Love Loaded in a Cartridge

4

One day, Basilio would become head of the New York Syndicate. And he was just as deadly, if not more, than his father. Although, he didn’t strike me as being as cruel as the infamous Gio DiLustro.

After all, he caught me falling off the balcony. It was kind of romantic, if you really thought about it. Like a Romeo and Juliette kind of romance. My brows furrowed. Those two had a tragic love story.

Maybe I should refrain from that comparison.

Either way, my breath was cut short the moment our eyes connected. It felt like the world stopped turning for a single breath and my life was forever changed. It was ridiculous, I knew it. But I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him since.

I looked him up. More than once.

Unlike my best friends, I didn’t waste my time on boys. Boys were a distraction I didn’t need. But that man. He wasn’t a boy. Basilio DiLustro was a man who knew what he wanted and how to get it. I’d stake my whole life on it. My Olympic gold medals. A warm rush ran down my spine when I met his heavy gaze with the darkest brown eyes and longest eyelashes I had ever seen on a man. Even now, thinking about him, something unsettling fluttered in the pit of my belly.

Davina’s hand covered my hands gripping the steering wheel forcing my focus back to now.

“I’m sorry, Wynter,” Davina rasped.

I looked at her, pushing all the thoughts of Basilio DiLustro aside. My mouth turned down and I shook my head, my damn curls bouncing with each movement.

“It’s as much my fault as yours.” I smiled tiredly. I didn't like to see her upset. Out of the four of us, Davina worked her ass off. She was at the top of her class and worked in a coffee shop in the mornings and closed the shifts at night. “Everything happened so fast.”

A loud horn sounded behind us, startling us all. Juliette and Ivy jumped up in their seats and started cussing the car like native New Yorkers. I shook my head at them, glancing in the rearview mirror, then returned my eyes onto the road.

That was when I saw him. He was coming from the opposite direction, driving a sleek black sports car.

My eyes widened and immediately an idea popped into my head. Basilio DiLustro was the answer to all my prayers. Our eyes connected. That same fluttery feeling shot through me, but also hope.

The doors of my red Jeep were all off and I regretted it now. Because I was a mess and in his full view. Soot marks were on my legs and my snug white shorts weren’t so white anymore. My soot stained pink off-the-shoulder blouse was sheer, giving a glimpse of my pink bra.

Though it seemed he liked what he saw. His gaze felt like a warm breeze over my bare skin and heat rushed to my cheeks. The moment barely lasted a second, but it felt like long minutes. My brain furiously worked up an idea.

“What is it, Wynter?” Davina asked, her eyes behind me, following the man that invaded my dreams and thoughts for the past three months.

“I- I have an idea,” I mumbled. Though I wasn’t sure whether it was a good or bad idea.

“What?”

Without delay, before he got too far away, I spun the wheel. The tires screeched and I made a sharp U-turn in the middle of the city, violating multiple traffic laws. Speeding up, I passed two cars, before we found ourselves behind the black McLaren.

I bet he’d know how to get rid of that surveillance video and any evidence tying us to Garrett’s place, I thought to myself. He wasn’t clueless like us and he probably had vast resources at his disposal. All we had was each other. Yes, Uncle Liam and Killian would never allow harm to come to us but what good was it when you had to depend on someone else to save you all the time.

I pressed my palm against the horn.

Honk. Honk. Honk.

“What are you doing?” Davina questioned, her eyes wide.

Honk. Honk. Honk.

The car came to a sudden stop and I slammed on my own brakes so I wouldn’t run into his expensive car. The traffic around us was already blaring their horns. My heart drummed in anticipation and anxiety, ignoring everything and everyone. This could be our way out.

“What are you doing?” Juliette demanded to know.

“I have an idea,” I told them all. “There might be a way to delete the surveillance.”

Everyone knew the DiLustros made things happen. So did the Brennans but going to my uncle or Killian wasn’t an option. The latter would have been if he wasn’t leaving the country, but he was chasing his own ghosts apparently. His text to Juliette and I was literally, *I’ll be back. Going to hunt some ghosts.* Whatever the f**k that meant.

I started to feel like Juliette and I were kept in the dark in a lot more matters than just criminal activities.

“How?” Davina demanded to know.

I jumped out of the Jeep, then combed my fingers through my hair, hoping to look somewhat presentable, but probably failing miserably. I was tempted to ask the three of them how I looked, but I knew it would raise suspicion so I opted not to.

My eyes traveled over the three of them. “Just trust me.”

I heard their gasps behind me as I walked towards the sleek black car but ignored them all. Basilio DiLustro could get us out of this mess. The question was, what would it cost us?

Or me.

My hands grew clammy as I made my way to his car. I performed in front of millions, and yet, I had never been so nervous before. I pushed my fingers through my curls one more time, then smoothed them out. I just hoped in the process I didn’t smear soot all over my damn head.

When I reached the car, I noted he wasn’t alone. All I could see of his passenger were long legs and a three-piece-suit. Basilio was in a three-piece black suit too and under the sunshine of the warm May day, he looked even more striking.

A frisson of recognition ran down my spine as our gazes met. Something amusing and dangerous danced in Basilio’s gaze, tempting me to fall under his dark spell. My heartbeat sped up and I smiled. Though I wasn’t sure why. There was nothing happy about the current situation or talking to a man with the worst reputation in New York.

I liked him. I mean, how could you not with that gorgeous, full smile and dark eyes that could consume your soul.

Tousled, coal black hair. Sharp cheekbones, strong jaw. Overall gorgeous face. Beautiful mouth with an arrogant smile. Brooding, dark expression as he watched me. His whole persona screamed ruthless power and his s*x appeal oozed all around him. I could practically taste it. And for the first time in my life, I wanted to let myself go so this man could catch me.

I mentally slapped myself. This had to be the swoon effect that girls always talked about.

“Hey,” I greeted him, my voice slightly breathless.

“Hello again,” he said. He remembers me! I thought giddily, then immediately mentally reprimanded myself. No time for swooning now.

Though as his eyes raked over me from head to toe, my cheeks instantly flushed.

“Umm,” I shifted from foot to foot. My nerves were a tad bit tattered. I never had issues talking to boys, no matter how cute they were. They were either too shallow, too wild, or just too demanding. And I never had time for any of it or those qualities.

Yet, this one… Well, he was hot. Anyone with two eyes could see it. But it was more than that.

The way his dark eyes watched me, like I was his already, had my heart fluttering like a butterfly caught in a jar.

“Yes?” A corner of his lips lifted and amusement shone in his eyes. Then as if he revealed too much, he schooled his expression and ran a thumb across his bottom lip, his eyes darkening even further. I hoped that didn’t mean he was mad at me. I haven’t even done anything yet.

Okay, here we go.

I took a deep breath and exhaled.

“I know who you are,” I started.

One heartbeat.

“You’re at an advantage then,” he said, smoothing a hand down his tie, in an absentminded move. “All I have is your first name. Star.” My brows knitted. I didn’t recall giving him my name. “You imitated your mother’s voice,” he reminded me.

Ahhh. His words were deep and soft, and a strange kind of warmth traveled through every inch of me. But the way he watched me made my cheeks blush. “It’s only fair if you tell me who you are.” Two heartbeats.

“Wynter,” I breathed. I loved the way he watched me. Possessive. And he didn’t even know who I was. “Wynter Star,” I rasped, giving him my first and middle name only.