Page 85 of Mafie Queen

I gesture to a table in the back as two people unveil the large arrangement of pineapple pizza. “You see, my wife does not believe pineapple belongs on pizza. So by the end of the night, we need you to vote. Have a taste and keep an open mind. It might just change your life.”

Evie laughs as she rolls her eyes, but I’m willing to bet she’s about to lose this battle. Speaking of battles, I hand the mic to Damien.

“Hurry up and finish your meals because a dance battle will take place in just under an hour for the chance to win…” He gestures to a large pile of cash stacked on a table by the DJ. “Five hundred thousand dollars.”

Evie’s mouth nearly falls to the floor. Not over the pile of cash, but clearly over the fact that Damien can dance. What manypeople don’t know is that Damien used to run the stripper scene before he got good at fighting, and he could dance with the best of them. That man has moves that should be illegal. They are so damn sexy.

Alexi takes the mic next. “A high stakes poker game with a ten grand buy in will take place at the tables in the back once the meals have finished. Every penny earned will go to spoiling our girl on her honeymoon.”

Evie smiles up at him as she takes the mic.

“Thank you all for being here and for supporting us. I know the past year has been a challenge for us all. Take tonight to party like you deserve, and don’t forget to grab a goodie bag on your way out. They may or may not contain weapons for you to use in this upcoming fight.”

The crowd erupts with cheers and clapping as we make our way to our seats at the head of the room. The four of us share a table with four wingback chairs. Alexi pulls out Evie’s and Damien’s, and I help her scoot it in. She’s still wearing her crown, and I can’t help but feel like she’s finally where she’s supposed to be.

???

The night went perfectly. Lyra shocked everyone and wiped the floor in the dance battle. Alexi won the poker game, not surprising anyone, but he did have all of the money transferred into a fund right after saying we would use it when we had the time to get away.

Everyone loved the weapons Evie gifted them. They were all strategically picked out for each person as if she had memorized all of their strong suits on the island.

Evie is currently glaring at me in the car on the ride home though, because she lost the pineapple pizza vote. Two hundred and forty-seven to two hundred and fifty. It was close, but when she had to take a bite of the pizza and gagged in front of everyone, I think she might have wanted to chop my balls off.

I’m glad she didn’t though, because I need them for the evening we’re about to have. The large black limo pulls up in front of our building. This will be the first night we have all been together like this since Evie was taken, and I can’t help but question if she’s truly ready for this or not.

We enter the suite and Evie eyes us nervously.

“Could I get just a second?”

We nod then all exchange glances as she runs to the bathroom by the kitchen.

“Do you think she’s too nervous?” Damien asks.

“If this is too much, she will tell us,” Alexi reassures him.

“Maybe we should just take turns this weekend and not make her have to tell us?” I throw in.

Suddenly, the lights all go out and we are left in the pitch dark. No one should have access to our electrical system. I hear Alexi’s gun cock right as I get out my taser, and Damien turns on his phone flashlight with his gun in hand.

A static sound comes from the speakers as we silently make our way to the bathroom. I open the door as quietly as I can.

Damien sweeps his light over the room, but it’s empty. Dread pools in my stomach, and I feel the three of us start to panic. If they’ve gotten in here, then they can get anywhere.

Anxiety nearly suffocates us, but then a laugh sounds out over the speakers. A very familiar laugh that has my brows pinching together.

“Hey, boys,” Evie’s voice says. “I thought it might be fun to play a little game tonight.”

All reservations we might have had about holding back go out of the window as Evie taunts us. I bet that was her goal too. She didn’t want us to be soft and sweet. Evie wants us exactly as we are, and she’s trying to show us that.

“If you can find me. You can fuck me. Since Lev won your little game earlier, I’ll give him a hint. Remember where we hid from Damien after switching the icing on his Oreos with toothpaste?”

The voice cuts out and silence surrounds us in the dark again. But I remember where we hid. We tucked ourselves into the gun safe Alexi has in his closet. Normally it’s full, but he was having them all cleaned. We were able to squeeze in there while Damien had a little fit. It was hilarious.

I rush up the stairs, Damien and Alexi hot on my heels as I push open the door to Alexi’s room. I head right back to the closet but nothing’s there. She can’t be in the safe because it’s fully stocked and there’s no room.

As we approach the safe, there’s a note on it.

‘If you’re reading this, you walked right by me.’ There’s a winky face drawn on the bottom. I think Evie knows just how much Damien and Alexi like the hunt, so I decide to help her out.

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