Page 5 of As Devils Love

In contrast to my ensemble, Simone’s wearing an off-white dress. It has some of the same skimpy proportions as mine does, but with a higher riding hemline and no sequins that sparkle. I’d say she looks like an angel in her outfit, but it’s only half true.

Her unnaturally vibrant, crystal-blue eyes are enhanced by her powder-white skin. She has delicate and dainty features, from her freckled cheeks to her small feet. But the mess of long, ginger curls that comes to a stop just above her shoulders is a telltale sign of her fiery personality.

Simone’s the perfect blend of heaven and hell.

“Zip me up and I’m all set to go.” She spins around and walks backwards to me. I do as she asks and gather up the last of my things.

“Then, let’s get this party started.” Excitement oozes through me as I slide into my platform heels. They add an extra threeinches to my height, and at five-foot-three, I can use all the help I can get.

We make our way out of my building and Simone waves down a cab that’s passing by. Apart from a few stolen looks from the cabby in his rear-view mirror, it’s an uneventful ride to the nightclub.

“Oh, and don’t forget this.” She slips her hand into her purse and draws a white winged plastic mask from it. In all the tedium I endured earlier, I completely forgot that this was a masquerade party.

“Right, thanks. I almost forgot the most important part.” I take it from her and slip it over my face. Given how cheap the plastic feels against my fingertips, it fits surprisingly well and feels pretty comfortable.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got you covered.” She snickers at her pun. “I knew you’d forget anyway. It’s why you’re my scatter-brained princess.”

It was Simone’s idea for me to wear a white mask, so she could wear a black one, so we’d be matching to some degree. If it were up to me, I’d have spent some time making something that actually matched my outfit.

She isn’t wrong, though. I’d have spent days crafting the perfect accessory for my dress, only to forget it at my shop on the night of the party.

“Here we are, ladies. Cash or card?” The cab driver asks and reaches for a portable point of sale terminal underneath the meter box.

“Card,” I say, but it comes out unanimously with Simone’s sayingcash.

“You’ve already done enough, the least I can do is buy our ride over.” She rolls her eyes at my wanting to pay for another thing.

It’s in my nature to give. Not only to my friends, but to others also. I can complain all I want about being born into themafia, but it has afforded me opportunities that few people will ever have the pleasure of experiencing. Aside from running a fairly successful, high-end clothing store, my father pays weeklyallowancesinto my bank account.

And really, there’s only so much happiness money can buy before you realize it’s better served in helping others.

“I heard someone say this is going to be the hottest party of the year.” Simone grabs my hand and pulls me out her side of the taxi and onto the sidewalk. The enormous line stretching from the club’s entrance, all the way to the end of the block confirms what she heard. “Great DJ’s, guest appearances and celebrities from all circles drinking in the festivities.”

I understand why the event organizer made this a masquerade. Hiding everyone’s faces shrouds them in obscurity. Celebrities, who are approached day in and out by fans, can kick back and let loose and no one will even know that they’re there. It’s brilliant.

“Holy shit, it’s a good thing I got tickets,” I comment.

My eyes travel the lengthy coil of people, who probably won’t get in, even if they wait out here all night.

“Hell, yeah it is. How did you manage to swing it anyway?” Simone asks, as she drags me toward a second, much shorter line, on the opposite side of the entrance. “This event has been sold out for months.”

“All the suffering of being a mafia kingpin’s daughter should come with a few perks, don’t you think?” I giggle. As much as this city despises him, no one would dare turn down a request from Lorenzo Napoli.

I hate that she knows my dirty little secret, and my father would probably kill both of us if he found out I had told her, but I wasn’t going to spend my life coming up with answers for all the shit he puts me through. Like earlier, sayingFamily Businessis usually enough to steer her off course when it comes to what Iget up to. And though I can tell it eats her up inside not to be in the know any more, she respects me enough not to pry.

We fall into line with the rest of the masked partygoers and wait our turn to get in. The wait is much shorter than expected and, before I know it, Simone and I are inside.

Still clutching my hand, Simone pulls me from the entrance to a small room sectioned off from the dance floor. It’s a separate bar area, where patrons of the club can relax, far away from the eardrum shattering music in the main dance floor.

I let my eyes scan the room to build some sort of familiarity of my surroundings, but my excitement about the night ahead quickly starts to fade. Among the masked horde circling the bar, I spot the first of many familiar faces. I don’t know his name, but I recognize him from outside the Sanctuary Club, when I was earlier.

Tilting my head to one corner, then the next, I see two more faces instead of masks. Of course, father would send men to watch over me. Why wouldn’t he when so many of his men are dying like flies? But it makes me wonder if having a security detail in the club isn’t doing more harm than good to his secrecy. People will wonder what he is trying to hide. And if the guy, who is murdering Napoli soldiers, is here tonight, their maskless faces scowling menacingly will be a huge indicator that someone of importance to my father is here.

“Quick drink to keep us hydrated, and then I’m not stopping my groove until the sun comes up.” Simone sways her hips and adds araise the roofgesture with her hands to sell the statement.

I’m glad she hasn’t noticed my father’s men, and I doubt she will. It’s easy enough to label them as security and bouncers, without knowing the full story.

“Sounds like a great idea. You got the ride, so I’ll buy our first round.” I wink and slip between her and the bar so she can’t decline my offer.

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