Page 34 of A Sinner's Virtue
“Little Bee, I’m always nice.”
Marcel snorts and then tries to cover it with a cough. “Nicest bloke I know, Lucy. It’s why I picked him to be my best mate.”
“When is Izzy coming back to town?” Dom directs to me. “I can’t imagine he’ll last more than two minutes in a room with her.”
I lift a shoulder into a half shrug. “Probably not, but she already likes him.”
“I doubt that,” Dom grunts.
“She does. I told her how nice he is, and how good he is to me. Mikhail and Izzy are firmly on Team Marcel.” They’re probably not, but I decide to go with the whole fake it until you make it approach.
“What’s not to like?” Marcel laughs before turning his glare on Dom and Lucy. “So, you two lovebirds plan an actual date yet? I need notice to get my best man tux pressed.”
“You’re not best man material, and when we have a date, you’ll be the last to know,” Dominic tells him.
“I’m confused. I thought you two were friends.” I gesture from Dominic to Marcel.
“We are,” Marcel says at the same time Dominic says, “We aren’t.”
“Right, well, glad that’s cleared up.” I shake my head.
“They’re friends. Dominic just has a hard time showing anyone he actually likes them, unless it’s me, of course.” Lucy grins. Then she picks up the menu from the table. “What are you eating? Want to share a starter?”
I follow her lead and start reviewing my options. One thing I love about living in Australia is the food. I thought I knew good food, and then I came here. Although I’d kill for a slice of authentic New York pie right now too.
“Sure, what are you thinking?” I ask Lucy.
“How about we share the calamari and shrimp cocktails? And then for mains, I think I want the stuffed chicken breast.” Lucy snaps the menu shut before setting it back down on the table.
“Sounds great,” I say, then turn to Marcel. “What are you eating?” I can’t decide. It all looks so good.
“Steak. What do you feel like?” he asks me.
“All of it.” I laugh. “I don’t know. Um, I think the fish.” I settle for the one item my eyes keep going back to. And just as I’m about to close the menu and set it on the table, my body is being pushed down before something heavy lands on top of me.
“Stay down,” Marcel grinds out between clenched teeth.
Then I hear a bunch of popping noises mixed with the sounds of people screaming and glass shattering. Marcel doesn’t move, using his body as a shield to cover mine.
“What…?” I start to ask and then stop.
“It’s okay. Just stay down,” he says, his voice calmer than it should be.
Seriously, how the hell is he so calm right now?
When the popping stops, and we hear the squeal of tyres get farther and farther in the distance, Marcel slowly pushes up to his knees with a gun in his hand—though I have no idea where it came from or when he drew it. He glances around the room before calling out to Dom.
“We’re good,” Dom replies while shoving the table out of his way. I follow the sound of his voice and gasp. There’s a trail of blood dripping down his arm.
“You sure about that, mate?” Marcel juts his chin towards the red seeping through Dom’s shirt.
“It’s just a scratch.” Dom stands, scanning the room before pulling his fiancée to her feet. Lucy looks shaken and hasn’t said a word since everything went to shit.
I push up off the ground, and Marcel shoves me behind him again. Which seems unnecessary, considering the shooting has stopped. I don’t think whoever it was is still here. “You okay, Lucy?” I ask.
“Huh?” She looks to me, and that’s when I realise how pale she is.
“Little Bee? It’s okay. I’ve got you. Come on, let’s get out of here.” Dominic takes her hand in his and starts guiding her towards the door.
