Page 25 of Prideful Union
“Hey,” he says. “Nothing wrong with a good party.”
I realize he’s right. Why am I being sad in this room while Santino gets to walk around thinking he owns everything? He doesn’t own me.
So, I wipe my tears, say goodbye to Luca, and get ready for a night of dancing.
Santino isbusy with meetings all afternoon, so I’m able to sneak out and head for Jackie O’, the club that sounded the classiest and fun.
Santino has a ton of cars, so I take one of them. When I arrive at the club, I feel back to my normal self. No more crying. Ugh. I hate crying.
The club is packed with people. But it’s not a club full of wild, gross, rude people. It’s full of people in fine dresses and suits. People are dancing together.
I order a glass of wine and down it in about a minute because I just need to get drunk. I don’t care if I look crazy or unhinged.
Once I feel tipsy, I stumble out onto the dance floor and began moving and shimmying and shaking. A man joins me, and we dance together.
“Lucia? Is that you?” I recognize the high-pitched voice of Alexandria.
When I look in her direction, I see she’s with Emma, Arianna, and Isabella. The four horsewomen of the apocalypse.
“Hi,” I say lamely.
Alexandria eyes over the guy I’m dancing with. “Does Santino know you’re here?”
“Do your husbands know you’re here?” I fire back.
The four of them share a laugh, and it gives me a headache.
Alexandria shoos the man away and joins me on the dance floor. “Of course, our husbands know we’re here. We go out dancing every week. Didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Why is that?”
“Because Santino can be a little … possessive.”
I frown as the women share a look. “How do you know that?”
Alexandria gives me a secretive smile, annoying me further. “Because he was that way with me.”
I stumble. “What? You dated?”
“Briefly. And trust me when I say he knew how to make a girl feel special. He was so possessive over me.” She tosses her hair over her shoulder. “Of course, that’s not surprising. I mean, look at me.” She waves a hand over her body. I’ll admit—she has a great body.
But mine is better.
“If he was so possessive of you,” I say, “then why did you break up?”
Alexandria’s smug grin falters. “I found the love of my life. My husband.”
“Oh, so Santino wasn’t the one to end things?”
“Of course not. I was. Now, knowing how possessive Santino is, I doubt he’ll appreciate you being out at a club without him.”
“I wanted to dance. Santino doesn’t own me.”
“Well, he won’t be happy.” She digs through her purse and pulls out a cellphone. “Let’s call him and ask, shall we?”
My heart rate spikes. “Why would you do that?”
“Because he has the right to know where his wife is. His child bride, I might add.”
