Page 22 of Smoke and Mirrors

Molly turns to me as she sips at her glass. “See what I mean? It’s always the hot ones.”

I giggle, gulping back two large mouthfuls of the potent liquid which tingles my throat as it slides down.

“Woah, kid…” Molly gasps, “… slow down. Or I’m going to be dragging you home by your legs at ten because you’re too drunk.”

I swallow. “Sorry. Seeing him there just took me off guard. And the way he spoke…” I shake my head, “… I’m just kinda disappointed.”

“‘Cause he might be just like all the others?” Molly asks, understanding in her eyes.

“Yeah,” I reply, finally risking a look over my shoulder at the man in question. His eyes are still on me, his arms folded across his chest, his muscles straining against the black collared shirt he’s wearing. His hair’s spiked up in its usual style, and even from this distance, I can see the bright blue of his smoldering eyes.

“Hey, girls,” a deep voice comes from down the bar, drawing my attention.

Molly spins on her chair, and we both look to where two young guys grin at us from a few stools down. They’re cute, one with black hair and a day’s growth shading his jawline, taking away the babyface look he has going on. The other has light brown hair, cut very short against his head. He has an amazing square jawline and prominent chin that gives him a slightly rugged and bad-boy look, even though his face is clean-shaven.

“I’m Phil,” shaven guy offers, before pointing to the black-haired guy. “This is Karl. Would you like to dance?”

Molly looks over her shoulder at me, raising her eyebrow.

I shrug in answer. Why not?

She throws me an encouraging smile before turning back and pointing to baby-faced Karl. “You’ll do. Come on.”

We both down the rest of our drinks before climbing off the stools.

Karl wraps his arm around Molly’s waist and guides her toward the dance floor.

Phil pushes away from the bar and steps to me with his hand outstretched. My body buzzes as though I’ve been shocked.

My eyes drift back across the room. Kace’s forehead is creased in anger, and his hand is turning white from the grip he has on the banister of the staircase. For a second, I think he may launch himself across the room and steal me away, but he doesn’t. He just continues to glare. But not at me, his eyes are all for Phil, who waits patiently at my side.

I swallow tightly, shaking my head in disappointment before turning to Phil and forcing a sweet smile on my lips. I take his hand. “Let’s go.”

Chapter Seven

LILY

Phil is a gentleman as we dance. He doesn’t touch too much in the wrong places, and he actually moves surprisingly well.

Karl, on the other hand, is exactly the man Molly likes. His hands are on her ass as she sways to the music, her body in perfect time with every single beat. But that’s who she is. She lives and breathes music and dance. It flows through her like it’s in her blood and heart. Watching her dance, you can see a different side of her. When you meet Molly, she’s sharp with no filter on her words or actions, and she doesn’t make any apologies for that. She is who she is, and if people don’t like it, she won’t waste her time on them.

But on the dance floor, her body is sultry and poetic. Her movements are beautiful and precise. It brings a smile to my face.

“I need another drink!” Molly calls over the music as she comes closer.

The boys offer to purchase our drinks while we find a booth back further in the club away from the dance floor, so we can at least speak without screaming over the music.

When Phil and Karl join us, I take a sip of my new cocktail and turn to Molly. “Who owns that VIP space?” She follows my finger as I point to the area upstairs that overlooks the club.

“I’m not sure.” She shrugs. “The staff is mostly the same, but the club changed ownership last year after I left.”

“You don’t want to go up there,” Phil interrupts.

I raise my brow at him. “Why?”

Karl shakes his head. “That’s for the club owner and his friends. Roberto Cavaleri, Mafia kingpin.”

My eyes widen in shock.

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