Page 38 of Sins

I looked at both of them in confusion. “Time for what?”

“This shade of lipstick,” Sienna eyed Minnie as she held up a tube of lipstick, “would match your dress perfectly.”

“You know what?” I took it from her and headed for the vanity, “I don’t even want to know. I have enough going on inside here, anyway.” I circled my head with my finger.

“Insert Rail.” Rail laughed as he popped out of nowhere with a joint between his fingers. “Some people call me a gift from God, but we all know I spread the breath of the Devil.” He puffed out a smoke ring, and I chuckled and reached out. I took a hit from it, and just as I sucked the warm smoke into my lungs, I caught Minnie’s glance at Tess. What were these three up to?

The party was held in an enormous room on the first floor of Hill House. Grim told me they’d go all out for this party, but no one could have prepared me for when I walked down the hallway to the top of the stairs and looked down.

The color theme was black and gold, and their family crest was hung proudly above the stage where a live band played. Black and deep red roses graced the tables, gold silk wrapped the chairs, tall pillars filled with water and gold dust sparkled and created what could only be described as a dream-like environment. Elio wore black, and Sienna dressed in a lavish gold dress as they greeted arriving guests.

I took my time to enjoy the incredibly striking scene below as I stepped down onto the first stair with my hand on the rail. I felt radiant in my sheath-style silhouette black and lace gown. It hugged all the right places, and the slit was perfectly placed to reveal my thigh as I descended to the dance floor. My hair was swept up, with a few pieces free to soften the look.

“Kenna.” Laurel was at my side in an instant. Her hands slid down my arms as she studied my face. “Are you hurt? We barely got back in time for the party. A truck had tipped over,” she rambled. “I just want to make sure you’re not hurt.”

I smiled warmly at Grim’s mom and loved that she cared enough to find me right away. “I’m fine. I just felt bad for Sienna. It was a close call.”

“For both of you,” she corrected. “Thank goodness you’re okay.” She dabbed at the corner of her eye. “I just needed to see you for myself.” I leaned in and hugged her. I was sure the fear of losing someone else was fresh on her mind.

“I’m fine, really,” I assured her, and she smiled and dabbed her eyes again.

“Good. In answer to your question earlier, I had Vinni check, and the couple who made the soup are fine. No one was hurt at the market.”

“Oh, I’m so glad. They were lovely.”

“Now,” she patted my hand, “I insist you put all that aside and enjoy this wonderful evening. I’m going to go and check my makeup. Isn’t this all so incredible?” She waved around at the room then touched my cheek before she rushed off, leaving me alone, or so I thought.

“Some requests are worth their weight in gold.” Niccola grinned as he held out his arm to me.

I threaded my arm through his. “Requests?”

He patted my hand but didn’t reply as he led me across the room. “Shall we get you something to drink?”

“Please.” I nodded. As we walked, a few people stopped to ask who I was, and we filled them in.

“It’s not often a beautiful new American face is invited and introduced at such an important gathering,” Niccola explained as we moved through the crowd. “Not since Sienna has there been such excitement. Everyone is dying to know who you are and how you fit in. But most importantly, the vultures.” He glared at a few older men who gawked at me. “Are you single and looking? They wonder.”

“I feel like I’m on an episode of Bridgerton.” I chuckled, and his brows pinched. Of course, he didn’t follow, and I waved it off. “Just a popular television show back home.”

“I see.” He patted my hand again. Something told me Niccola didn’t watch a lot of TV. “We’ll I’ve been asked to bring you here, and…” His voice trailed off as we approached Minnie. She stood by the tables and wore one of her smiles, the one that always meant she was up to no good. Her pretty face looked positively devious. She nodded to someone, and I tried to spot who, but I only saw Sienna, who nodded again at someone else.

“Why do I feel I’m missing something?” I moved my hands to my hips when Niccola stood straight as if uneasy. “I might look little, but I’ve been known to be scrappy.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He looked over my head and eyed someone.

“Pardon me,” Mr. Hotness the guard from earlier held out a gold hoop earring, “but this must have come off when you got out of the car.”

I rolled my eyes in Minnie’s direction. “Or did my friend over there,” I pointed at Minnie, “give you that so you had a reason to come over here?”

His grin was impressive as he stepped toward me. He totally ignored Niccola’s advice to keep moving. “Or maybeIasked her for the earring, soIhad a reason to come over and speak to you.” He took my hand and gently laid the piece of jewelry in my palm. “A woman like you deserves to be swept off her feet.” He folded my fingers around the earring and turned my wrist to kiss the back of my hand.

It was all very romantic, at least it would be to some women, but as lovely as it all seemed, and I saw Minnie swoon, I was never the type to connect with that sort of thing.

His arm fell away when a hand clamped down on my hip and lips brushed my neck, drawing every nerve in my body to attention.

“There you are,” Grim muttered against my skin. “Emiliano, I see you’ve met Kenna.”Emiliano.So Mr. Hotness had a nice name.

He smiled and inclined his head to Grim then looked back at me. “Mi scusi, I didn’t realize you belonged to anyone.”

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