Page 77 of Rubies and Revenge

“Alessandra, don’t hog the bride-to-be.” Riccardo steps forward to hug his daughter and cut the tension. Alessandra is forced to release Zarina and step aside. I take the opportunity to signal Rita to escape, and she does without hesitation, though she throws a heated glare at Alessandra on her way.

Riccardo embraces his daughter. “Congratulations, Zarina.”

Zarina’s muscles stiffen, and her jaw clenches. “Thank you, Father.”

He steps back and threads his arm around his wife, like he’s holding her back from invading Zarina’s space again. “Have you set a date?”

“Christmas,” Zarina answers.

That’s news to me. I barely hold back a reaction, masking my surprise with a wide smile and a brush of my hand over the small of Zarina’s back. I wish I could whisper in her ear without her parents hearing, becausewhat the fuck. When was that decided? And then it occurs to me—that’s the end of our three-month timeline.

When this sham of an engagement will be over.

Riccardo coughs. “So soon?”

“Why wait?” Zarina challenges, still speaking with candy-coated condescension.

“Indeed!” Jimmy slides into our small circle, clapping Riccardo on the shoulder. Jimmy’s patchwork hat sits somehow more askew than before, and yet still clings to his head. He raises his half-empty glass of champagne. “I expect your wedding to be as unique as your engagement.”

Zarina offers a sly smile. “Oh, it’ll be the event of the season.”

“I have no doubt.” Jimmy downs the rest of his drink.

“Tamayo, Zarina!” Logan Anderson’s voice clangs against my ears. He’s dressed in all black, pauldrons formed of metallic feathers decorating his shoulders—a raven. He shakes my hand, grabbing it despite my failure to offer it, and then he kisses Zarina’s, lingering too long on her knuckles for her comfort. Or mine. I barely stop myself from breaking his hold before he releases her. She slips her hand behind my back, wiping it across the fabric surreptitiously. I bite back a laugh at that.

Logan inclines his head to Riccardo and Alessandra. “Congratulations, Gallos! I am impressed by your daughter’s wit and talent, though her beauty surpasses both to be sure.”

Zarina grimace-smiles and drains the rest of her champagne, immediately trading it for another glass off a passing tray.

Alessandra frowns at Logan. “What’s your name?”

I choke on a snort.

Logan’s face falls and reveals the offended ego of a man who thought himself more important than he is. “Logan Anderson, Louredo district attorney.”

Alessandra hums, regarding the man as if he’s a beetle crawling over her most expensive shoes. “And how do you know my daughter?”

“I introduced them, of course.” Jimmy steps in. He’s traded his champagne for a glass of scotch. “Maybe next time Ricci comes to Casa Nostra, you can attend with him as Zarina did.”

Riccardo’s face pales. “Zarina?”

“You went to Casa Nostra?” Alessandra asks, voice more of a whisper.

“It was most entertaining,” Jimmy says, as if he’s speaking about this moment rather than Zarina’s appearance at the infamous gentleman’s club.

“She fit right in,” Logan says. By the looks on Zarina’s parents’ faces, such a sentiment meant a number of things tothem and absolutely none of them were acceptable for their well-bred mafia princess.

“My daughter at Casa Nostra?” Alessandra’s hand wraps around Zarina’s upper arm again, and this time, her nails dig directly into the skin. “What business could you possibly have there, dear?”

Zarina bears the claws threatening to break her skin without flinching, like this is a common occurrence. Normal pain. And that says far more than anything else could. “You know I’ve always been keen to learn the family business.”

“Yet you attended without your family.”

Zarina plucks a third glass of champagne from a passing tray, the movement forcing her mother to release her arm. “After years of refusals, I seized the chance I received.”

She means the chance she created. I take a generous gulp of my drink, feeling the ghost of Zarina’s knife scraping over my neck at the memory. I would have much rather left her at home that night. At least I get to watch her parents have a polite meltdown at the revelation of her attendance and my suspected involvement in the corruption of their perfect princess.

Jimmy squeezes Riccardo’s shoulder in mock comfort, the Gallo patriarch leaning away in distaste. “She comported herself quite well, Ricci, no need to be worried.”

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