Page 45 of Taken By the Underboss

“He goes every year. We all do.”

“Maybe he's not planning on letting me go. We haven't exactly been getting along well lately.”

We rounded the garden and headed back up the path toward the house when I spotted Alessandro up ahead.

“Well now seems like a good time to ask him.” Luca tilted his head toward him and we headed in that direction.

“Hey Alex. Done with work already?”

“I had an early meeting, so I ended the day a little early too,” Alessandro answered Luca before turning his attention to me. “I was wondering where you were.”

“We were just on a little stroll. I was making sure that my favorite patient got his exercise for the day.”

“I'm sure it's good for you to get out of the house and get some fresh air when you're not at the clinic.” Alessandro was acting strange about me spending time with Luca. It wasn’t anything I could name, just something about his tone and the subtle glances he cast between Luca and me. I wasn't sure if it was because he was afraid to give me that much freedom or because I was spending time with a man that wasn't him. Either way it was none of his business.

“Luca was just telling me about the All-Saints Day party at the club tomorrow night. Are you going?”

“I had honestly forgotten all about it. I've been extremely busy.”

“Well, it's a tradition, man you got to go,” Luca said to him encouragingly. “It would do good for the doc here to get out and mingle, socialize too. Don't you think?”

“I suppose you're right. We'll need to go shopping for costumes but I'm sure we can find something before tomorrow night.”

We walked into what the guys called a card club. Luca explained that it was because unlike large commercial type casinos, they didn’t have slot machines, or big flashy games. It was a classier place for people to gather, drink expensive liquor and play cards but for the party, the tables had all been moved to make room for dancing and socializing. The theme for the night was literary characters. Apparently each year was different to encourage people to get creative with their costumes.

As we moved farther into the room, Luca hurried over to us in an Ulster and deerstalker cap.

"Well, if it isn't Jay Gatsby," he said with a smirk at Alessandro and clasped him on the shoulder before grinning at me. "And that must make you the illustrious Daisy Buchanan." He bowed and lifted my hand to his lips.

"Ah, you flatter me, Detective Holmes," I smiled brightly at him, and he pulled me into a hug.

I tensed. Luca had never been so forward, but I suspected it had to do with the alcohol I smelled on his breath, and although the hug was innocent enough, I wasn't sure how Alessandro would react.

"Mira's flapper dress from the twenties party last year fits you perfectly."

"It looks great on you." Under normal circumstances I would have appreciated Alessandro's compliment but all I could focus on was the woman Luca had mentioned. The woman whose dress I was apparently wearing.

"And it gave you an excuse to wear your twenties suit again too," Luca added and Alessandro chuckled.

"Who is Mira?" I tried to sound casual and not like I was secretly jealous of a woman I'd never met.

"My sister," a voice came from behind me, and we whirled around to see Teo and Mia dressed in the perfect ode to Cleopatra and Antony. "I thought it looked like it would fit you, and Mira would be happy that it wasn't going to waste."

"Wow you guys look fantastic.” I couldn’t hide my impressed tone. They’d clearly put a lot of work into their costumes.

"Thank you. These were all Teo’s idea." Mia blushed.

"Cleopatra was one of the most beautiful women in the world... of course that was before my wife."

I couldn't help but smile as Teo wrapped his arm around Mia's waist and tenderly kissed her temple.

"My detective skills tell me that Ms. Daisy here would make a great dance partner. You mind?" Luca asked Alessandro.

There was a slight tick in his jaw before he reluctantly nodded. "Sure. Go cut a rug, Ms. Buchanan. Just don't forget to save me a dance later."

And with that, Luca swept me away onto the busy dance floor.

He twirled me around and pulled me in close before we really hit our stride, finding the rhythm of the upbeat music.

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