06. Omertá Broken

Chapter 6

Eva’s Pov

The manager looked like he might faint.

Victor Salieiri took the tray from my trembling hands and set it on the table beside him.

“Careful next time,” he said quietly before walking away.

My brain struggled to process what had just happened.

I was… alive.

My knees still felt weak as I stood there, staring after him.

The room got its spark back and the music returned.

Zee ran forward and pulled me towards the counter.

“You just spilled whiskey on Victor Salieri and you're alive?” Girl, what was your prayer point? I was still shocked and couldn't respond when Rage suddenly shoved another tray back into my hands.

“Move!” he hissed. “Table fourteen still needs those drinks!”

I swallowed and forced my legs back to work.

The tray dug into my palm as I pushed through the crowd.

Music pounded against the walls. The place was wild. Everything moved too fast with orders flying past me.

The Gray family were already arriving and were being led to the VIP room.

“Table seven wants tequila!”

I swallowed. “I just served them.”

“Then serve it again, Grandma.” Lily snapped, smirking. A few girls laughed.

“I forced my face blank and grabbed the tray.

The uniform they gave me barely covered anything. A man leaned across the table as I passed.

“Hey sweetheart,” he slurred as I passed.

His hand reached out toward my waist.

“Sit on my lap.”

I kept walking, ignoring their voices. I forced myself to breathe slowly. Mom needs me. Another man grabbed my wrist and I flashed him a beautiful smile.

“You know, you're dead if Salieiri gets angry later.” I pretended not to hear and served him his drink with a forced smile.

I needed this job, mum needed it.

I had just finished delivering the drinks when the front doors opened again and the atmosphere shifted instantly.

“Holy shit.” Someone gasped when two security guards appeared in the room.

“What’s going on again?” I asked quietly, but this time was pulled to the counter by Rage.

“No mistake lady, sit here, and don’t you stare when he walks in.”

“Men who stare at the leader tend to regret it."

Adrian once joked about powerful families in the city, and some men owned the streets without ever showing their faces, this man seemed to fit that description.

I frowned and before I could process any more things, the door opened.

“Is that…” Zee muttered.

My heart stopped, I didn’t want to look, but my eyes moved anyway, but who I saw was Adrian walking inside the bar. For a second the entire world tilted and my lungs couldn't work.

“Oh my God, it's him, Adrian Moretti.” Zee giggled, with beaming eyes, but I was lost.

Adrian. The man who had shared my bed for three years.

The man I had walked away from only four days ago was the leader of the Grey family. I peeped out and Valentina walked beside him.

She was breathtaking and her hand rested lightly on his arm as they entered.

“They look incredible together, perfect match.” Zee fawned, but I was too shocked to speak.

The smell of his cologne drifted across the room.

“Of course they are. A man like Adrian would never settle for less.”

“Isn’t she the daughter of that politician? I heard they’re practically engaged already.”

The whispers kept coming from afar. It felt like I was under water.

I quickly looked away. Of course he would bring her.

Why wouldn’t he? Men like Adrian belonged with powerful and elegant women, not with someone like me.

His gaze moved lazily across the room, then it paused for a fraction of a second… that I thought he was looking straight at me.

I tightened my grip on the tray and turned away as he was led to the VIP’s lounge. The men here were dangerous.

I headed straight for the booths before anyone could notice the expression on my face.

I blinked hard. I wasn't going to cry, if I broke down here, I’d lose the job.

And if I lost the job… I shoved the thought away and set the drinks down on the booth table.

I needed to leave right now, because I can't stand Adrian seeing me.

But once I got back to the counter, the waitress present just stared strangely at me and Rage spoke.

“Eva, you're needed to serve the VIP’s, management orders." I blinked, hoping I hadn't heard him clearly.

" I'm…I’m a bit under the weather.” I stuttered, but no one cared.

I was led to a changing room and was helped into a red strappy sports bra and a red thong. Red wasn't my colour, but I had no option. I felt unclad as I walked to the VIP lounge, at the counter nude girls with tattoos served the Mafia gang.

First night at work… and somehow I had already been pushed into the VIP lounge.

The VIP waitresses were given masks before entering the private rooms.

I pulled mine on quickly.

Even if I was sent to Adrian’s lounge… he wouldn’t recognize me.

The manager of this lounge looked me up and down and hissed.

“You’re new?”

“Yes.” I nodded and she hissed.

“And you caught Salieiri’s eyes. Try not to cry on your first night,” she said, smirking.

My heart skipped a bit when I realised it was Salieri's orders for me to serve at the VIP lounge. Was this a way to punish me?

“Serve room 10…" she got a little bit closer. " And be careful girl, don't trigger them.”

I gulped hard and walked to the room.

My heart hammered harder. My instincts were screaming that tonight nothing was going to stay normal.

I stepped in and my eyes fell on Adrian, I looked away immediately. His aura still filled the room, a cigar dangled in his hands and his eyes were fixed on a novel. Valentina curled up next to him, rubbing her hands over his chest.

He didn't raise his head, not once when I served and once I was done, I hurried out.

But before I could reach the main doors, someone stepped directly in front of me and a hand caught my tray before it slipped.

I looked up and it was Victor Salieri.

“Well well,” the lazy voice said.

“Running away already?” Up close he looked even more dangerous and now his expression was amused.

My legs shook.

“I…I was just…”

“Trying to escape?” he finished smoothly.

I shook my head quickly.

“No.” Victor leaned slightly closer, removing my mask.

“You ran into me once tonight,” he said softly.

“Once could be an accident.” His lips curved slightly.

“Twice starts to look intentional.”

He tilted his head slightly and looked closely at me and I instinctively reached for my boobs.

“You’re shaking.” I glanced down at my hands.

Damn it. I clenched them into fists.

“I’m fine.” He leaned closer, lowering his voice.

“Did someone scare you?”

“No,” I said quickly, lowering my face toward his chest so Adrian couldn’t see me clearly.

“Hmm.”

His gaze flicked briefly across the room, then back to me.

“You know,” he said lightly, “running away usually makes people curious.”

“I’m really sorry about earlier.” He studied me for a moment.

Then he glanced past my shoulder toward the bar.

“Come sit with me." He pulled me towards Adrian's couch before I could move away.

I pressed my face into the front of his suit, hiding from Adrian.

“Don’t mind me,” Salieiri said lazily. “I seem to have picked up a random admirer.”

I kept my head lowered, not daring to look up. My heart beat and I wanted to wake up from this drama.

Suddenly, Salieri grabbed my face and leaned in, intending to kiss me and my heart stopped.

In panic, I turned away… and my eyes met with Adrian’s across the room.

His glass froze halfway to his lips. For one long second the entire room went silent as we locked eyes.

Then he slowly stood and the look on his face was pure fury.