Chapter 14 #2
“Interesting.” I look in one bag. “Where are those shoes?”
“Here.” She passes me a pair of black heels. “These are seven and a half. I think they will fit you.”
I take them from her and tilt my head to the side, inspecting her, only I get nothing from her masked face. I exhale and take my boots off before slipping the heels on. I turn to Clara. “Let’s get this over with.”
“This is perfect. You look beautiful.”
I smile and shake my head as I turn and make my way toward the club.
Clara gets us inside without even a blink.
Just one look at her and we’re inside, no questions asked.
According to Clara, everyone knows her here, as she is the one who always organizes parties for the family.
I walk through the hallway, purple and blue lights illuminating the narrow space, and I follow the sound of the music, where the crowd is dancing.
I stop at the entrance and look around until I find what I’m looking for. The VIP area.
I smile when I find it. It’s at the side, overlooking the whole club, made for the don and his friend.
A spot where they see everything. I move to the bar just on the opposite side of that VIP area, where I can see everything that is happening.
I didn’t stop to see where Clara was, but I know she will follow.
I take off my jacket and place it on the back of the stool before I take my seat.
“Hey, this was my place,” a blonde says.
I get off the stool, looking at it. “Well, there’s no name here, so I guess you can move on.”
I ignore her protests and sit back down, ordering two margaritas just as Clara shows up beside me.
“I almost lost you.”
“I’m sure you were just behind me.” I smile and pass her a margarita.
“So, you want to tell me what we’re doing here?” She raises her eyebrow at me.
I chuckle, my eyes never leaving the balcony and the VIP area. From my peripheral view, I see her follow my look. “Oh, I see. Are you stalking your husband?”
“Something like that. You don’t mind?” I look at her.
She shrugs and snatches the stool that a guy next to us vacated. “No, why would I? At least I’m not at home where I have to listen to all the things that are wrong with me.”
I narrow my eyes. “What do you mean?”
She shakes her head. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to talk about that.” She takes a sip of her drink. “Let’s talk about why you have to stalk your husband, and before you deny me, consider that it was me who agreed to come here with you and gave you my shoes so you could get in here.”
I chuckle. “You have a point.” I exhale, my eyes on my target. “My husband has been avoiding me ever since our wedding night.”
“What do you mean by avoiding you?” There is a hint of disbelief in her voice.
“I mean, I haven’t seen him since the night of our wedding.” I shrug. “I hear him at night, but he just comes home for a couple of hours, and then he’s out before I’m up.”
“And you're stalking him... why?”
“So maybe I can figure out what he’s up to.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing and you’re overreacting.”
I laugh. “I hope so.”
Two margaritas and a third is on its way when the private part of the VIP area starts to fill with people. My attention is consumed with whatever is happening there. There are four men, each of them captivating in his own way, but my eyes are focused only on one of them.
The one with the glasses, I think his name is Marco, is shaking his head and in deep discussion with the don.
Gabriel looks to the side, and, unfortunately, I can’t see who he is looking at, but he nods once and smiles.
The bulky one next to him with a stoic face just shakes his head, and I’m still trying to figure out what’s happening and read their faces when a group of girls in dresses that barely cover anything show up.
The blood in my veins slowly simmers, and no matter how calm I try to look, I’m anything but. I watch as the group of girls splits between them, and while some are bold enough to sit in their laps, others just sit beside them.
“Figured,” Clara comments.
“What?” I look at her.
“Those girls are always here, hoping to snag one of them. The only one who never indulges in any of them is Dante. And as for the other three, well, since the don married and even before, he was rarely seen with any woman. Gabriel hasn’t been seen with a woman since his ex.
As for Marco, he’s never seen with the same girl more than once. ”
“So those girls are what... mafia groupies?” I laugh.
“Something like that.” She shrugs.
I watch two girls beside Gabriel, one with her hand in his open shirt, the other with her hand on his thigh.
“Do you know how we can get into the VIP area without getting recognized?”
“Yes. The guard at the bottom of the stairs is someone I know. He’ll let us up.”
“Perfect. Let’s go.” I hop out of my seat and wait for Clara to lead the way.
The guard didn’t want to let us through, but Clara convinced him somehow. I’m not sure I want to know how right now. We take the stairs up and slowly approach the bar just across from them.
“I hope you’re not planning on making a scene,” she asks as we observe the area designated for them.
I tsk. “Me? Scene?” I laugh. “What I plan to do is create chaos.” I snatch a bottle of liquor from the bar, and in a few steps, I reach their booth. I stand in front of them and ignore the words, “Fuck,” and “Damn,” and pour drinks over the girls who are touching my man.
They both gasp and abruptly stand. “What are you doing, bitch?” one says.
“You’re crazy.” The other one huffs
My eyes collide with Gabriel’s, and I smirk. “Maybe. Want to check that theory?” I tilt my head.
Oh, he isn't happy. Too bad for him.
I turn my attention to the girls. “See, I got married a week ago, and my husband is a pain in the ass.” A laugh echoes behind me.
I lock eyes with Gabriel. “He didn’t get the memo that being married means he belongs to me.
So, I guess I need to mark my territory.
” Gabriel’s eyebrow raises. His left eye ticks three times, and we stay in a staring contest.
“What does it have to do with us?” the blonde asks. “Go find him. Don’t ruin our chances.”
Gabriel leans back in his seat and tilts his head to the side. Isn’t he going to say anything?
The redhead takes a step toward me. “Listen, bitch…” She steps in front of me and breaks the trance between Gabriel and me. “If you don’t want me to scratch your ugly face…”
The grip on the empty bottle in my hand tightens, and I move on autopilot. I slam the bottle over her head, grab her hair, and pull her toward me. I place the sharp edge of the rest of the bottle on her neck and lean into her ear.
“Who do you think you are?” she demands.
I push the bottle into her skin until she cries, and bright red blood slowly escapes her skin.
“Let me introduce myself. I’m the wife of the man you put your hands on.
If you don’t want me to slice your throat and bathe in your blood, you will take your friend and leave.
” She whimpers under my grip. “Do you understand?”
Incoherent words come out of her mouth, and my grip on her hair tightens. “I need you to say, yes, I understand.”
“I…I... Do... do. Under...stand,” she whimpers.
I nod. “Oh, and I don’t ever want to see you around again, or I will follow through with my threat. Now, leave before I change my mind,” I say through gritted teeth before I push her out of the lounge.
She stumbles, and her blonde friend runs to her aid. I turn my attention to Gabriel, who is leaning in his seat, his arms spread on both sides of the backrest, a smirk on his face.
I pull my lips into a wide smile. “Hello, husband.”