Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
With my elbows on my knees, I lean forward, rubbing my temples with my thumbs as the incessant pounding of the electronic dance music pulses through me. I haven’t even been at Parq East for more than twenty minutes and I already want to get the hell out of here.
Ironically, the man who set this up sent a group text to us about ten minutes ago, apologizing for being late. Something about running behind while picking up my gift, but he’s on his way.
Sounds on par for Sully.
I wasn’t even interested in celebrating my birthday. Thirty-five feels no different than thirty-four did, or thirty-three before that.
“Birthday boy! What do you want to drink?” my brother-in-law, Sly, asks as he slides into the seat next to me, clapping my shoulder.
Lifting my glass, I swirl the contents so the ice clatters together. “Still working on one.”
We’re up in the VIP lounge equipped with our own bartender and private dance floor. Sully wasn’t kidding about this being a party for me—our entire group is here—well, almost. Sully is still missing, as is Vinnie’s friend Cecilia.
Speaking of…
“I’m here! I’m so sorry I’m late!” Cecilia shouts over the music, bulldozing into the lounge. She’s practically running as she white-knuckles a gift bag and stumbles over her stilettos while tugging on the hemline of her dress. “Happy birthday, Luce!”
I’ve known Cecilia for years. She's five years my senior and was formerly employed by my parents to care for my younger sister while she was a child.
It’s no surprise they became such close friends—their personalities have similar qualities.
Taking the bag from her grasp, I give Cecilia a tight-lipped smile, the best I can do against the glaring annoyance that’s settling into my bones. “Thank you. You didn’t have to get me anything, though.”
“It’s just a small something. You don’t have to open it right now.”
“Well, thank you.” I nod in her direction as she shrugs out of her coat and drapes it over the back of a nearby chair.
From my peripheral, I see Raina heading toward us with a cocktail in hand. My heart skips a beat, and I lock my focus on her.
She looks stunning, and what I wouldn’t give to grab her by the hips and pull her into my lap just to kiss the soft skin of her neck and hold her close.
My hand lifts on its own accord, and before I act on impulse, I drop it.
Paying me no mind, she walks past and pulls Cecilia into a tight hug. A small growl catches in my throat, irritated that she didn’t even look in my direction.
Who the hell even are you? I think to myself, mentally berating the man I’m turning into.
Next to me, Sly chuckles and shakes his head. I don’t give him the satisfaction of looking over at him. Instead, my eyes stay glued to the sexy blonde in the deep burgundy, long-sleeved, velvet mini dress with the plunging neckline.
“What do you think of Nixon’s companion this evening?” Sly muses before tossing back whatever he’s drinking.
“Should I have an opinion?” I can’t help it—I pull my gaze away from Raina and look over to where Nixon and his date are standing, overlooking the dance floor.
“She doesn’t seem like his type,” he muses.
“No one on the Upper East Side is his type, Sly. Nixon comes from a small town. You brought your motorcycle gang friend?—”
“The Sinners are good men. They’re a vigilante club.”
“—into a city full of glitz, glamor, and money. Those two worlds couldn't be further apart.”
“Sì, I suppose you are correct.”
We sit in silence, watching Nixon and the woman, who was introduced to me earlier as Carly. Her body language tells me she’s interested, but apprehensive. His tells me he only brought her so he wouldn’t have to show up alone.
Leaning against the bar, Sly’s cousin, Enzo, watches them as well with a scowl on his face.
“Ay-oh!” a voice erupts from the far side of the room, and Sully comes into view, carrying a pink bakery box in his hand like he’s a waiter.
“Sorry to make you fine people, and our most prestigious birthday fellow, wait so long, but I have a treat that is sure to put a smile on everyone’s faces!
Or at least the men in the group.” He winks at me and places the box down onto the small table next to where Cecilia had put her jacket.
Everyone makes their way over to us, curious to see what Sully brought. Scooting closer to the edge of the couch, I watch as he slowly—dramatically—pops open the top of the bakery box, revealing what appear to be white-frosted heart-shaped cookies beneath it.
Except, upon a closer look, the cookies all have holes in the middle of them…holes of varying sizes.
My gaze travels up to Sully, who’s standing at the head of the table with a shit-eating grin on his face.
“Cookies?” my very pregnant sister asks, leaning forward to pick one up.
“Don’t,” I command, and she pulls her hand away like I set it on fire.
“I don’t get it. Is it like a cookie version of a donut?” Nixon’s date furrows her brows. “Why do the cookies have holes in the center?”
“I was hoping you might ask!” Sully laughs, picking one up.
He makes a show of examining it thoroughly.
“This, my dear, to whom I have not yet been introduced, is not your ordinary cookie. No. This cookie is a cookie designed specifically with our birthday boy Lu-Lu in mind. A custom order. A sweet treat for both him.” He waggles his brows. “And her.”
“Who’s her?” my sister leans into her husband and asks. He shushes her lightly and wraps his arm around her shoulder, kissing her temple.
“What is it?” Cecilia asks at the same time as Raina begins laughing hysterically, using her hand to try and stifle the sound.
Even though the timing is inappropriate as all hell, I feel my cock stiffen at the sound that’s become music to my ears.
It takes every ounce of strength in me not to look at her and admire how absolutely edible she looks.
I want nothing more for my birthday than to bury my face between her thighs and have a taste.
“Sully,” I growl as his eyes flit over to Raina, but they don’t stay on her for long before he lowers the cookie level to his groin.
“A cookie cock ring,” the bastard announces smugly.
“A cookie…what?” Nixon rubs his temples in exasperation.
“Come again?” Enzo groans, lowering himself onto the chair to the left of me.
“That’s the hope!” Sully announces before taking a bite from the cookie in his hand.
He groans at the taste, eyes rolling back into his head as he chews, crumbs falling from his mouth.
“Delicious. There’s holes of all sizes, fellas.
Pick whichever is appropriate for you. No need to lie about the girth. ”
“Un-fucking-believable.” I scrub my hands down my face.
Springing to my feet, I walk to the railing, moving away from the group to overlook the dance floor.
Behind me, Sully asks, “Was it something I said?”
I sense Raina before I see her approach just seconds later, and I instantly relax. She comes to stand beside me, standing just a little too close, but hell if I care. All I care about is the feeling of the skin of her arm brushing against mine.
“Not in the mood for a cookie?” She bumps my shoulder.
My head goes slack on my shoulders as I turn it to look at her, my forearms pressing against the railing. I clasp my hands together. “Are you?”
Her eyes sparkle with amusement, the lights reflecting off them when the beams bounce through the club. “I didn’t see any that would fit you.”
“Too small?”
“Eh,” she teases, mirroring my position against the rail.
“You still mad at me?”
“I was never mad, Luce. Disappointed, sure. But I understand.”
“What if I tell you all I want for my birthday is for you to promise you’ll wait? We just need to get through your divorce, when you’re officially not my client. I want you, Raina. I can’t pretend like I don’t.”
Subtly, she runs her nails against the palm of my hand, and I flip it, tangling our fingers together.
“I’ve waited this long, haven’t I?” Her smile is small when she looks back out at the club, letting me know she’s not expecting a response. Following her gaze, I watch the sea of people below.
The dance floor is packed with what has to be at least two-hundred people enjoying the music and dancing their stress away. Parq East is all the rage right now, and anyone who is anyone is vying to get a spot on the list.
My eyes trail back to her, taking in how she watches the crowd with a longing stare. I swallow thickly. “Do you want to dance?”
“With you, or in general?”
Bringing her hand up to my mouth, I kiss the back of it. “With me.”
“You don’t dance, Luciano. Really want to make the same mistake twice?”
“Nothing about you is a mistake, Raina.”
Her spine straightens, and she stands tall, staring at me.
A response is on the tip of her tongue. I can see the words written all over her face, but instead of replying, she walks away, back to where everyone is still crowded around the platter of cookies.
A few of our friends are holding them, and there’s plenty of laughter coming from their direction.
“C’mon, let's go downstairs,” Raina says to Vinnie and Cecilia as I approach, grabbing onto both of their wrists.
“Oh, no you don't,” Sly intervenes, pulling my sister back onto his lap. “There are far too many people down there.”
“You guys go have fun!” Vinnie insists, locking eyes with her best friend.
“You’re right,” Raina relents without much of a fight at all, releasing her wrist—she knows it wouldn’t be safe for Vinnie, not when someone could easily elbow her in the stomach.
“Come on, then.” Cecilia loops her arm through Raina’s. “I love this song.”
“Can we go down, too?” Nixon’s date whines, tugging him up from his seat.
“I guess so,” Nixon complains, standing, and although quiet, I hear Enzo huff through his chest.
That guy is a miserable prick.
Moments later, half our group disappears downstairs, and I’m left to my own devices for a second while everyone is engaged in other conversations.
Wandering over to the bar, I order myself another scotch—a double this time—and wonder how the hell I’m going to get through the next couple hours, when all I want to do is toss Raina over my shoulder and take her home.
“And now, on behalf of Parq East and some dude named Sully Rochester, I’d like for the whole club to join me in a quick “Happy Birthday” song!”
I groan as the deejay makes his announcement over the speaker system. “You did not.” My eyes narrow on Sully.
“Oh, I so did.” He smiles back at me, tosses me a wink, and starts with the rest of the club as they erupt into song.
Leaning over the edge of the railing with another drink in hand, I stare in complete mortification at everyone singing blindly, until the spotlight finally finds me and basks me in its bright glow. From down by the lower bar, Raina looks up and tips her drink in my direction.
All eyes are now on me and I try to appear as though I am at least a little grateful.
I’m still going to kill him, I think to myself and glance over at Sully, who’s standing beside me, waving his arms like he’s a damn orchestra conductor.
The moment everyone finishes singing, the deejay transitions to “In Da Club” by 50 Cent, and as quickly as the attention was centered on me, it shifts away.
Thank God.
Walking up behind me, Nixon claps my shoulder. “Come on, Paladino, some part of you enjoyed that.”
“I’m not a glutton for punishment.”
“Oh, come on,” Sully interjects. “That wasn’t punishment! It was good old-fashioned fun. Maybe if you had a little more of it, you wouldn’t look like there’s a giant stick wedged up your ass right now.”
“What’s going on with you and Raina?” Nixon changes the subject, draping his hands over the edge of the rail. “You haven’t taken your eyes off of her all night.”
He’s right, it’s been impossible for me to look away. “Don’t worry about it. In fact, don’t think about it at all.”
“Trust me, I’m not. I’m just curious.”
“Well, curiosity killed the cat,” I snap. Then I realize I’m incriminating myself and being a dick for no reason. So I try to backpedal. “She’s just my sister’s best friend.” The lie tastes like bitter acid on my tongue, and suddenly, I feel like the biggest jackass.
Why am I working so hard to deny that I’m in love with Raina?
Because that’s what this is. Love. As much as I don’t want it to be, and as hard as I’ve tried to resist it.
This feeling in my chest has been settled here for years, and I can’t believe I’m just now recognizing what it is.
I’m a damn fool.
“Okay,” Sully snorts. “And I’m the fucking Pope.”
“Can you even tell me what religion the Pope is affiliated with?” I retort, trying to keep my voice steady as my mind spirals.
He sends me a scathing glare, but doesn’t answer.
“I rest my case.” Pushing off the railing, I down the rest of my drink and set it down on a nearby table as I stalk off with only one thing on my mind.
Raina.