another swig of my drink to try to drown the inappropriate thought of Jovie out of my mind.
It isn’t working.
The more I drink, the more I become okay with those thoughts.
“Apologies, Sir. I was on the way to kitchen when I heard you. Do you need anything? More scotch perhaps?”
“I better not. This is my third glass since we have gotten home. I have an early morning tomorrow at the docks for the delivery.”
“Of course, Sir.”
“If that’s all…” I spin around, strolling to my room when he calls out to me.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to say something, and then, you can ignore me.”
I pause at my door, reaching for the handle, debating if I want to hear what he has to say. I have a feeling I know what it is. For the first time in ages, nerves get the best of me. I never get nervous.
Nerves get people like me killed.
“What, Lorenzo? Get on with it,” I bite, wanting him to be afraid of me so he doesn’t tell me what is on his mind.
Lorenzo has worked with me for far too long. He knows all of my tactics. He’s never afraid, which makes him the perfect head of security.
“I noticed how you looked at Ms. Morgan tonight.”
I turn my head away, so he doesn’t see the guilt on my face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was only being friendly to a woman that my son hurt. It was the least I could do.”
“You like her. I noticed. You don’t treat people like that unless you like them and there aren’t many people you like, if you don’t mind me saying.”
I snort, pressing my forehead against the door. “It will pass, Lorenzo. No need to worry. I would never do that to my son.”
“Your son didn’t treat her very well. He will have plenty to say, but all of it would be unwarranted.”
“Goodnight, Lorenzo.” I push my door open, my head starting to throb from the conversation.
