Page 7 of Arranged

Mia

“I’m in love with this dress, Aria,” I gush, turning in the mirror so I can see the sequins catch the light. She pulled out a few dresses for me that she thought would look best on me, and I was drawn to this one immediately. It’s a long sleeve dress covered in magenta pink sequins, with a feather trim around my wrists and along the bottom hem that hits me just a few inches below my butt. It reminds me of a Barbie dress and I’m completely obsessed.

“Your legs look fabulous,” Aria praises, and I have to agree. Especially with the heels I have on that are making my calves look lean and my legs all that much longer.

“And your boobs.” Gia whistles, making me laugh. “Damn, girl.”

I blow them a kiss. “Thank you. That’s the reaction I was hoping for.”

I grab the little feathered clutch that matches the dress and we head out. Aria and Gia’s regular bodyguards are waiting for us down in the lobby of their building, and they look at each other for a split second before their eyes are back on us. I know exactly what they’re thinking from that look –oh shit, this is going to be a long night.

“Hi, Jonny.” I smile up at him, admiring his green eyes, the sharp edges of his jawline, and his oddly pouty lips that would look feminine on anyone but him. My smile widens whenmy eyes meet the pair of chocolate brown ones beside him. “Sammy.”

“Hi, Miss Mia,” Sammy greets, a shy smile spreading across his handsome face. I always found him adorably good-looking, while Jonny was more of a chiseled handsome.

“Now, boys,” I start, my eyes darting between them, “tonight is a big night for me. I’m trying to have fun and I don’t want you to inhibit that. Got it? No scaring off guys who approach us, and you won’t be telling my brothers anything you see. Are we clear?”

“Miss Mia, we cannot promise you that. It’s our job to watch out for you. And it’s our job to report what we see if warranted.”

“Exactly. If warranted. And you’re only obligated to do so with Aria and Gia, not me.”

“Not true,” Jonny says gruffly. “When you’re with them, you’re under our protection, and we watch over you as we do them.”

Sighing, I roll my eyes and look at Aria and Gia. “Should we go?”

“Yes,” Gia says excitedly, clapping her hands together, and I don’t miss the tick in Jonny’s jaw or the narrowing of his eyes when she does. “We’re going to Elemental, boys.” Gia winks at Jonny and pats his bicep as she walks past him and out the door.

The warmth of the day is gone and has been replaced by the cool night air that lets me know fall is almost fully here. Despite it being October, the days here in the city are still plagued by the warm sun, but the nights are cool, which gives me a taste of my favorite season to come. Winter.

We bypass the line for the club that’s already extending down the block, and Aria and Gia walk us right up to the bouncers. They give them a smile, and that’s all it takes for them to unhook the velvet rope. “Hello, ladies. Good to have you back. Your usual table is reserved for you.”

“Thanks, Carlos. We missed you, too,” Gia says flirtatiously, blowing him a kiss as she passes him. Jonny gives Carlos a death glare behind her back and I smile. That man takes his job a little too seriously.

The second I walk through the doors, my smile widens. I’ve been to a few bars and lounges with my cousins, but never a club like this. The bar takes up the entire length of one wall, with the DJ’s booth across the club and the dance floor stretched between it. The other two walls are occupied by U shaped booths and tables with red velvet curtains tied up beside most, with a few of them closed, adding an air of seductive mystery.

On the wood separating each booth are small sconces that have two fake tapered candles with red bulbs that match the dull red bulbs inside the black chandeliers that hang from the ceiling. In between the three massive chandeliers, hangs three large rings over the dance floor that have women spinning and dancing from them like circus performers.

The club is dark and sensual with the black and red color scheme, low lighting, and a dance floor packed with bodies swaying against one another as inhibitions are lowered. It makes me wish I’d taken the opportunity to go out with Gia and Aria more so I could enjoy my freedom while I had the chance.

I feel like I’ve wasted my life away being someone I thought I needed to be so everyone around me didn’t have to worry about me. I sat back and watched my brothers have fun, go out, and do whatever it is they do for the family, all while I was left to take care of our mother who did her best to put on a mask and hide her depression from everyone, except when it was just the two of us.

Shaking away thoughts I don’t want to be thinking when tonight is about me and having fun, I pull my shoulders back and glance around as I follow Aria and Gia over to one of the booths marked reserved. Every man and woman’s heads turn to look atmy cousins as we pass, and I almost feel like a third wheel with them. They’re tall, beyond gorgeous, and twins. There’s a reason they’re such highly paid models and flown all over the world for campaigns and runway shows.

“Well, aren’t we special,” I say, placing my bag down on the table.

Aria winks. “I made a call after you first called me.”

“Do you two get special treatment everywhere you go?”

They look at each other and then both lift their right shoulders in a shrug. “Clubs are always wanting girls from the agency to fill their VIP areas so they look like the hottest club in town.”

“And now I get to reap the benefits, too.”

“Exactly.” She smiles.

Jonny and Sammy remain outside the booth’s entrance, melting into the wood with their all-black outfits.

It only takes a minute for a gorgeous girl to come to our table. “Hi, I’m Carrie. I’ll be taking care of you tonight. Here’s a list of our bottle services for you to look at.” She hands Gia the menu, but she doesn’t even look at it before ordering.

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