Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 60700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
“Hey, girl!” Gina slaps a cocktail napkin down in front of me. “What are you drinking?”
“Lemon Drop, please.”
“Have you heard anything about the job?”
I hold both arms up in the air and roll my hips in a victory dance. “Guess who made the next round, uh huh, that’s right.”
“Yeah, you did! I knew it. That’s so great.” Gina fills a martini glass with ice to chill while she fills her stainless steel mixing container with Smirnoff vodka, Cointreau, lemon juice, syrup and ice. She gives it a good shake before pouring the liquid through the strainer into the chilled glass.
“Now I give a sample class and teach a group of stylists how to do a hairstyle.”
“Nice.”
“So did Bobby’s ex-girlfriend say anything to you? About me? Or Bobby?”
“No, why?” Gina leans her forearms on the bar with interest.
I fill her in on the drama that went down at the apartment.
“Holy shit,” Gina said. “Well, if she gives you any trouble, let me know, and I’ll have Leo throw her out.”
“Thanks. Bobby did tell her not to come here again. You know, I have to say, part of me wanted him to go totally mafia on her ass.” I laugh. “You know, like tell her if she showed up again, she would be swimming with the fishes.”
Gina laughs. “I don’t blame you.”
“But I guess the fact that he was appropriately disturbed by his own violence is a good sign. You know, in case I’m ever the one he’s mad at.”
Gina snorts. “In case you turn into stalker girl?”
“No. But I’ve been a little wary. Because of the mafia thing. He’s always been a gentleman, but I guess I had this worry in the back of my mind that I’d better not seriously piss him off, or I’d be in actual, mortal danger.”
“Well,” Gina muses. “You’d probably have to do something really terrible for that to happen. Like wear a wire or steal enormous sums of money from him. And you’d never do something like that.”
“Right.” I glance across the bar to where Stacy sits. “Oh shit, she sees me.”
“I’m staying right here with you,” Gina says.
Stacy slides off her bar stool and makes her way over. “Hi.” She flips her hair back over her shoulder.
I assess her coolly. “I did not appreciate your little stunt this week. I have nothing to say to you.”
“Where’s your loverboy? Out looking for fresh meat?”
Gina straightens. “Bobby told you not to come here again.” She motions to Leo, who walks over, looking aggressive.
Stacy’s eyes narrow. “I gave you a chance. We could’ve shared him.”
“Not happening,” I tell her.
When Leo arrives, Gina says, “Leo, she’s eighty-sixed.”
“Let’s go,” Leo barks.
“Well, I’m not worried,” Stacy says to me, ignoring Leo. “He’ll get tired of you soon.” She tosses her hair again and flounces out of the bar, with Leo walking behind to make sure she really leaves.
“Um…” Gina says. “I hope she’s not as psycho as she seems. Maybe he should have told her she was going to swim with the fishes.”
I force a laugh.
Damn Bobby for choosing such a loser, anyway. And how many more women like her did he have in his past?
Chapter Sixteen
Bobby
For the first time in, well, ever, I wish I brought a date to a family event.
We’re at my cousin Mario’s wedding Friday evening, but being here with the twins feels wrong. I don’t mean that it was wrong to bring them, but it feels like something’s missing.
Lexi’s missing.
But I couldn’t bring her here. You can’t enmesh outsiders with the Family. It was sticky enough to get divorced. I got grilled a hundred times by Al about how much my ex knew and what kind of liability she’d be. No one wanted me to cut her loose. Divorce is uncommon in La Cosa Nostra. The only way out of The Family is in a box, as they say.
But as I sit and watch the young people dancing on the ballroom floor, I wish I was out there, holding Lexi’s perfect curves up against my body. I’m sure she’s a great dancer. And she would fit in here. She’s the type who can make conversation with anyone. The family would love her, except for those who say I’m robbing the cradle.
The music changes to a slow song, and I watch Carlo glance at the don before he makes his way to Summer’s side. Dangerous territory for him. He should stop pining for the don's daughter before he gets himself in more trouble than he can handle.
Summer lights up when he takes her hand, though, and I have to admit, the two make a beautiful couple.
Janine and Juliana spin off the dance floor and plop down at our table.
“Summer gets all the hot guys,” Janine mutters to her sister.
“Seriously. I want Carlo. He has the sexiest accent.”