Free DARK ANGEL: A Mafia Romance -- Book Two: His Dark Desires by Angela Jordan Page B

involved, but I did get rid of Craig…and I met someone new. It’s…complicated and a really long story.”
    “Ooh,” he grinned. “Well, let’s get out of here and you can tell me on the drive. You know how I love a good naughty story. You can’t blush like that and not expect me to want details.”
    I sighed. If he only knew how naughty I’d been…
     
    ****
     
    My jaw fell open as I looked out the window when Jonathan pulled the car to a stop in front of the restaurant where the engagement party was being held and we waited in line for the valet.
    It couldn’t be.
    Fate could be a cruel bitch sometimes…
    I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as I stared at the name DeSilvo’s embossed in golden letters on the front of the stone building. I ignored the sound of Jonathan’s voice as he continued to talk, his words fading to a dull murmur against my suddenly screaming thoughts. I fought the urge to demand that he take me home. I knew I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t miss Amanda’s party. Plus, I told myself, the odds of bumping into Angelo tonight were really very slim. He was busy these days with his new restaurant, Bliss Lounge, where I’d originally met him. He’d even told me once how stressful the Bliss launch was going. There was no way I’d find him here tonight.
    I turned back to Jonathan and some of my worry must have shown, because he immediately shut up. “What is it, Karen?”
    “I thought this party was at The Yard.”
    Jonathan blinked. “Oh, didn’t I tell you? It got changed over the weekend. I think Tony’s family wanted it somewhere nicer than The Yard. More of a lounge-y feel… wait, why? What’s wrong?”
    “You know that new guy I was telling you about?”
    He frowned. “You mean this ‘dark angel’ of yours?”
    “Yeah,” I replied. “Well, his name is Angelo... Angelo DeSilvo.”
    Jonathan’s eyes widened as his gaze jerked from me to the building then back again. “Well, fuck…”
    He could say that again.
    “What do you want to do? Amanda will kill us if we don’t go in.”
    I sighed. “I’m not missing her party. Besides, he’s probably not even here.”
    When it was our turn, Jonathan pulled the car up and the valet opened my door. I got out and waited for my friend to get his ticket before we walked inside together. Where Bliss Lounge had been trendy and modern, DeSilvo’s spoke of old world elegance. It was classic Italian at its best. The few times I had been to DeSilvo’s it had always been packed, and tonight was no different.  Dark wood gleamed under subtle lighting as we made our way through the crowd of waiting patrons to the front desk.
    The rich smell of excellent food stirred my hunger as we were directed up to the second floor where the engagement party was being held in a private room. I walked up the steps, holding tightly to Jonathan’s arm for support. His hand squeezed mine, and I smiled up at him gratefully. When we reached the second floor we stopped at the coat check and I slipped off the red jacket to reveal my tight, fitted black dress.
    The young girl working the coat check looked at Jonathan with admiring eyes, and she smiled when he winked at her.
    “You just made her night,” I said with a chuckle as we walked away.
    “I do what I can.”
    We started walking toward the room where we had been directed when a voice stopped me.
    “Karen Blackwell. You little bitch!”
    I turned my head and a grin spread across my face as I saw Amanda heading toward us. I let go of Jonathan to hug Amanda. She pulled back and surprised me by pinching my arm hard.
    “Ouch! What the hell was that for?”
    “That is for being late, and for not returning my phone calls the last few days. Where the hell have you been?” Amanda hissed as she dragged both of us further down the hallway. Not waiting for my response, she continued. “I thought this was going to be a small party. You know, his parents, his brother and sister and you guys…but