Page 20 of Beautiful Devil

I think it over and decideno, not this time. This shit is personal, and I’m going to get my hands dirty.

“This one's mine. I want to look her in the eyes while she lies to my face and tries to cover for thatstronzo. I want her here. Not in the warehouse – here.”

Marco cocks a brow at me before that fucking smug-ass smirk reappears, yet again.

“She tried to fucking steal from me and is walking around like nothing’s happened.”

“So did Bonetti, and he's a much bigger threat than her.”

“And I'll get to him once I’m done with her. I needherto get to him.”

CHAPTER7

GIA

"3…2…1…BOTTOMS UP!”Elle shouts as we both down a shot of Goldschlager.

The cinnamon liquid leaves a burning sensation as it slips down my throat, but damn, does the buzz feel good.

After much deliberation on my part andplentyof convincing on hers, I've agreed to give in and have a girls’ night out. It's been months since all that shit went down with Gallo, and she’s right: I need to get my life back on track.

I spent Thursday improving my resume and applying to every “help wanted” ad. I've been bidding for other positions outside of my preference because, well, a job is a job and I'm a woman with bills to pay. I can't be too fussy. I just need something, anything really, to at least get me by.

Needing to use the bathroom before we leave, I get off the couch and wobble slightly on my gold heels. The effects of the Goldschlager combined with my amaretto are kicking in.

As I'm washing my hands, I take in my reflection in the bathroom mirror. Newly cut, short brown hair is slightly curled, hanging just above the thin straps on my dress.

My makeup is heavy and so far off from what I normally do. I’m sporting a dark, smokey eye, fake eyelashes, peach blush and a scarlet lip tonight. Elle dressed me in a gold sequined number with a cowl front neckline. The hem falls a little too close to my ass cheeks for my liking, but she didn't really give me much choice.

I don't quite recognize the girl staring back at me in the mirror, but for the first time in a long time, I like what I see. I feel sexy and ready to paint the town red.

"Uber’s here!" Elle shouts from the living room.

Exiting the bathroom, I find her reapplying her hot pink lipstick. She's in silver strappy heels and a skintight baby blue dress. Her long blonde hair is pulled back into a sleek messy bun at the nape of her neck.

"Girl, look at you! You're gonna be fighting off every man in this damn club," she says, throwing me a wink.

Taking stock of her confidence in me, as well as the alcohol flowing through my veins, I reply, "Well, don't mind if I do. It's been a while."

Walking out the door, we make our way down to our ride. It's a quick fifteen-minute drive to Diaovlo Nightclub – a place I haven’t been infartoo long.

Elle and I used to go here all the time for our girls' nights, so being back here with her sends a rush of excitement and nostalgia through me as we walk in past the bouncers standing out front and head down the mirrored corridor into the lowest level of the club.

A sleek, modern bar curves the whole way around the space, with glass shelves and a glossy black counter. Elle grabs my hand and makes a beeline straight for the bar to shout our order to a bartender. He sets down two more shots of Goldschlager, and when my eyes meet hers, she shrugs her shoulders.

"One last one for luck?" she says, knowing good and well I won't say no.

I roll my eyes, and we down them both together.

Ohhh, that buzz.

The bartender sets down an amaretto and club soda for me and a gin bramble for Elle. As she's paying for our drinks, I turn to look around the club and note nothing has changed since we were last here. There are groups of girls drinking and laughing, couples flirting, and men looking around, eyeing up their pick of the night.

A feeling of sadness washes over me at the thought. Is that something I'll ever feel or experience again? The chemistry, sexual tension,can't keep your hands to yourselfpart?

I want that again.

My thoughts naturally go to Gallo and how we met. I wasn’t drawn to his good looks or charming personality. I mean…yes, he was good-looking. But that wasn’t what did it for me. It was actually his laugh. I’d heard this loud, obnoxious laugh in the quad one day when I was leaving my computer science class, and knew I needed to find its owner. As soon as I spotted Gallo, I stopped walking to take him in. He was standing around talking with a group of guys when he clocked me staring.

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