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I arrived at the party and stepped out of my car. I handed my keys to the valet. The music was already playing, and I could hear the sound of laughter coming from inside. I took a deep breath, straightened my tie, and walked into the venue, ready to start the night off right.
I walked in and immediately took a glass of champagne from the waiter carrying a tray of half-filled glasses. My gaze roamed the room. At first, I didn’t see her. But then my eyes met hers, and suddenly everything else in the room faded into the background.
Emmy was talking to Caroline. She was wearing a beautiful red dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. Her hair was styled in loose waves that framed her face perfectly, and her bright smile lit up the entire room. She was gorgeous. Damn. Why couldn’t I have her? She flashed me a smile and then turned back to Caroline.
I felt a hand on my shoulder. “Why are you drinking champagne?” Leo asked. “Are you suddenly a girl?”
“It was available.” I shrugged.
“It’s an open bar,” he said. “Let’s get a real drink.”
“You’re going all out with this thing,” I said.
“Caroline wanted to thank everyone for helping us with the wedding planning,” he said as we walked toward the bar. “I think she just wanted to party.”
“That makes sense.” I laughed. “I’m always up for a party.”
“How are things with you and Emmy?” he asked.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said.
“The hell you don’t,” he scoffed. “What do you want?”
“I’m good with scotch,” I answered.
“Scotch,” Leo said. “Top shelf. The boss is paying.”
“The boss?” I asked.
“Mr. Limonsatta,” he replied.
“What?”
He grinned. “Yeah, he said it was his gift to us. “I think he just wanted to be involved. Still thinks of us as his boys.”
“You mean as his charity cases,” I muttered. “Is he coming tonight?”
“I’m sure he will,” he answered. “Why? Is that a problem?”
“No, but Emmy might think it is,” I said. “They’re not really talking right now. She’s avoiding him.”
“Shit. Does she know?”
“She suspects,” I answered.
We didn’t have to spell out what we were talking about. We both knew. When you were in the life, you knew better than to run your mouth. Ever. Things didn’t need to be said. As a lawyer, I knew better than to say anything to anyone at a party or anywhere else. I didn’t text anyone anything I didn’t want to be read by the authorities. I didn’t Google shit. I didn’t email anything.
“Is that why she moved out?” he asked while we sipped our drinks in a quiet corner.
“Yes.”
“So, I think I might have fucked up,” he said with a sigh.
“What do you mean?”
“This party wasn’t our idea,” he said. “We weren’t opposed to it, but we didn’t come up with the idea.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. “What do you mean?”
