7

Valentina

I skip classes after the coffee date with the Russo clan in favor of reading my favorite author’s latest release, Dynasty- Boys of Winter. Fuck, Sheridan Anne can weave a spellbinding story. I’m so immersed in my book that I don’t hear the first set of thumps on the door until it sounds like the door is going to get knocked in. The holler from Amber has me skipping to open it, excitement brewing within me for our weekly girl's night. I have assembled a donut and chocolate platter and tubs of our favorite ice cream, pink bubble-gum flavored, for our movie night. The champagne is chilling in a bucket of ice and the movie is ready to roll. Usually, we have our movie nights at Amber and Emma’s place, but their floor is having a mid-term party.

“Hello, bitches.” I swing the door open to be greeted by three of the most important women in my life. “What the hell did you all bring?” I stare at their bags in confusion as Emma wheels in a suitcase behind her.

“A few outfits and shoes and shit.” Emma plants a kiss on my cheek.

“Change of plans. We’re going out drinking and dancing.” Summer wraps her arm around my neck and drags me after her.

“You sure do know the way to my heart.” I slink my arm around her waist and squeeze her.

We’ve all finished getting ready within thirty minutes and I emerge from the bathroom in my black baby doll dress to see Amber wearing the same thing. We both squeal like school girls at the hilarity.

“You two could almost pass as twins if it weren’t for the height difference.” Emma muses, making us stand for a picture.

Emma has decided to go all Pretty Woman on us in her light blue mini dress and fuck me boots and Summer is the epitome of lady in red. Her backless red dress cuts in a deep v at the front and flows out to mid-thigh. Perfectly polished off with silver Gucci stilettos, of course.

“Holy fuck. Enzo would have a heart attack if he saw you.” I tease her.

She flips me the finger. “Shut up.”

“Where are we going?” I ask out of curiosity.

“Somewhere in Hartford. Far enough away that hopefully, my cousins won’t know I’m there.” Amber rolls her eyes dramatically.

“Perfect.” The deep-rooted revenge I seek licks at the edges of my sanity. “Let me change my shoes.” I dart into my room and find my favorite pair of Louboutins with the blood-red jewel-encrusted soles.

The cab ride to Hartford is nearly an hour and a half long. By the time we get there, Amber and Emma are happily drunk, and Summer and I have been sipping water. I pay the driver the exorbitant fare and lead the girls to The Russian Lady, a seedy bar filled with cheap beer, stale peanuts, and a crowd from the wrong side of the tracks. The only place I need to visit while here.

“What is this place?” Summer looks around as we get stamped to enter.

I wink at her. “A local legend.”

The bar is all dark wood and moody. The lighting is at a bare minimum, and the drinks flow nicely. The clientele is seemingly too drunk or already passed out to even notice us walking through. I lead the girls straight to the back corner of the bar and settle in for a fun-filled night.

“I’ll get a round of drinks,” I say as Amber and Emma head for the dancefloor. The local band plays covers of shit I’ve never heard before.

The bar is coated with that ever-familiar sickly stickiness from spilled drinks, and the smell of beer permeates the air. I get the attention of the sweet bar girl and order a pitcher of beer. May as well look as though we’re here for a good time. As I wait, I sweep my eyes across the shadowed room. The crowd is somewhat sparse for this time of the evening, and I wonder if I’ll get lucky seeing as it's the middle of the week.

“Here you go, sweetheart.” The chick behind the bar hands me the pitcher and four glasses, smiling. “Grab a bowl of nuts from the end there.”

“Thanks, babe.” I grin back at her. She looks barely old enough to be working in a bar.

I snake my way back to our table where Summer is scrolling through her phone. “Is Enzo on to us?” I slide into the seat and pour our drinks.

“Nope. He’s too busy with his new casino venture in Vegas.” She looks up at me, a smile playing on her pouty lips.

“Good. The last thing we need is his possessive ass swooping in to ruin our fun,” I tease.

“He’s mellowed out a bit now. I told him I wouldn’t put up with his controlling shit, so he backed off. What about Leonardo? He’d be here in a heartbeat if he knew you were in a seedy bar in the middle of nowhere.”

“That boy is crazy. They all are,” I laugh and hold up my glass to salute the Russo boys. My eyes catch movement at the entrance and my night has just got a little more interesting.

“What are you staring at?” Summer twists in her seat to get a look at what has captured my attention.

“An old friend.” I narrow my eyes.

She raises a brow, her mouth turning into a hard line. “Valentina, what are you up to?”

I look at her sitting across from me with her sparkling blue eyes shining in the dim light and wonder what possessed her to want to get caught up in this life. “Nothing I can’t handle.” I run my finger over my roman numeral tattoo on my inner wrist. Thoughts of bloodshed dancing in the back of my mind.

“Valentina,” Her voice interrupts my thoughts.

“Amber and Emma have been surrounded by guys.” I ignore Summer and point to the dancefloor. I notice Emma chatting, almost familiarly, to one of the guys. Their conversation looks serious as her gaze casts around the room nervously. “Let’s go save them.” I chug the rest of my beer, slide out of my seat, and grab Summer’s hand.

“I’m watching you,” Summer whispers in my ear as we move to rescue the other two.

I dance up behind Emma and grab her around the waist. She turns and wraps her arms around my neck. “Back to the table to sober up.” I drag her after me and she willingly obliges.

I slink to this end of the bar, keeping a distance from where the others sit, and grab some water for the girls. I glance at the dancefloor and chuckle under my breath as I watch Summer struggling to convince Amber to come back to the table and away from those creepy guys. It’s almost comical the way Amber sways in time to the beat of the music, her head thrown back as Summer tries to bargain with her. I watch Summer whisper something in Amber’s ear, which lands a look of panic on Amber’s face and she scampers back to our table.

“Here, drink this.” I hand Amber a glass of ice water. She chugs it down and slams the glass onto the table, out of breath and sweaty. “What did you say to Amber to get her back here?”

Summer looks at me in panic, her gaze darting to the dancefloor and back. “I told her who those guys are associated with.”

“How do you know that?” I stare at her with newfound admiration.

“Enzo has had dealings with them.” She holds her finger over her lips.

“Of course he fucking would.” I shake my head in disbelief. “What other criminal organizations does he consort with?”

Summer scratches the back of her neck and grimaces. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She tries to stifle a laugh, but it comes out as a snort.

“Fucking hell,” I mutter under my breath. Lucky I’m not a tell-tale. My papa would give anything to have insider information like this.