Page 69 of Dance of Deception

Milena laughs. “Is it too late to take that back?”

“Uh-uh. Taking a toast back isdefinitelybad luck,” Evelina says.

Brooklyn makes a face. “What the hell kind of logic is that? What if it’s a crappy toast?”

Milena clucks her tongue against her teeth. “She’s right. There’s no do-overs with Russians. We just soldier on, through the snow and ice and hardship.”

Naomi arches a brow, glancing pointedly at Milena’s Louboutins and the Chanel clutch on her lap.

“Tell me more about enduring these hardships, oh strong and resilient Bratva princess.”

The rest of us—even me—crack up when Milena flips her off with a grin.

“You really going to start throwing stones, bitch?” she teases Naomi back. “HowisCongressman Kim’s glass house?”

Naomi straightens her back indignantly, tossing her dark ponytail back and sipping her cocktail. “Wouldn’t know. I haven’t been to my parents' house in almost a year.”

“Anyhoo,” Evelina sighs, cutting in. “What if we just toast to happiness and finding it wherever we can?”

Naomi grins, clinking her glass to everyone else’s. “I can get behind that. Cheers!”

We echo the word, tapping our glasses together and pretending this is actually a celebration.

Brooklyn laughs, leaning in. “Well, if you have to be forced into a mafia marriage, at least you got one of the hot ones.”

I almost choke.

Bianca groans. “Could wepleasestop referring to my brother like that?”

“Wellyoumarry him, then,” I mumble.

Brooklyn laughs. “Like, I want your sloppy seconds?”

“Again, guys,” Bianca pleads. “Could wenot?”

“Well, if Lyra’s already bagged Carmine, there’s always Nico.” Naomi grins, her face flushed from the drinks. “I mean, have youseenthat man? He looks like he'd rail you against a wall and then apologize for messing up your hair.”

Evelina gasps dramatically, clutching her chest. “NAOMI!”

Brooklyn nearly chokes on her drink. “Who thefuckare you right now?”

Milena squints at Naomi, tilting her head. “Seriously, who are you and what have you done with sweet, innocent, I-blush-when-someone-says-the-word-dickNaomi?”

Naomi blushes fiercely as Bianca slams back the last of her drink.

“All right, I’m out. Please, keep talking about banging my fuckingbrother.”

“Noooo! Bianca!” I laugh, snagging her arm and yanking her down into my lap. “Stay! Please?”

She rolls her eyes, turning to hug me. “I actuallydohave to go. Kratos and I are watching the baby Spartans at Ya-ya’s tonight so Ares and Neve and Hades and Elsa can have a night out together.”

“Um, what do likehalfof those words even mean?” Brooklyn interjects.

Bianca giggles. “Ya-ya is Kratos’ grandmother, Dimitra.”

A smug feeling drifts over me. I mean, I might not be an actual mafia princess, but evenIknow that Dimitra Drakos is the matriarch of the Drakos Greek mafia family. Just like I know Ares, Kratos’ oldest brother, is king of the empire, with Hades, another brother, also helming things.

“And the Spartans?”

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