We finish our meal, and I go back to work.
Later, I’m a bit nervous about leaving my son with my cousin, but if I knew one thing about Dominic, Raphael would be more than protected with him there. I knock on the cottage door, and Arianna throws it open. “Kira!”
She flings her arms around me and hugs me tightly. “Right, you look like a nun.” I look at my smart black dress and black pumps, and she continues, “Luckily, I got you an outfit today. It’s in my room, get changed, your makeup is fine. Then we’ll go.”
I try to protest, but there’s no point with my cousins. They are always like this.
I change into the rather short red dress and the high heels that have been provided. When I walk out of the room, Arianna claps her hands together. “Magnificent, just let loose your hair, and we’re ready to go.”
I don’t move and look at her. “Arianna, I hope you’re not trying to hook me up with someone.”
“While I love that idea,” she grins, “I am not. I just want to have a good time.”
I take the clip out of my hair and put it in my purse. Arianna uses her fingers to brush out my hair, and the strands curl down my back and over my shoulders.
“Let’s go,” she says gleefully, a little too much so, dragging me out of the house.
La Club has definitely changed a lot since I’ve been gone, but at the same time, it’s the same. I don’t know how to explain it other than that although the interior may have changed, the crowd and vibe haven’t.
We order drinks and start to dance. Carmine joins us after an hour, but the shooters and ciders are already making me a bit tipsy. Once the song is done, Carmine drags us to the bar for two shots each of Absinthe. I grimace, but I do it. I used to be able to drink a lot, but I haven’t really drunk that much alcohol since Raphael was born.
I wave a hand in front of my face. “I need to fix my makeup.”
“I’ll go with you.” Arianna walks with me to the bathroom, where we both use the facilities and touch up our hair and makeup. We loop arms as we walk out and straight into a crowd coming in.
The one I hit grabs my arms and snarls, “Watch where you’re going.”
I glare up at him, irritated and a little drunk. I can smell alcohol, and it's nothing I’ve been drinking—it’s clearly coming off him. I meet his eyes, and I recognize him immediately, he doesn’t seem to recognize me at first, but when he lets go of me, I know the ball has dropped.
“Kira,” he murmurs. He straightens himself up and waves his party on. Arianna smiles but doesn’t leave me. She hovers to the side.
“I have to go,” I say, turning to walk back to Carmine. But Miguel grabs my arm and whirls me around, coming down for a kiss. I slap him across the face and hiss, “Don’t touch me.”
“Don Rossi, is there a problem?” I didn’t even see Carmine get over to us so quickly, “I can contact Don Sorvino.”
“No problem,” Miguel says before he looks at Arianna. “You two could be sisters. Aren’t you Don Sorvino’s sister?”
“Are you threatening her?” Carmine growls, but Miguel waves him off.
I look at Arianna. “I have to go. I’m sorry.”
I don’t give her a chance to answer as I leave La Club and hail a cab. I give him the address to my apartment, and I do my best to hold it together.
Dominic is awake and watching television. He looks surprised when I walk in. “Finish so early?” he asks.
“Yeah,” I wave off the implication. “I know, I know. I’m no fun. I was just exhausted.”
Dominic gets up and hugs me tightly. “It’s okay. You can try again another time.”
I smile at him. “Thanks for watching Raphael.”
“Anytime you get some sleep.” He kisses my head and leaves.
I go to the bathroom and shut it. Locking the door, I sink to my knees, put my face in my hands, and silently start crying.
Chapter 4 - Miguel
I stand there, staring at the Sorvino brat’s boyfriend after, who I thought was Kira, storms out of La Club. I can’t believe it. I’m pretty sure that I am way drunker than I thought I was. I must be hallucinating.