Page 83 of Raphael (Belles & Mobsters 5)

“But you love us,” they both sang in unison. It was so good to see Aurora happy. She and Alexei just recently got together and she glowed. Of course, it could be her pregnancy too. Although the gazes those two shared frequently told me it was probably a combination of both.

“I do love you,” I admitted.

“Okay, about the virginity predicament,” Willow interrupted. “He’ll love your virgin pussy, but if you tell him you’re a virgin, he might be hesitant to just do it right. I remember how awkward it was for me with the first guy.”

Aurora rolled her eyes. “He should know so he doesn’t ravish her.” The three of us shot glances towards Raphael who stood with Vasili, Nico, Cassio and a few others. Their gazes were trained on us.

“I don’t know, ravishing sounds kind of thrilling,” Willow snickered.

“I’ll just pretend I’m experienced,” I grumbled. “You two are of no help.”

“He’ll know,” Aurora protested. “You shouldn’t pretend.”

I waved my hand. She was probably right, but I was done talking about it.

“Hey, you three.” Sasha showed up out of nowhere, his sister-in-law Isabella by his side. Isabella Nikolaev was Raphael’s half-sister. Small world, huh? “What are you three talking about?” he asked curiously.

“Nothing,” the three of us answered.

Isabella chuckled softly. “Oh, now I am curious too.”

Willow shrugged her shoulders. “We were just saying how annoying stalkers are.”

Sasha’s eyes narrowed on her. “I’m not your goddamn stalker, Willow. Raphael hired me to keep you safe.”

Willow waved her hand. “Whatever, stalker. You fucking scared my date away.”

Aurora and I shared a fleeting glance. “Who was the date?” I asked curiously.

“Some Ryan Gosling look alike,” Sasha clarified, grinning like Lucifer.

“ItwasRyan Gosling, moron. It was a business date.”

Sasha lifted his shoulder. “Looked like a horrible version of him, and Ryan Gosling wasn’t that hot to start with.”

Aurora cocked her eyebrow. “I didn’t know you were an expert on the levels of men’s hotness, Sasha.”

That same shark grin he had when he interrupted our dinner back in New Orleans spread on his face. The guy was good looking if you stared at him long enough, but scary as hell. If I thought Raphael was the devil, Sasha was Satan.

“I have many skills,” Sasha drawled. “Dancing is one of them.” His eyes locked on me. “Can the new bride spare me a dance?”

I lifted my shoulder. “I guess, if you really insist. Just so you’ll stop annoying Willow.”

And off to the dance floor we went. Despite his big frame, Sasha was a good dancer. Excellent in fact.

“You know how to bring the heat, don’t you?” I joked.

“Not as much as you, apparently,” he retorted coolly. “Not even I managed to piss off an entire cartel.”

“Not sure if I’d call that an accomplishment,” I muttered.

“You totally should.” Then he leaned closer. “We fucking hate any organization that traffics women and you, Sailor Santos, brought one down singlehandedly. Not a single person in this room achieved that alone.” Two heartbeats passed before he continued, “You are a badass woman.”

I threw my head back and laughed. “I am many things, Sasha Nikolaev, but a badass woman is not one of them.”

The smile he gave me was sincere. “We’ll have to agree to disagree then.”

His gaze flickered above my head.

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