Page 93 of Fish out of Water
“Probably.” My mother smirked at Lester. “But I’ve been looking for a little excitement in my life.” She turned, walking from the room, pausing at the man just outside the door. “Let our friend here go.”
The man immediately nodded and went to do my mother’s bidding.
When my father found out he was dying he worried about my mother. If she would be okay.
If she would be safe.
Hopefully there was something after death, so he could see there was nothing for him to worry about.
“He might just go kill Vito.” I walked beside her as we left Lester to whatever fate awaited him. “Hell, someone else might kill Lester the second he walks out of here.”
“He’ll be fine.” My mother shot me a smile. “I’m not worried.” She strode into the main dining room like she owned the place.
Hell, maybe she did.
Her eyes slowly dragged the room, pausing at one point in particular before she continued her path to what might not be so much a table.
But a throne.
I tracked her gaze to where Michael stood at the main doors. His eyes followed my mother’s every move and he wore a smile I knew well.
Because I wore it every time I looked at Julia.
Chapter Nineteen
Julia
“DID YOU GET what you needed from the twat?” Sylvia was on her second White Claw by the time Elaine and Grant finally found their way back to our table.
“I will.” Elaine smiled at the maître d’ as he handed her a mixed drink with a slice of orange floating in it. “Thank you, Michael.”
“I am at your service.” Michael dipped his head in what could almost be called a bow before disappearing behind the curtain next to our table.
I glanced around to see if anyone else noticed the way his gaze lingered on Elaine.
The way hers lingered back.
Sylvia seemed oblivious, all her attention focused on the dance floor.
Grant’s focus…
Was also elsewhere.
“How did this happen?” Grant leaned in close, one finger coming to trace down the low cut of the dress Sylvia found at the shop they took me to after work. The place was beyond high-end. Fancy enough they served champagne while we shopped.
And not a single person batted an eye at me when I walked in wearing my uniform from the gardens. I was pretty sure that had more to do with my company than their own opinions.
“Your mother and grandmother took me shopping.”
His finger slid down my arm to drag over the matching orange tipping my fingers.
“And to a spa.” It was a whirlwind I was still recovering from.
What those women could accomplish in two hours was amazing. I felt like Cinderella.
If her fairy godmother was actually two women who might enjoy slightly illegal activities.
And White Claw.
