Page 214 of Syndicate of Sin Bundle

“You have the wrong paper,” she said quickly.

“No, this is the—”

“Sorry, we cannot help you. Please don’t call back.”

The line went silent.

Dammit. I was going to have to get my information a different way.

“What’re you wearing?” Tommy walked into the closet with a towel wrapped around his waist. “I bought you a dress for tonight.”

I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes. “It doesn’t fit.” I stood up and did a twirl. “Don’t you think this looks good on me?”

He paused for a few moments and walked over. “Are you wearing a push-up bra?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.” He looked disappointed, then pulled the top of my dress down a bit to see more of me. He shook his head. “Change. You’ll look better in my dress.”

We gazed at each other for a long time. Anything to please Tommy boy. He was the king, and I had to be his stupid little servant for a bit longer.

6

chiara

In the elevator, I pulled down the front of my dress, so it wouldn’t look so loose and unflattering. Tommy stood behind me, gazing at me through the reflection. He eyed my breasts and snaked a hand up my body until he was roughly groping one.

“You’re so sexy.”

I tightened my grip on my purse.

When the elevator doors finally opened, I stepped away from him, trying to put enough space between us to calm down. If I didn’t, I would surely ruin the plan.

Tommy grabbed my hand and pulled me to the restaurant that Daddy had reserved for the family gathering. The two guards at the door nodded at us as we walked in.

It wasn’t even six-thirty p.m. yet, and half the family was already drunk. Men had Afterglow champagne glasses in their hands, women had tight bodycon dresses on, children of some of the members were already gossiping in the corner.

Daddy was sitting at a table with a few of the higher members. When he saw us, he nodded at us to come over. Tommy pulled me in his direction.

Thankfully, nobody—not even the men at the dock this morning—commented on my absence. Tommy didn’t even seem like he knew, and I hoped it would stay that way. He was always the most vocal about providing for me, like I was incapable of doing it myself.

Someone wrapped their arms around me from behind.

Tommy turned around, jaw clenched, then relaxed. “Hey, Alice.”

She gave him a small smile. Her hair sat in curls at her shoulders, and she had glittery purple eye makeup tonight.

“I need to talk to you,” she said quickly, pulling me away from the men and Tommy.

Thank God. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

When we were across the room, she arched a sharp brown brow. “What happened this morning? Everyone’s talking about you.”

My eyes widened. “Everyone?”

“Just Giorgia, but you know that means everyone.”

Giorgia had to blab her big mouth. Now, everyone was really going to think that I hadn’t shown up for work.

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