Page 12 of The Bratva Queens' Kings

Bella nods, her expression one of mock understanding. "Of course, of course. And here I thought Perez was the only one with a keen eye for fashion. Tell me, Lana," she leans in, lowering her voice as if sharing a confidence, "any interesting tidbits you've picked up tonight? You know I live for your insights."

"Interesting tidbits?" I echo, feigning contemplation. "Well, I did hear that the canapés being served are a rare delicacy, imported straight from Italy. Fascinating, isn't it?"

Her smile falters, disappointment flickering in her eyes. Clearly, she was hoping for something juicier, something with a bit more... scandal. But I'm not about to give her the satisfaction, not when every word exchanged is a potential weapon in the wrong hands.

"Oh, Lana, always playing your cards close to your chest," she says, recovering quickly. "But don't worry, your secrets are safe with me."

I force a smile. The small talk between us is a dance of its own, each word measured, each smile calculated. Bella's a snake, but then, aren't we all in this pit?

Just as the conversation hits a lull, a waiter glides by with a tray of champagne. Bella, seizing the opportunity, snags two glasses, offering one to me with a smirk that suggests she knows exactly what she's doing.

"Thank you," I say, accepting the glass. Obviously, I can't drink, what with the little one growing inside me, but declining would raise more questions than I care to answer tonight. So, I hold the glass, a prop in this performance, and continue our verbal sparring.

"You know, Bella," I start, leaning in as if to share a secret. "I've heard quite a bit about you. All good things, of course."

Her eyes narrow slightly, trying to gauge whether I'm being genuine or if this is the lead-up to a jab. "Really? I'm flattered. Perez doesn't usually allow me to mingle with... your kind of people."

"Oh, I'm sure he doesn't," I reply, my tone light, teasing. "But then, Perez doesn't always know what's best for him, does he?"

It's a subtle dig, a reminder that she's more than just Perez's arm candy, that she might have ambitions of her own. Bella's smart; she catches the implication immediately, her expression shifting to one of cautious interest.

"And what about you, Lana?" she counters, her voice low, a hint of steel beneath the silk. "When are you going to marry one of your boytoys?"

I lean in, matching her low tone with my own, letting a slow, deliberate smile spread across my lips. "Oh, about the same time Perez decides to divorce his wife and make an honest woman out of you, I suppose."

Her laughter rings out, clear and unbothered. "Please, I'm much happier as the mistress. I get all the perks and none of the bullshit." There's a flicker of triumph in her eyes, as if she's scored a point in our verbal tennis match.

I can't help but give her credit; the woman's got guts. But as far as I'm concerned, she's still a minor character in this twisted play we're all part of. My attention drifts, only half-listening as she prattles on, until she lands a comment that pulls me sharply back to the present.

"You know, it's funny," Bella muses, a snake-like cleverness creeping into her tone. "You, who famously drank several of the other mob bosses under the table two years ago, aren't touching a drop of alcohol tonight. Haven't all night, in fact."

I raise my untouched glass slightly, the corners of my mouth tilting up in a mock toast. "Maybe I've just developed a taste for the finer things in life. Who knows? Sobriety might just be the latest trend in the underworld."

Bella watches me for a moment longer, her gaze sharp and calculating, before letting out a soft, conceding laugh. "Perhaps you're right. Sobriety, the latest mob craze. Who would have thought?"

As Bella saunters off, her earlier words echoing in my mind, I can't help but feel the noose of suspicion tightening around my neck. She winks back at me, that obnoxious, knowing gesture that sends a shiver down my spine before draping herself over Perez like some kind of mink stole. The sight of them together, whispering, with occasional glances thrown my way, sends alarm bells ringing in my head. What did she say to him? How much does she suspect? And more importantly, what's she willing to do with that suspicion?

Roman materializes at my side, his timing impeccable as always. "Everything okay?"

I force a smile, pushing down the rising panic. "Oh, absolutely. Just marveling at the intricate web of our lovely underworld. Reminding myself not to underestimate the women in this mafia, especially the most fringe members." My voice drips with a mix of sarcasm and genuine reflection. Bella, for all her mistress status, just proved she's more than capable of stirring the pot.

Roman catches the undercurrent of tension in my voice. "Bella?" he guesses.

I nod, not wanting to delve into the specifics, not here, not now. "Let's just say she's more observant than I gave her credit for."

He leans in closer, lowering his voice. "We can handle it. Whatever it is."

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. "I know. It's just... frustrating, having to play these games."

Roman smirks, a hint of his usual confidence breaking through. "You love the game, Lana. Just maybe not all the players."

He's not wrong. The game, the constant dance of power and manipulation, is where I thrive. It's just that sometimes, like now, the cost of playing becomes all too apparent.

As we weave through the crowd, Roman leans in, his voice barely above the music pulsing through the grand room. "You know, you really shouldn't underestimate the women in this life. They can be just as deadly as the men, if not more."

I shoot him a sideways glance, a smirk playing at the corner of my mouth. "Oh, is that your way of telling me I'm deadly? Because if you hadn't noticed, I've been running circles around these guys since I could walk."

He chuckles, a low, rumbling sound that vibrates through the air between us. "No doubt about that. But Bella... she's playing a dangerous game. And she's not the only one. There are others, just as cunning and twice as desperate."

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