Along with Nikolov.
She thinks I can’t protect her.
She’s wrong.
Whatever happened in that house has her petrified, and that fills me with fury. I will find a way to deal with Nikolov and make her realise this isn’t a risk for her. I’d give her anything.
When we step out of the car, her mood has lifted. Not surprisingly she puts on her shield, a smile wrapped in a bright, bubbly attitude. It’s a good costume, because it seems so real. But I’ve seen her now, I’ve gotten under her skin and I can feel the hurt and fear she’s trying to hide.
As we are guided to our table, Lilly is all smiles. She’s warm, friendly and engaging from the hostess to the men and women that rose from their tables to greet me. Every time I introduced her, she left them with a smile on their face and an awe that was common around her.
Once we step up the few stairs to our table, her face lights up when she sees my sister. Every moment slowly eases my bad mood that still lingers. Before I get a chance to pull out her chair, she drops herself down beside Amari and hangs her purse over the back of her seat.
“Hi!” she says to everyone at the table.
“Hey!” Amari leans across to kiss her on the cheek.
Tommy looks at the empty chair by his side, and back to her pouting. Clearly upset she chose not to sit next to him.
She notices and laughs, her eyes sparkling. “So, I can see your beautiful face.”
He beams as a response.
I smack the back of his head as mine.
“Hey, don’t hate the player cause she likes me better,” Tommy says, rubbing the back of his head and winking at her.
Lilly giggles and feeds Tommy’s ego, which really doesn’t need it. She swipes the wine from the table and fills Amari’s glass even though it wasn’t empty, then pours her own.
Dave says his hello, while Dante mutters his.
The conversation begins to flow, instant and effortless. Once the ordering has started, that’s a whole other story. She orders everything, and when Amari hesitates over her choice, she convinces her to get them both.
She does this with a cunning smile playing on her lips, like she thinks she’s getting to me. Still not realizing I would give her everything, it doesn’t bother me.
But for some reason it does Dante. He makes a dig about her not paying for it, which is stupid, since we don’t let our women pay and it’s not like we can’t afford it. He’s still harbouring a problem, but he needs to keep it to himself.
Lilly takes it all in her stride, it rolls off her shoulder and she laughs agreeing with him.
We eat and talk. now and then, I am interrupted by people who want to pay their respects or say hello to me. Enzo’s is a business linked to my family, like a second home.
Pauly, a friend from the family hunches by my side and asks for time to discuss a problem. There’s always a problem, mostly I help, if it’s right. But in return, should the day ever come, I expect loyalty and obedience.
He knows it, I know it. So, I agree to let him know when I’m ready to listen.
After Lilly refills Amari’s glass for a second time, Dante covers her glass to stop her from pouring a third.
“Oh, are you driving?” Lilly turns to Amari who rolls her eyes.
“No, Dante just has a complex.”
With Amari, he sure does.
“No.” Dante shakes his head and stares down Lilly. “Just not everyone is an alcoholic.”
She looks at him like he’s crazy. “I saw this girl down straight vodka yesterday. I think she can handle a couple glasses of wine.”
Amari giggles under her breath, and it’s something new for her to have a girl on her side.