Page 3 of Seduced By the Mafia Don

"Previously—under his father, during his brother's tenure—this opportunity was standard procedure."

"I have nothing to confess," Adrian says, followed by a forced laugh. "Aunty G, do you think I’ve got the stones to go against Nico? Please. I’m going to get another drink."

"Table service is available," Mother reminds him.

Adrian stands. "I'll hit the bar. Service seems inadequate here." His demeanor suggests how desperate he is to escape.

As he hastily walks away, the artistic, quirky waitress strides toward the kitchen. Adrian nearly collides with her. She deftly evades him. He continues, oblivious.

"Nico?" Mother's voice registers behind me.

Suddenly, I’m standing before the waitress, glaring angrily at my cousin's retreating figure. My mother's call finally makes sense. What am I doing? I can’t hit my cousin for nearly bumping into a stranger.

The waitress smiles awkwardly yet defiantly. "Friend of yours?"

"My cousin. His manners occasionally desert him."

"And you were preparing to..." She arches an eyebrow, her lip twitching. Is she teasing me? Nervous? Perhaps both?

"I was going to catch the damsel when she inevitably stumbled."

She surveys the area. "I don’t see any damsels here..."

"I'm sure I saw one named Sienna. I even overheard someone marveling over the beauty of that name."

She taps her name tag. "Clever observation. I don’t suppose you know this mysterious commentator?"

I nearly confess I think her name is beautiful, but that would ruin the game. “I'm afraid not."

"You're actuallysmirkingat me," she notes, then apparently recalls her professional obligations. "Um, anyway. Can I get you anything?"

"No—I merely wanted..."To make sure you were okay. "Thank you.” I stride away before I can make an even bigger fool of myself.

"What was that about?" Mother asks upon my return.

"Nothing."

“Do you know her?"

"Why would you say that?"

She traces her fingertip around her wine glass rim, a habit she does when she’s thinking. "It seemed like you might’ve met her before. The conversation seemed… intimate.”

"You couldn't hear us."

"But your body language."

"I had my back to you."

She huffs. "Stop being so pedantic. I thought you were going to kill poor Adrian when he nearly collided with the girl."

"Sienna."

"Pardon?"

"Her name is Sienna."

"Sienna—reminiscent of Vienna. Did you notice the book she carries around? She seems quite..."

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