Alice gazed at me, giving me a once-over. “And what are you wearing?”

I clenched my jaw. “I’ll tell you about it after a drink.”

With one eye on Tommy and the other on all the liquor I could drown myself in, I pulled her to the bar.

Cousin Tony was already sitting at the bar with a drink in his hand, flirting aggressively with two family whores.

When he saw us, he held his hands up in the air. “Ahhh, Chiara and Alice!” He pulled us in closer to his beer belly and pressed a wet, disgusting kiss on our cheeks, his mustache rubbing against me.

The whores gazed our way, trying to accentuate their features to make themselves more attractive than us for Cousin Tony.

“How are my favorite cousins?”

“We’re good, Tony,” Alice said.

Tony nudged me. “How’s Tommy?”

I forced a smile, which Alice definitely caught. “Tommy is great.”

I gazed over at him. He was now talking to some of Daddy’s guards near the door. Tommy could charm anyone with his smile and his talk. That was how he’d snagged me, and now, I was stuck with his ass.

Just then, the bitch herself walked through the door with another brunette. With her breasts pushed up and a fake fucking smile, she looked at Tommy, and I swore she winked at him.

My hands clenched under the bar so nobody would see them. Her dress was nearly identical to mine, except it was a burgundy color. It hugged her curves perfectly. She didn’t have to pull the thing down to get it to fit; it just did.

The bartender pushed my drink across the bar, and I immediately threw it back.

Tommy watched as she walked to the bar on the opposite side of the room.

Way to keep it discreet, Tommy. Good going.

One of the guards said something that I couldn’t quite make out, and they all began laughing. I pressed my red-painted lips together. Who even invited all these whores to the family parties? They were no-good gold diggers who wanted nothing more than a good time and everyone’s money.

“Chiara,” Alice said.

Cousin Tony had returned to his girls, his hands grazing over their bodies. I turned away from him, wanting to keep an eye on Tommy, but also not wanting to give anything away to Alice.

Alice cleared her throat and gazed at Tommy. “Does he need to be taken care of?”

“Now’s not the right time, Alice.”

“It’s always the right time.” She pursed her lips. “You know how I feel about it. I’m always up for it.” She suggested the only thought getting me through each day.

Alice had never liked Tommy. She had warned me over and over not to get involved with him, but I hadn’t listened.

“Alice, please. I don’t want to talk about him right now.”

She hopped onto the barstool next to me. “Well then, tell me what happened this morning. Because Giorgia acted like you got shot or something. You know how she blows things way out of proportion.”

I nearly laughed. Thankfully, she wasn’t here yet. I needed time alone with Alice. It had felt like forever since I’d last seen her.

“Daddy finally gave me the chance to oversee business this morning.”

“Are you serious?” She smiled widely and pulled me into a hug. “Amore! That’s great! I’m so happy for you.”

After a few moments, I pulled away. “Not really.”

She furrowed her brows. “Why?”