Page 41 of Rubies and Revenge

“Unfortunately”—she pays the bartender with far too much cash, which she insists he keep—“your knife was checked at the door.”

I chuckle, more breath than sound. “As if that’s the only weapon I keep.”

She finally turns to meet my eye, sliding my drink toward me as she arches a brow and smirks. “I’d love to explore your arsenal.”

“Maybe.” I wrap my fingers around my glass and hold her gaze. “If you’re good.”

Her smirk brightens into a pleasant smile.

“Tamayo!” Jimmy Falcone approaches with a small entourage. “Welcome!”

“Jimmy.” Tamayo turns to shake Jimmy’s hand, my fingers leaving her nape and hers my back. I stand against the bar behind her and take a sip, playing the part of an ornament. Orange citrus lights up my tongue and sense memory slams into me—Tamayo on her throne, me on my knees, and Den of Inequity’s music vibrating up through the floor, into my legs. Another vodka Collins on another night risking too much for a chance to grasp at my own power.

Jimmy offers me a hand with a fond shake of his head. “Zarina.”

“Surprised to see me?” I tease. Despite his status as a cis man and a rival don with a penchant for chaos, I don’t mind Jimmy Falcone. He’s never expected me to be small, unlike every other man in this business.

He laughs, full and hearty. “Not even a little.”

“Good.”

“Come”—Jimmy waves for us to follow him, turning and walking away without checking if we’re behind him—“we’re sitting with Logan Anderson.”

Louredo’s district attorney.

Tamayo slips her hand around my waist again, lands a kiss on my cheek as if I’m incredibly dear to her, and whisper-growls, “Behave.”

I would like to shove that damned word down her throat.

We follow Jimmy across the room to a group of low, leather arm chairs already occupied by a handful of men. Pat andDarius stand against the wall, scanning the room. Casa Nostra is another neutral ground where most weapons aren’t allowed, save for soldiers and personal guards. Pat holds my gaze, their blue eyes bright despite the hazy air, and offers me the slightest tilt of their lip. I shoot them a wink.

Jimmy snaps his fingers, and three chairs open up, men jumping out of them as if bitten on the ass by rats. Jimmy settles into the seat beside Logan, Tamayo across from him, leaving the seat empty beside her. But she told me to behave, to stick by her side.

Which is exactly what I do when I sit in her lap.

Air huffs out of her, hot against my arm, and I wiggle backward until I’m fully seated in the nook of her thigh and hip. Her hand snakes around to grip my waist, the other landing on my thigh. She shakes her head and lands another kiss on my jaw, murmuring against my skin, “Brat.”

The men laugh as if I’ve performed the most uproarious prank.

“Can’t leave an inch of space between the two of you?” Jimmy teases.

“That’s what it’s always like in the beginning.” Logan waves a hand with a shake of his head as if to say,look at these naïve lovebirds in their honeymoon phase. So cute. So silly. Two youths in love and doomed from the start. Fucking hilarious.

“You can’t be speaking from experience?” Jimmy’s laughing and rolling his eyes, his long hair swept aside. “You haven’t kept a woman longer than the beginning!”

“For good reason!” Logan roars, and really, calm the fuck down. My ears ring as they laugh themselves hoarse, their men chortling around them, and I hide my annoyance behind a sip of my drink.

“And you, Tamayo?” Logan leans back in his seat. “Is Miss Gallo the first woman you’ve kept past the beginning?”

Tamayo squeezes my thigh, and I pretend I don’t want it higher. “Not the first, but she’s the last.”

Logan chuckles, his eyes stuck on her fingers splayed over my skin. “Smooth.”

“Or she knows I’ll kill her otherwise.” I smile sweetly.

“Careful, Tamayo, the Zarina I know doesn’t make promises she won’t keep.” Jimmy leans back in his chair, considering me then Tamayo then me again. He points at me, still holding his typical scotch. “I remember when you were sixteen at whatever gala and you almost cut some poor boy’s balls clean off. Who was it again?”

I cut a pointed look at Tamayo. “Billy Fawkes.”

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