The irritation in his voice wasn't even hidden. The silver lighter appeared in his hand, turning slow across his knuckles, each rotation catching the candlelight like a small, indifferent blade.
But I kept my expression calm, polite, like I had trained myself to be over the years.
"I think… we should—"
I didn't get to finish.
A woman's voice cut in smoothly from the side.
"Salvatore, after all these years, you still remember I love bitter melon!"
I lifted my gaze.
She stood right beside our table, perfectly put together from head to toe. Flawless makeup. Impeccable styling. Her posture straight, chin slightly lifted as she looked down at me with a faint, unmistakable trace of disdain. One finger rested on the pearl at her throat, light as a breath, as if confirming something only she needed to know.
Without waiting for any invitation, she stepped closer.
With an easy familiarity, she nudged Salvatore slightly inward on the booth, then slipped into the seat right next to him, close enough that their shoulders brushed. The two soldiers sitting at the bar didn't turn, but I could feel the room's attention tighten, the way it always did when the Don's table changed shape.
"Let me introduce myself," she said sweetly, her voice smooth like syrup. "I'm Salvatore's girlfriend. Adriana Caruso."
I didn't respond.
She leaned in even closer to him, her arm grazing his as if it was completely natural, then glanced sideways at me with a subtle, almost playful look.
"Salvatore," she said lightly, "aren't you going to introduce her? She's…"
Salvatore's expression stiffened instantly.
It was clear he hadn't expected this.
His eyes flickered toward me, a brief flash of unease, almost panic, before he forced himself to stay composed. The lighter went still in his hand.
For a second, I almost laughed.
"Elena Vitale," I said before he could speak, my tone calm and even. "I work at Mr. Bellomo's front office. The restaurant was full, so we're just sharing a table."
His head snapped toward me.
That flicker of panic disappeared just as quickly as it came, replaced by visible relief. He let out a breath, then nodded quickly. The lighter resumed its slow rotation.
"Yeah, that's right," he said. "This is Elena. One of my associates."
Adriana smiled slowly.
The kind of smile a cat gives when it already has its prey pinned beneath its paw.