Maria is already in the entryway, opening the door for my sister Vanessa and Scott. I decided to host this during our conversation yesterday. I didn’t like knowing she felt lonely. So I called Vanessa and told her to come tonight. It’s not like me to be spontaneous, but, well, thought she might like it.
“Hey,” my sister says with a large smile as she steps inside the entryway with pictures of the club on both sides. Her short, blonde hair and navy dress look like she’s coming from a lawyer sitcom. Her husband, Scott, is behind her. The guy’s so tall, he’s almost twice her size. I hug my sister quickly and then shake Scott’s hand firmly.
“Nice to see you guys,” I rasp, and Scott nods back. He’s always been quiet compared to my talkative sister. I wonder how he keeps his calm, but they always seem good together, so I guess that’s none of my business. He makes her happy. That’s all that matters to me. Took him out of jail when he got himself involved in shitty business two years ago. I’d never seen my sister in such a crazy state. Thought she was about to rip my face off if I didn’t help her. We worked with him from time to time, but he’s more involved with classic gun trafficking, whereas the Raven Sons are expanding more on the drug aspect of the business. Vanessa never turned a blind eye to his activities and mine. She was raised by the devil himself, so she knows what’s what. Just as we’re about to step inside the main living room, I notice another silhouette behind them.
Who the fuck is this?
I told Vanessa it was a small gathering and still, she overstepped. She’s lucky she can always get away with anything since she’s my sister, but damn, I hate unplanned stuff.
“Hello,” a sultry voice echoes as I look at a tall brunette wearing a shiny green dress with a pretty good face and body. I know enough to see she’s hot to the average guy, but to me, she’s just another chick I could mix up with any other girl from the club. Lifting a brow at my sister, she answers me with a shrug and an innocent smile.
“Carolina wanted to go out, but you had already invited us, so I thought, why not have some fun all together!” my sister says as I recall the name from being one of her art colleagues.I know her too well to know what she’s up to. She wasn’t there for the wedding because of some work thing, so she hasn't seen Mia yet. She knows Mia and I had an arranged marriage, and she just wants tohelpme in her own way by sending one of her good looking friends my way, thinking I would find some satisfaction in it.
I get that’s a nice gesture, but for some reason, it doesn’t sit right with me to know that Mia’s going to have to spend the evening with her around.
Becoming sentimental?
I’m not a nice guy. Never been, never will be. Feelings aren’t something I’m accustomed to. It's more of a tool, a way to read people and make them do what I want. Unless they’re family like Vanessa or Vox, I never really give a shit about other folks. So I don’t know why Mia is churning so much in my mind.
Mia is your wife.
Perhaps I should have another woman just to get her out of my head.
You like her more than you want to admit.
Maybe I should just let her sleep in the guest bedroom every night.
Touching her feels like breathing again after being drowned.
Let’s see how tonight goes and I’ll plan accordingly.
You’re already in deep with her and you know it.
Vanessa is watching me with her don’t-be-a-dick look, so I glance at her friend. “Hi. Right. Nice to meet ya,” I grunt roughly, clenching my jaw at the thought of Mia’s reaction when she will come down. She’s a smart girl. She’ll see right through it. And knowing my little tornado, I don’t think I can anticipate what’s about to happen.
The girl looks at me like I’m a fucking dessert, which would have been alright with me a few months ago before having Miahere, but fuck, I want to show her the way out now. She’s hot and all, but it does nothing for me. Turning back to my sister who’s wearing a knowing smile as if she was witnessing some sort of love at first sight, which she fucking isn’t, I try to change the topic.
“How’s the gallery? Any new exciting stuff around?” I ask her as we walk to the living room with a pretty good food spread and wine glasses already prepared for us. I nod at Maria, who’s putting away the coats. It’s important to reward good staff. I’ll make sure to add a bonus to her check at the end of the month.
“Yes! A local artist is perhaps thinking about coming over and giving us a few pieces to showcase, it’s really exciting,” she says, clapping her hands, as I watch Scott looking at her like she’s a living treasure.
“Tell him about the sale, babe,” he mutters, lifting his chest proudly next to his wife. We all get served as Carolina stands way too fucking close to me, and Vanessa turns herself to talk to us, her eyes in the direction of the entryway.
“Oh yeah, the sale. It was amazing. You know, the newspaper Hurray, the one where—” Her voice stops as if someone has electrocuted her, her gaze staring at something between Scott and me.
I don’t even need to turn to know what’s struck her.
I already know it.
That’s Mia’s effect on basically anyone with goddam eyes.
“Wow,” she murmurs.
Turning to my wife, I swallow a grin, biting my inner cheek as I drink in every single inch of her.
Damn.
Walking with her blood dress on, her fiery hair on the side, and crimson lips making me want to devour her, I stare at my wife as she meanders to us with more charisma and classthan a queen would, giving us the brightest smile I’ve ever seen on her.
