Page 139 of Barinov

I hate to admit it, but this spiced banana cake thing that Savannah found at that little bakery off of 46th is actually delicious. And this is coming from someone who normally hates bananas with a passion.

“So let me get this straight,” I say, wiping the last bit of cream cheese frosting off my bottom lip. “You think that throwing this little charity event or whatever the fuck is better than my Donor Fight 2.0?”

“It’s not a little charity event,” Ellie snaps from across the table, setting her fork down not so gracefully. “The Izzy Foundation Gala is a way better idea than your Donor Fight 2.0, Lex. More sophistication, less blood.”

“I’ll tell you one thing,” I grit. “You put my ass in another monkey suit and there will be blood.”

“Lex,” she huffs, rolling her eyes.

“Plus,” I add, reaching across Cade for another piece of cake. “The Izzy Foundation is phony as hell, Jac—I mean Luca, will never fall for it.”

“It’ll be fine,” Ellie says, looking over her shoulder at Knox. “Nothing you can’t whip us up real quick online. I mean come on, how many identities have you made for Project Dylan Missions? Creating a fake website should be child’s play to someone with your Zeke-level skills.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Knox mutters from the seat next to Haley, laptop open and already clicking away. “I can have it up and running in no time. I just need some pictures of Izzy first for the header.”

“Roman can get them to you,” Ellie says, waving her hand toward Roman. She claps her hands once, the sound echoing throughout the club. “Then it’s settled.”

“Almost,” Roman says, leaning against the bar nursing his second scotch of the evening.

“What’s almost?” Ellie asks, annoyance brewing in her tone.

Roman shoves off the bar, strides over, and pulls out a chair. Mom’s spine straightens when the guy takes the seat next to Dad.

“The Izzy Foundation will gain Luca’s suspicion, yes,” Roman starts, grunting when he rubs his chest. “But we need something more to get that dick out of hiding.”

“More than a Gala in the so-called love of his life’s honor,” Ellie says, swallowing hard when Roman flinches at her words. “No offense.”

“None taken,” Roman says, shaking his head. “It’s just that—”

“Rome,” Dad interrupts. “What about adding it to Atrum?”

Mom scoffs, crossing her arms and glaring at Dad. “Darling you cannot be serious.”

“Adding it to what?” I ask, my brow raised.

“That’s brilliant, Dan!” Roman sets his scotch glass down with a clink. “Open it up to the Italians and the Russians.”

“Absolutely not,” Mom interjects, her ice-blues blown wide. “This is not another one of your two’s—”

“Invite the past Hollow Kings,” Dad cuts her off, earning him another cold stare from Mom. “Get some of those high rollers in here.”

“Just like old times.” Roman nods, the two of them completely ignoring everyone else in the room. Whatever beef they had all those years ago seems to have officially gone up in smoke.

“Bring in some girls,” Dad continues with a snap of his fingers.

“Yes!” Roman claps Dad on the shoulder. “He won’t be able to say no to that.”

Ellie shoots up from her seat. “What are you guys even talking about?!”

“Cool your tits, Barbie,” Marisol mumbles from between Sabine and Khoza.

Shit, Marisol’s been so quiet lately I forgot the chick even came back to New York.

“Not now, Mar,” Tex and Nate warn with a glare.

The bitch just blows them kisses.

Laing points across the room, leaning in to whisper something into Callie’s ear that makes her laugh. More like a loud, obnoxious snort.