CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

TORI

THE VEGAS REUNION

T he guys who injected themselves into our bachelor party knew us well. We grew up in the same neighborhood. It was nice to see they made it out of the hood. Ritchie was trying to do the same thing for me. Move me out of Chicago. He kind of succeeded. My new house was in a Chicago suburb. This was a small new step. In due time, I’d move to New Jersey. My first order of business was to have a talk with Ritchie’s neighbor. The bitch was watching my man’s cat. I felt my skin heat at the thought of her pushing up on him when he returned in a few days.

Get a grip Tori.

My man was leaving Chicago. Returning to his life as Luca Esposito’s bodyguard. My father would arrive Monday or Tuesday. We had a lot of ground to cover in regard to taking over the drug game on the South Side of Chicago. I’d also have to keep an eye out for more of Tyra’s tricks. That bitch wouldn’t rest until I was dead. I was sure of it.

This time, I’d watch the life drain out of her eyes while I killed her.

The second Murf stopped joking around, Bianca was able to calm Catch down. She saved Murf’s life. Murf was always a jokester. But he had no problem killing. He was a shooter in the hood. Meaning he was a hired hand.

However, Murf seemed unusually playful tonight. It appeared he moved here to get away from the street life. Back home, if someone threatened to beat his ass or worse kill him, he’d laugh it up, then an hour or so later that person would’ve vanished.

After the ordeal, Bianca led Catch off the dance floor.

“Good to see you Tori,” Murf said.

“It’s good to see you, too.” I smiled.

“I’d hug you, but our men don’t play,” I confirmed.

He rubbed at his clean-shaven caramel face. “Yeah, I noticed.”

“They’re mafia. Out of New Jersey,” I stated, holding his gaze.

His brows shot up. “No shit? It’s a small world. I just did a thing for a guy. He’s a part of the New Jersey five families.”

“Hello Murf.” A hulking figure halted beside me, stretching his hand out toward him.

I guess he ended his conversation with Romeo and Rémy.

“I’m Ritchie, Tori’s boyfriend. I read your lips from over there.” Ritchie pointed a thumb over his shoulder. “You mentioned the five families.”

My heart slammed against my ribcage. Fuck, now it was my turn to save Murf. He had my back in the past. It was only right I returned the favor.

“Murf is a good guy. He had my back when I was in a jam,” I said, caressing Ritchie’s hand.

He kissed my temple. “Relax, beautiful,” he yelled in a whisper.

“Which family did you do that thing for?” Ritchie asked.

“If you’re from that world like she said, then you know that’s not how this works,” Murf affirmed.

Ritchie smirked. “I’ll help you out. I work for the Espositos. The others in that world are the Magarellis, Romanos, Pituccos, and the Bertozzis. My mother and my aunt, Catch’s mother’s maiden names are Pitucco.”

Murf’s eyes widened. “Listen, I didn’t come here to get whacked. We all go way back.”

“You won’t,” I bit out. “Right, Ritchie?” I stared up at my boyfriend with puppy dog eyes.

Ritchie shook his head. “As long as you don’t flirt with Bianca again, I can keep you right side up. What’s the first initial of the family?”

Murf’s eyes shot to mine again. I nodded, giving him the ok.

“P,” Murf said.

Ritchie blew out a breath. “That’s great. I’ll talk to my cousin Nick. I’ll need you to assist in keeping the girls safe from time to time. A jet will be on standby.” Ritchie held out his phone. “Program your number in my phone.”

Ritchie didn’t ask Murf if he’d keep us safe. He demanded it. That was one of the first times I’d seen him in action as a made man. He had connections and clout no one in this club could fathom. He was one of the most dangerous men I knew. And I knew many.

My gaze swept over the dance floor. Sweaty bodies jumped and swayed to the pulsating beat. Not one person cared about our conversation.

“Hey, what’s going on over here?” Asia asked. Romeo and Rémy were at her back.

Murf’s cousin Dale danced with a woman a few feet away. Asia’s men must’ve let him off with a warning.

“Guess you can say it’s really a small world. Murf did a freelance job for Ritchie’s cousin,” I stated.

“Is that so?” Asia flashed a devilish grin.

“Guys,” Ritchie held Romeo and Rémy’s gazes, jutting his chin away from the dance floor.

Asia and I watched as our men chatted.

She and I glanced at Murf at the same time.

“What the fuck have you ladies gotten into?” he spat.

“What do you mean?” I asked causally like the girls and I weren’t dating powerful mafia men.

“For years you were with Man-Man. Now you aren’t.” A smile remained on his lips as if not to alarm Ritchie of our conversation.

“Man-Man didn’t have my best interest at heart. He used me. I was tired of being unhappy and unloved. Ritchie makes me feel special.”

“Tori, the guy said he’ll send a jet to pick me up like it’s a fucking bus.”

I shrugged. “Murf, I know. That’s how he is. Listen, recently things had gone south in the Chi. I was kidnapped. Ritchie and his friends saved me and Simone. We flew home on private jets.”

A smile lifted my cheeks. “Ritchie and his friends are the real deal. I even have my own bodyguard.”

Murf’s brows lifted. “Damn, Tori. I’m happy for you.”

“Thank you,” I responded, before scanning the crowd for Simone and Ezra.

Her hand was braced on his neck while she shook her ass. Ezra’s eyes never left her. I wondered what their story was. My best friend held out on us. The way he stared at her, I could tell he’d die for her. Damn.

My elbow nudged Asia’s ribs. “They look so cute, don’t they?”

She chuckled. “Yeah. He’s so lost over her.”

“Ladies, I’m going to mingle. Looks like I’ll see you two soon.” Murf grinned.

“Yeah, welcome to the team,” I yelled out.

Asia and I quickly wrapped him in our arms, then he disappeared into the crowd.

“Asia, spill. What did the guys say to Dale?” I asked.

“They told him if he didn’t get his hands off of me, his hands would be gone before daybreak.” She shook her head.

I burst into laughter. “Our men are crazy over us.”

“Yeah, they are,” she agreed.

Swaying my hips to the beat, I peeked at Ritchie. His eyes were glued to his phone screen while he laughed at something Romeo said.

I was ready for another drink. Where was our waitress?

Four women halted and spoke to the guys. I couldn’t see what Rémy said to them. Ritchie didn’t look up from his phone. One of the women placed her hand on Ritchie’s chest. That’s when I lost it. Stalking toward them, my fists curled at my sides.

“This looks like fun,” Asia laughed.

“Introduce me, Ritchie,” I demanded.

“What?” he asked in a shocked tone.

“You must know her because what other reason would she have to touch you in an intimate manner,” I snarled.

“Back down, Pitbull,” the blonde ordered, hiccupping through a chuckle.

My fingers twisted around her long, blonde hair. I tugged her down until our eyes locked.

I heard Ritchie talking, but I tuned him out.