Page 61 of Mafia Fire

This isnotthat.

People stand in a circle, one man, then one woman, all the way around. As the music plays, they dance into the center of the circle, then back out. As the beat changes, picking up the pace, the men and women turn to one another, linking arms and circling one another, then changing partners.

You’ve got to be kidding me. I run a frustrated hand through my hair. I can’t even dance with her now?

Kylie claps her hands. “How fun! It’s like they brought Jane Austen to the Hamlet.”

“Jane who?” I say.

“Jane Austen?”

I give her a blank stare.

“Booker would know who I’m talking about.” She tugs my arm. “Come on, let’s dance!”

I watch the couples prancing around. There’s no way I’m going up there. “You go ahead,” I say.

She eyes me. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

She narrows her brow further. “But you know you’ll see me dancing with other people, right?”

“Yes. All happily married men. Have at it.”

She leans up on tiptoe, kissing my cheek. “Thanks. Be right back!”

I go to the bar, nursing my disappointment with a whiskey sour. Leaning against the bar, I sip my drink, watching Kylie twirl from arm to arm.

Wait… is that…

The Beast?

What the fuck?

He towers over my Kylie, arm linked with hers, dancing her to the center of the circle. He’s bending down, that stoic look on his angled face. He’s asking her something.

Kylie nods and smiles.

What’s he saying to her? What did she say back? I run a hand over the prickles rising on the back of my neck.

I make my way to the stage, reaching him just as they change partners. No longer dancing with Kylie, the Beast has lost interest in the dance. He excuses himself from his new partner.

I grab him as he goes to leave. “A word?”

He gives a grunt and a nod, eyeing me.

We move to the shadows edging the stage. “You know she came with me. Have you already forgotten the code of the Brotherhood? What’s a single man doing in the Hamlet anyway? Can’t you find somewhere else to work?” My hands clench into fists. “What’s your problem?”

“My problem is her.” He leans back, nodding toward the floor. There are tables of drinks and finger foods lining the edges of the room. He points in the direction of the champagne fountain.

“Who?” I look over to see Charlie standing alone, sipping at a drink.

Nikolaos’ already deep voice drops an octave. “I saw her the moment she stepped onto the tarmac. Charlie Bachman, the widow.”

I look from Charlie back to the Beast. He’s not taking his eyes off her. “And what did you need with Kylie?”

He shrugs. “She came with Charlie. She seems like a nice girl. Sweet. I thought I could talk to her and see if she would have a word with Charlie for me.”

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