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Emiliana shrugged. “You’re not boss yet. And even when you are, I don’t answer to you.”
“I don’t see a ring on her finger.” Sofia, the one I could tell was a troublemaker, said.
El pulled a black credit card from her pocket and held it between two fingers. “We stopped by to see Nico, and look what he had ready.” She winked at Summer. “Let’s go, girl. We have some serious spending to do.”
“All on Luc’s card.” Sofia threw her head back and laughed as Enzo stepped up and slipped his hand around her waist. He pulled her to him, brushed a kiss along her cheek, then whispered something in her ear. She shivered then lowered her gun to turn in his arms.
I looked away, and a sharp pain stabbed my heart at seeing the two of them together. I’d never experienced what they had before.
“They’ll have security with them. Summer will be perfectly safe,” Marco said, easing the tension in my body, and I released the hold on her arm.
I flexed my empty hand by my side.When had I grabbed Summer?She stepped away from me, and I fought the growl that wanted to climb up my throat.
After a lingering kiss to his wife, Enzo took pity on me and came forward. “Come on. We’ll spar first.”
As the wives surrounded Summer, and they headed out the door. I felt off-balance for the first time since we’d arrived, and I had no idea what to make of it.
* * *
Summer
The wives ushered me outside and into a red Maserati. I was so off-balance with Luc that I couldn’t even appreciate the sheer beauty of the hundred-and-sixty-thousand-dollar vehicle. Security detail occupied SUVs in front and behind us. As soon as we got on the road, I forced myself to relax.
“What’s the deal with you and Luc?” El turned from the passenger seat next to Sofia, who was driving. I sat between Lil and Emiliana.
It was a fair question, but I didn’t have a clear answer. “Other than the one-night stand then finding out the next morning he’s my new boss? Or are you referring to him accusing me of scamming him and cleaning out his checking account?” I pushed out a breath. “That’s not totally fair. He apologized for that and for accusing me of sabotaging his company. We’re trying to put it behind us, but it’s still fresh, and I’m struggling a little.”
“Oh God! That’s a crazy mess. We need to do some damage to his credit card.” Sofia cackled as she pushed the pedal to the floor, urging the SUV in front of us to increase its speed too.
“The ‘I forbid her’ is what I want to know about,” Emiliana said.
“He’ll learn.” Lil’s smug grin was infectious, and I couldn’t help but mimic her. “We’ll start by doing epic damage to his card with a new wardrobe. Besides, his caveman reaction showed how much he likes her, even if he hasn’t admitted it to himself.”
I wasn’t sure about that. I leaned back in the soft leather seat and rubbed at the ache over my heart. I’d only known Luc for two nights and a day and a half, and he’d managed to run me through a full gamut of emotions. I didn’t know what to think of him. But I wasn’t going to give him any more time in my thoughts. I was going to have fun. I’d missed hanging out with Lauralee, and my new friends were helping to fill the void in my heart her death had created.
I slipped my phone from my purse and swiped my thumb over the home screen, activating the wallpaper, a picture of Lauralee and me when we’d gone drinking last month. Her Julia Roberts smile was wide, and mischief shimmered in her brown eyes. Her mop of corkscrew curls was tangled with my blond strands, her arm flung around my shoulder and squeezing me tightly for the selfie.
A tear rolled down my cheek, and I swiped it away, shoving my phone back in my purse. If I looked at any more pictures of the two of us, I worried my heart would crack in two.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Lil’s hand settled on my arm.
I closed my eyes briefly. “I lost a friend a few days ago. I miss her.”
“Oh, honey.” Lil wrapped me in a hug. “I’m so sorry.”
Emiliana squeezed my arm as Lil released me. “We get how you’re feeling. Two of our friends are gone, and I swear I still feel the hole in my heart over them.” She grimaced then caught Sofia’s gaze in the review mirror. “Or one of them, anyway.”
“It sucks.” Silence fell around us, and I felt bad for ruining the vibe we’d had before. “I’m okay. I don’t want to think about it right now.” I was on an emotional ledge, and if we kept talking about loss, I was afraid I would be inconsolable and no one would want me around.
They read my mood and filled the silence, chatting amicably, including me in the conversation often. The car ride passed quickly, and soon, we were pulling up to the curb in front of a high-end boutique. I scooted out behind Lil after their security guards did whatever they needed to do, and we were escorted into a nearly empty shop.
“Sofia.” An older woman with an artful French twist and diamond earrings clasped her hands in front of her chest as if restraining herself from cheering at the sight of the other woman. “It’s so good to see you. We have several new designs in. Would you like me to set up a few fitting rooms for everyone?”
“That would be great, Celia.” Sofia grinned before focusing on a nearby display.
Lil leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Celia loves Sofia. She can drop more money in one day than what the boutique would make in six months of sales. Pay no attention to her drooling.”
I trailed behind Lil as she selected a few sweaters from one of the racks. When Emiliana plucked one that hung higher, her sleeve slid back to reveal the pointy tip of a blade. I shook my head. These women were badasses. I should have expected that, especially since they’d pulled guns on Luc. I had been too mad at the time to be scared, but something about them made me feel the opposite of threatened. Probably the camaraderie they’d shown me from the start.
