"The safest spa in Chicago," Vittoria adds dryly.
We all laugh, and I love this.
"Okay," Nora pulls us back to reality. "Flowers sorted. What about the dress?"
"There's no time for alterations," Vittoria points out. "Whatever you choose has to fit perfectly off the rack."
"I know a place," Nora says. "Discrete. High-end. They'll come here with options."
"Here?" I ask.
"Pietro's not letting you leave the compound until after the wedding." She gives me an apologetic look. "Too risky with Daniil still out there."
"Are you working right now?" Vittoria asks Marina, closing her laptop completely. "I mean, with everything that's happened..."
Marina shakes her head, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Not actually. I have this need to find the perfect spot or not at all. Can't just work anywhere, you know? The vibe has to be right."
"What kind of job are you looking for?" Vittoria leans forward, genuinely interested.
Before Marina can answer, Dante strides in, his presence immediately filling the room.
"Something in hospitality. She's got experience dealing with difficult customers."
"Fuck you," Marina snaps, her cheeks flushing red.
Dante's grin widens. "Such language. And here I thought you were a lady."
"Have you seen Nico?" he asks, shifting his attention to the room at large, though his eyes keep drifting back to Marina.
"How would we know?" Marina crosses her arms. "Aren't you somewhere kidnapping innocent women? Seems to be your specialty."
"Only the mouthy ones. The ones who slap first and ask questions later. They're my favorite."
Marina's face goes from red to crimson. "I slapped you because you threw me over your shoulder like a caveman."
"You refused to come willingly. I improvised." He shrugs, completely unrepentant. "Besides, you didn't seem to mind the view on the way here."
"The view of what? Your ass? Please."
"You were looking?"
"I was upside down! Where else was I supposed to look?"
Nora hides her smile behind her hand while Vittoria watches the exchange like it's her favorite TV show.
"If you see Nico," Dante says, backing toward the door, "tell him Pietro needs him. I can't find him."
"We'll be sure to pass along the message," I say, trying to defuse the tension.
But Dante's not done. He pauses at the doorway, looking directly at Marina. "For what it's worth, I know someone looking for help at their gallery. Downtown. Good pay, flexible hours." He tilts his head. "But you'd have to be nice to me for five whole minutes to get the introduction."
Marina opens her mouth, probably to tell him exactly where he can shove his job offer, but he's already gone, his laughter echoing down the hallway.
"I hate him," Marina announces to the room, flopping back against the couch cushions. "I absolutely, completely, totally hate him."
"Sure you do," Vittoria say.
"I do!"
