Page 474 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

But that was a few months ago, and according to Nico, the threat has been handled. I guess that’s yet another thing to celebrate. I’m safe out here and surrounded by friendlies.

At least, they’re friendlies to anyone who doesn’t try to cross them or the people under their protection.

I allow a victorious smile to lift my lips. My life is back on track and tonight, I am celebrating the next chapter. I don’t know how my story will end, but I’m beyond excited to experience each new adventure.

“You look like the cat who just ate the canary,” Chloe quips.

“As she should,” Lindy says. “She just got into one of theveryfew vet schools in the entire country! Right? Aren’t there, like, twenty? She’s a freaking rock star!”

Kat smirks. “I don’t know. Would it have been that bad to get into one on St. Kitts? I mean, I’d have happily visited you for months at a time.”

I giggle. “St. Kitts would have been nice. But come on, my family would never have let me leave the country. You do remember what it took for them to let me come out here, right?”

“And you know their decision was partly because of the fierce ninja moves I taught you,” Kat says, poling me in the shoulder.

“Those fierce ninja moves definitely came in handy,” I muse, twisting a strand of my hair around my finger. My eyes tangle with Kat’s for a brief second, and we’re both back in the same exact place.

She knows all too well what her fierce ninja moves did for me that night.

Chloe grabs the bottle of vodka and makes herself another cocktail, ogling a group of guys paused not too far from our table.

Kat reaches over and gives my hand a quick squeeze. “You’re a total badass, Lily. Don’t ever forget that. You’re here because you earned it and because?—”

“Of you,” I say quietly. “I’m here because of you and what you did for me, what you taught me.”

She shakes her head, her long, dark hair tumbling over her bare shoulders. “No, love. You’re here because ofyou.”

I take a deep breath. “I just got lucky that night. But luck eventually runs out, Kat.”

“Hey,” she murmurs. “You put up a fight with those assholes and bought yourself time. If you hadn’t channeled that inner raging bitch when they grabbed you, you’d have been thrown in the back of that van before the cops showed up. You saved yourself, babe. Don’t ever let anyone tell you different.”

I smile at Kat. It’s a little funny that she refers to me as a raging bitch when she is as lethal and vicious as they come. I guess it’s that Russian blood coursing through her veins.

And the vodka. Can’t forget all of the vodka.

“Okay,” I murmur. “Thanks.”

She shrugs. “Don’t thank me. You did all the work.” Kat nods toward my empty glass. “Come on, you were getting kinky before. I’m curious to see where you’re gonna go with that.”

I giggle, taking the refilled glass. I’m about to take a sip when Chloe slides against me and grabs my arm.

“Holy shit, Lil! Check out that guy over there! Do you see him? Leather jacket, black t-shirt, sexier than fuck?”

I narrow my eyes in the crowd, trying to pinpoint the guy Chloe is drooling over but I can’t see anyone except Kazimir Severinov, who has just draped his arm around Lindy’s shoulders. “Oh, Chloe, no, that’s Lindy’s hus?—”

And then Leather Jacket steps out from behind Kaz, and the flashing lights illuminate his face like he’s some kind of an angel. But not the good kind, despite the lights dancing over his chiseled features and strong jaw.

I bite down hard on my lower lip as he approaches the table, his gait so confident and strong, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jeans.

“Oh my God, I can come just by looking at him,” Chloe moans softly.

She catches me mid-sip, and I spew vodka and club soda all over the table just as Kazimir stops in front of us. He flashes me a mischievous grin. “Don’t like to swallow, huh?”

A hot flush creeps up the side of my face, and the guy behind him smirks. His piercing blue-eyed gaze assaults my body, rooting me to the spot in this booth. My mind grows woozy with lust as the seconds pass, and I feel the magnetic draw of those swirly blue pools everywhere.

And I meaneverywhere.

Kat nudges me. “Hey, you with us? Or did that drink do you in?” she asks with a wicked smile on her face.

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