Chapter 1

Allesia 

There were some things in college life that I could absolutely do without, and being in this bar was one of them. 

The only reason I was here at all was because she had dragged me. Dana had her eye on some mad who worked here , some beautiful , elusive older man with a roguish Irish drawl and come to bed eyes.

Some guy she didn’t have a chance with but what kind of friend would I be , if I told her that and refused to be her wing woman?

The crappy kind that’s what. 

And I was never that. 

“Jesus, it’s busy in here.” She elbowed her way to the bar. Not that she had to try that hard, Dana was beautiful and she knew how to show it off. Her curves caught every males eyes whether they were straight or not , women turned to stare at her beautiful face. But it was more than that , people liked to be around Dana because she was just a nice person. Sweet and kind.

It was one of the reasons we got on so well because she thought I was like that as well. She thought I was a nice girl from a good family.

Only my family was the furthest thing from nice. They were loyal of course , but nice? Absolutely not. I didn’t think that word was even in my parents vocabulary. 

“You were so late.” She tapped the last man standing in her way on the shoulder and he moved out of her way without her saying a word. 

He didn’t move out of my way though, and I had to elbow him roughly to get back next to her. 

“I told you, I lost track of time.” Dumping my heavy book bag on the bar I instantly regretted it as stale beer seeped through the material. “But I’m here now aren’t I?”

She turned to me. The silver sequins of her butterfly top catching the lights and making it sparkle. “Yes you are. And looking as ravishing as ever. I just don’t know how you do it.” Shaking her head, she ordered at the bar, two white wine spritzers. 

“I.D.” It wasn’t a question , it was a demand and we instantly had them out.  Showing the surly bartender with a flourish and a giggle.

Now back home I wouldn’t be old enough to order wine at a bar but I wasn’t back home and Britain had different rules. I still wasn’t sure about their whole drinking culture but I did enjoy the odd glass of wine on a night out.

“I’m pretty sure you can just roll out of bed and be stunning.” Dana continued. “I mean if I had no make up on and -“ she shook her head. “It’s really not fair.” She teased. “I don’t think we can be friends any more.”

Laughing I elbowed her. “You’re a fine one to talk though Miss glam. That top is -“ fanning myself I whistled. “If he doesn’t notice you tonight then he’s blind-“ I lowered my voice. “Or gay.”

She winked. “I did wonder. But tonight is the night. I can feel it in my bones. They are all fluttery and-“ clamping her hand over her mouth she made a show of looking confused. “Ohh maybe those flutters are somewhere else. Somewhere that needs his bone.”

I laughed so hard that wine came rushing out of my nose. Clamping my hand over my mouth I spluttered, bending over so I didn’t spray my best friend with nose wine.

“Allesia.” She hissed my name and for a second I thought it was because she was worried about me but one glance up and I knew it was a warning.

Dana’s wide brown eyes were locked on someone across the bar and it didn’t take a genius to work out who. Straightening, I wiped a hand across my mouth and followed her gaze.

There were three men in the raised area reserved for VIPs , all of them so similar in looks that they could have been brothers. Dark hair, tanned skin, beautiful faces. 

The kind of men who should have been gracing the covers of magazines. Only they weren’t those kinds of men at all because one look at them, at the dangerous aura around them and I knew exactly what they were.

Gangsters.

“Isn’t he dreamy-“ Dana said and then froze as two women joined the group. Sliding between the three of them like they had done so a million times before. 

“Oh.” Dana’s face fell.

“I’m sorry babe. Maybe they are just friends.” I tried to console her. 

She rolled her eyes, “Yeah friends. I wish I was that type of friend but hey-“ Shrugging she looped her arm through mine. “Do you want to get out of here?”

I didn’t need to answer, she already knew I did. Clubs and pubs just didn’t interest me.  They were ok in small doses but that was about it.

“It’s fine if you want to stay.” I didn’t want to leave if she wanted to stay. Maybe the man she’d had her eye on was interested in someone else but there were plenty more fish in the sea , and Dana was good at fishing.

“What are you smiling about?”

“I was just thinking you are good at fishing.” I said without thinking and she shot me a confused look. 

“You are one weird chick Allesia Moretti.” With a shake of her head, she began to turn away only to stop dead when a dark haired man stepped in front of her. Blocking our way.

“Oh.” Dana gave a little scream.

“Going somewhere so soon?” He cocked his head to the side, studying her from top to toe before his eyes travelled to me. “We were hoping you would join us for a drink.”

“Us?” Dana seemed to be in a daze but it was clear from her love struck impression that this was the guy she was here trying to meet.

“Well-“ throwing a glance behind her, she implored me with her eyes. Begged me silently to stay with her so she could have this chance.

Her Irish dream man looked at me too, the smallest of knowing smiles on his face. Like he knew who I was.

“Yeah.” I glanced out of the corner of my eye to the vip table. No one was looking at her. They were all just talking amongst themselves.

No one was watching me, not now and not earlier when I had been rushing here. 

No one knew who I was , or who I was related to.

So why did it feel like those three men did?

“Yeah that will be nice.” Dana said.

“Then follow me ladies.” With a small bow , he parted the crowd. 

From a booth by the window , a man lifted his head, watching us walk by and frowned. 

I had a second to wonder why but only a second before I was ushered away to join the VIPs and the man Dana was so eager to get close to.

The man I was pretty sure was a gangster.