Cognac Villain - A Mafia Romance

O

let my friends d

hiladas to ungrateful senior citizens who tip like it's still the Great Depr

insisted. And worse yet, Francia is refusing to let me

rrified gasp, as if I'm going straight to hell for even suggesting such a thing.

useous and runs to the bathroom to be sick. I would've called it a night, but

ng bug," she proclaims. "I'm going out and I'm getting dru

mm

to music, laughing, feeling like Disney princesses on our way to the ball. We both worked doubles at th

t is the

we get, the que

cars parked along the road that first gives me that nasty stomach drop feelin

e too much o

on, the fakeness layered on top of everything like glitter slud

I am. L

approach the house. But then we

ng. Beautiful people lounge everywhere: on the steps, in the rooms,

ter up the front steps in high heels. "I'm opening the diner tomorr

"In bed by midnight or Cora the Explore

mine and brings us up in front

s over the edge of h

bs. "Say it," she hisses under

sed that little white lie enough times on the r

g his list before nodding and steppin

gh the door and in

least expect it. There's an honest-to-goodness fountain in the center of the

a palace?" Jorden

et into parties like this, what on Earth is s

, for example. When I asked her where she got it, she just laughed and smiled and changed the subject-then it was gone the next time I saw her. She n

I turn to see a server offering us a selection of

one; she snatches up two. "One for m

word. Jorden promptly downs the first glass in a sin

y?" I t

lf. So I'm gonna enjoy myself. Mama deserves to have fun

Fun. To

ing is still alive and wel

ting trays and gawking at the insane architecture. We pass more knot

isper "watermelon watermelon watermelon" over and over again to pretend

It takes a while for me to make them out, but when I do, something in t

Pus

verywhere we go, t

Pus

Pus

, too. Every female between the ages of eighteen and forty keeps checking over their shoulders like they kn

branching out from a stage at the far end. A jazz band plays classy music to a crowd

erson dances at p

s down at her hips, which are starting to shimmy fr

or

hted cackle. "I can't help it,