TWO MONTHS LATER
Present
Upper East Side, New York City
THE PRIVATE ELEVATOR OPENED TO a wash of light and music. The soft hum of jazz was slipping into something more upbeat as midnight drew near, the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses weaving together into the night.
Maria was already waiting when the doors slid back. She beamed, her red dress glittering like fire under the chandelier’s glow. “Finally! You’re here.”
Her hug was instant, warm, grounding. She tucked her arm through mine and guided me into the penthouse, her perfume familiar – sweet, floral, comforting.
I did my best to stay in the moment but I was still fucked up over what had happened a couple days prior at the Cosa Nostra’s Christmas Gala.
We walked past a wall of glass where Manhattan stretched out beneath us, a million lights scattered across the dark sky like jewels. Maria lowered her voice, leaning close as we moved toward the party. “I was starting to think you’d skip out.”
Before I could answer, Zach appeared through the crowd, tall and solid in his suit, like a man who hadeverything he wanted. He caught Maria’s waist and pressed a kiss to her temple before glancing at me.
“Francesca.” He leaned in for a side-hug; casual, familiar. “Glad you came.”
“Hey, Zach. Wouldn’t miss it,” I said lightly.
Natalia’s laugh carried across the room before I even saw her. A moment later, she appeared through the shimmer of fairy lights, Trevor’s steady hand guiding her through the throng of people. She looked radiant in a sparkly pink dress that caught the glow from the chandelier, the fabric clinging and flowing at once. Her cheeks were flushed, and the way Trevor hovered just half a step behind her, protective and proud, said everything.
“Francesca!” Natalia opened her arms, the glitter of her bracelet winking as she pulled me in for a hug. She smelled sweet, like roses and vanilla.
“I haven’t seen you in so long!” My eyes dipped, unconsciously, to her belly – subtle, but there, a quiet promise beneath the sequins. “You look incredible.”
Trevor smiled, almost proud, rubbing his palm in small circles over his wife’s lower back.
“Not that I’m complaining, but how come you’re not at the Cosa Nostra party?”
She raised a perfect brow. “I could say the same about you.”
“Dad said I can get one veto card a year. I’m using it to party into the New Year with my best friends,” I smiled, catching a glass from a passing waiter and lifting it slightly into the air.
“Me too.”
I raised a brow of my own. “What about your dad–”
“Still not talking about it,” Natalia interrupted me.
I put my hands up in surrender. Their situation was… Complicated. From what I knew, she hadn’t spoken to him since August.
“Anyways… How’s Tony doing? Kim is still so worried about him.”
I frowned. “He’s alright. Been back at home at my parents’ since Christmas Eve.”
She frowned too.
“Why? Something wrong?”
“No,” Natalia spoke softly only for me to hear while the others talked about whatever. “It’s just… Kim tried calling, but…”
I scoffed. “He didn’t pick up. Of course. I would be furious if he hadn’t taken a bullet for her.”
Natalia sighed heavily. “I’m so sorry that happened. I can’t even imagine if something had happened to Antonio.”
“It’s okay. He chose to pull Kim behind him. As any honorable man would’ve.”
