Her breath whooshed out of her with relief.
The doorknob turned and immediately, Leanna held her breath. She dropped to the floor and hid behind a loveseat.
“I’ve been waiting, like, all evening,” a squeaky girly voice said. “It’s time to, like, celebrate. We’re, like, the new capos.”
Like the woman was drunk? And she sounded like Veronica.
“You’ve had too much excitement for a single night,” Axe said. “Here, let me put you to bed.”
“But, like, I want my kiss,” Veronica whined.
“Yes, you shall have a goodnight kiss. You’ve been a real good girl, Veronica.”
Leanna watched in horror as Axe enfolded the limp-looking woman into his arms and bent her over the bed, right on top of the naked, snoring man.
What was he doing?
Was he kissing her?
Why wasn’t Veronica saying anything about the naked man?
A sharp metallic click startled Leanna.
“Oh, handcuffs. I love being, like, tied up,” Veronica slurred.
“Then you’re going to love this.” Axe lifted the half-stripped woman onto the bed and snapped the other ring of the cuff around the curlicue of the iron bed frame. He took a feather and tickled her. “Have another drink.”
“Don’t stop, oh, don’t stop,” Veronica giggled with each tickle. With her free hand, she ripped the bodice of her gown and let her breasts pop out.
Axe tickled her boobs with the feather and held a champagne flute to her lips. “Here’s the rest of the champagne we found in that other room.”
Other room? Leanna pointed her finger at her throat in a barfing motion. How many rooms had they been goofing off inside?
The woman downed the champagne, and Axe gently laid her head down on the pillow next to the snoring man.
“Sweet dreams,” he said.
Leanna’s upper lip curled at how affectionate he sounded. How could he have tired Veronica out without showing any effect on his own performance? The man must be a marathon stud.
Her body wavered between pissed and aroused. Was Ivan telling the truth about Axe being Veronica’s new bodyguard? It sure looked like he’d delivered that in spades.
How could he, when his father lay dead?
She lowered her head and clenched her fists to control herself from jumping out and pouncing on the traitor.
Swoosh. Her mask was plucked off her, and she gasped, ducking.
Axe grinned at her and twirled the mask by the yellow feather. “Leanna, have you turned into a peeping Tomasina?”
“You knew I was here?”
He extended his free hand and pulled her to her feet. “How can I miss yellow ruffles and a yellow feather? I saw you dancing with Blue Skull and followed you. Are you sure you weren’t trying to seduce him?”
“What about her?” Leanna pointed to the zonked out would-be mob boss. “I saw you seducing her until she passed out.”
“Oh, sure.” He nuzzled behind Leanna’s ear and sniffed her hair. “I dragged her along, tickling her and teasing her. Wasn’t easy keeping her quiet as we looked in on you and Ivan’s champagne party.”
“I was trying…” She gasped when he nibbled her ear. “Never mind.”
