He straightens his suit and checks himself in the mirror, running his hands over his hair to make sure it’s in place as there is another knock on the bathroom door.
“Coming,” Dante replies, unmoved by the past five minutes. “Coming out with a slightly intoxicated woman,” he says before Riccardo opens the door and Dante falls behind us so he can slip out without being seen.
I sneak a glance in the bathroom mirror and notice red marks on my neck.
“My night’s ruined anyway with this.” I gesture to my neck before I walk forward with the woman’s toned but limp arm around my neck. I’m surprised by a warm tingle the travels up my spine.
It must be from the lack of oxygen, I tell myself.
And what a body she has as it bumps into mine. She’s dressed in a black tight leotard top that flows into a type of dress that gives her a great range of motion.
Her thin overcoat hides how lethal she is, and the covering makes her outfit sexier even though it covers her arms and shoulders. I’ll need to check to see if she’s hiding anything on her. And in due time we will get her full story. One way or another, she has messed with the wrong family.
I nod to Riccardo and exit the bathroom as men begin to pile in curious as to what caused the commotion and I catch a glimpse of Dante walking past them with his back turned to avoid being seen.
“Too much to drink already?” a stranger asks.
“You know these women who just get carried away,” I comment with a wry smile and hope they don’t look too close at my neck with welts.
Dante casually turns back to make sure we get out of the mess and not giving anyone an inkling that he knows me.
He’ll return to the family table and in true Micheli style, switch from his current look of concern and back to his poker face. He will carry the night off with his chivalrous attitude and no one will be the wiser.
“Where too?” My voice is barely a whisper.
“The wine cellar. It’s set up for this.”
“The old torture room?” I can’t help but chuckle because it’s been around longer than me. Actually, it’s on a vineyard that the family operates.
“Sure, it has a bed and is made for this. It’s been a long time since we had a wild one like this.”
“Indeed.” And my mind is piqued with questions. I wrap my left arm around her tiny, but firm waist.
“Let’s go out the exit right here,” Riccardo suggests as we attempt to keep up our appearances with smiles. But Riccardo never smiles, so he just nods. The band is announced, and as the music cues up. I thank God for the distraction as the timing couldn’t be more fortuitous.
We manage to hold the limp body between us, and it reminds me of the movieWeekend at Bernie’s, only she’s not dead but she can’t move either.
Another minute in that bathroom alone and one of us would have been dead.
The narrow corridor ends, and we exit, walking faster through the parking lot behind the hotel. Our cars are all valet parked to avoid the paparazzi. Plus, Dante’s fiancée is wearing stilettos and those are a twisted-ankle-waiting-to-happen on cobblestone streets.
We are greeted by the paparazzi at the entrance to the hotel but they have to stay behind the ropes put up for the event.
“Shit, no keys,” I growl, clearly annoyed.
“I’m back here.” Riccardo nods in the direction of the black Rover.
“Great.” I’m not surprised. He might be Dante’s right hand man, theconsigliere, and he’s always prepared for every occasion, that’s what makes him so valuable, that and the fact that we all trust him with our lives.
“What about my car?”
“I’ll send someone to get it but later, and I’ll make sure all the security cameras are on the fritz as well.” I can’t say I remember him smiling, but he takes pride in his work and being able to handle any situation. In the darkness that engulfs us I feel better knowing he’s got my back and he’ll tidy up any loose strings.
“Are you okay?” he asks me as he pulls out his key fob and his vehicle chirps once in protest, but the doors are unlocked, and I place the mysterious woman in the back seat as Riccardo starts the car.
“Yes, a few scratches. How long will she be out?”
“Hours, actually, you need to go back to the gala, so you’re seen. I’ll have Enzo follow behind us to drive you back.”