I sat up straighter and reached out to grab Fede’s arm, my fingers digging into the row of gold bracelets she wore. “The man from last night! Where did he go?”
“How should I know? He brought you here. That’s all I know for sure,” Fede said, wrinkling her nose at me. “Best not to get involved with people like that.”
“People like what?”
She blinked at me. “Made-men. You can’t tell me that guy didn’t give you mob vibes. Not even mob. Bratva. They’re the worst,” she muttered and gave a delicate shiver.
I raised an eyebrow, curious for her to continue.
“In the hierarchy of organized crime, there are different families, cultures, and traditions. Each one has its own code, except for the bratva. They do what they want,” Fede explained.
“How do you know all that?”
She seemed lost in thought for a moment. “I’m a New Yorker. It’s mandatory to know who to stay the fuck away from.”
“Well, interesting as that is, he’s not bratva or whatever. He’s my friend. My best friend,” I said with utter conviction.
Fede pouted. On her, the petulant expression even looked cute. “I’m offended,” she complained.
“Please. I’d take a hundred Kirill’s over you and your sarcastic ass any day. Can I leave? I don’t want to rack up any more debt.”
“Right, I meant to tell you. It’s your lucky day. Your bill is paid. I asked about it when I came in. And yes, you are free to go.”
I pushed out of bed and reached for my clothes piled on a fancy leather armchair.I paused. “My bill is what?”
“Paid. You have nothing left to settle,” she said, shrugging when I looked at her curiously. “You said your friend’s name is Kirill?” she asked suddenly.
I pulled on my Blue Rabbit shorts and tried to cover the inappropriate outfit with the jacket she handed me.“Yeah, Kirill. Kirill Lewis.”
My mind drifted to the security guy who’d pushed me around. What had he called him? I couldn’t remember. My mind was like a melted marshmallow.
Fede chewed her lip pensively. “I suppose he took care of the bill.”
I snorted at that. “I doubt it. Kirill’s the only person I’ve ever known with less money than me.” I left my hair tucked in the jacket and shoved my boots on.
“Don’t be dumb, Lori. You saw him last night. Maybe you don’t remember, but that guy isn’t poor. He’s powerful and rich as hell.”
I tried to remember, but all that came back to me was his eyes and the way they fixed on mine. “I don’t remember. I guess it has been seven years since I last saw him.”
“Seven years? I thought he was your best friend. You mean he used to be,” Fede said.
“No, I mean he is and always will be,” I corrected her. Energy flowed through me, and a grin hit my lips that nothing could wipe away. “He’s the reason I came to New York. Maybe my luck is finally changing.” My excitement radiated from me like a supernova.
Fede stepped back as I approached. “What’s wrong?” I asked, noticing her marked lack of enthusiasm.
“Nothing. Don’t forget that people can change. You need to get to know him again. It’s been a long time. He could be anyone now.”
“I know him. I know what kind of person he is. He’d never hurt me,” I said confidently as we stepped from the hospital room.
Kirill’s friend was waiting in the hall. I hung back as Fede nodded toward him.
“Poor guys don’t have bodyguards,” she muttered.
“Bodyguard? It’s his buddy,” I replied furiously.
The man in question peeled himself from the wall and approached. It was the same man from last night, Kirill’s friend. He was dark and dashing in an enigmatic way, and the scar across his eye somehow only added to his rough hotness.
“Ladies, I’m Max. Kirill wanted me to make sure you had a ride home from the hospital,” he said smoothly, giving Federica a wide grin.