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"You're right, I do. But at least I'm not an old croon, pissing in everyone else's Cheerios to make myself seem superior," I snarled. Whether the alcohol loosened my lips or my wrath, the woman had been out of line since arriving.
"Excuse you?" Her hand flung to her chest in disbelief someone would speak to her so rudely. Leaning toward me, she dropped her menacing gaze. "There is no seem, I am superior. You'll do well to learn your place."
"My place," I laughed and shook my head. "My place is with two men sitting at your table of power. Yours is from an old man about to be given the boot for his son to take over. The same son I'm with now."
Slamming my napkin on the table, Kasey caught the hint that I'd be making an exit, frantically grabbing her glass to polish off the wine. Joining her, I chugged the rest of mine to show the old bat who had it. When I finished, Costas just stared at me like I lost my mind.
"You know, Giorgia, I had hoped we'd get along. I really wanted to have a great relationship with my boyfriend's mother, but I can see we're too different. You're bitter, aging poorly in response to it, and I'm young and hopeful. I'll steer clear of you for the duration of your stay, and I'd like the same respect."
Standing, I let Costas know I'd finished. He stood too, nodding for his spare guard to reside by the woman we were leaving. Mrs. Russi looked affronted at his stance. "I am the head woman of my house, and you dare to leave me with a secondary?"
"Actually, with all due respect, you are the first for Mario. As Tony's head of security, Millie is my first. Martine will bring you to the cottage once your dining is done." Bowing his head, she went to open her mouth, so I picked up a piece of bread and shoved it into her pie hole to keep her quiet.
"And I don't like how rude you are to Costas. He's been nothing but attentive to your bitchy ass." Huffing, I felt a little better as I turned to storm away.
"God, I think I'm in love with drunk Millie," Kasey commented to Costas as they followed behind me.
Once I realized I ended our dining near the entrance, I turned toward Costas with concern. He knew before I even had to say anything. "Don't worry about any of us. There's a delicious pizza parlor up the road that is half the price and more delicious."
"Good," I breathed, beginning to freak out a little. "Might we get some more wine or something stronger?"
He just laughed, nodding as he guided me out of the restaurant. The man didn't see how good he was, but I did. His work behind the scenes made me wish more took the time to pay attention.
forty-eight
Millie
"What did you make me do yesterday?" I groaned, floating in the pool with Kasey on her giant flamingo. I opted for the lounging chair that kept me on the surface to lie back more. In my one piece, I didn't feel as confident as her to wear a string bikini.
"Oh, please. You were worshipping the ground I walked on for the relief." Her lips sealed back around her straw, drinking something Tony's grandmother made her with tequila instead of wine now that we were back at the compound. We slept in too much to enjoy the cottage before we had to check out, but my hangover reminded me of why I didn't have too many days like yesterday. Apparently, our wine cellar stunt reached everyone's ears, and I made a fool of myself when it came to Costas. Though, the silent giant would never say it. He made me feel like nothing changed, but I kept feeling his eyes on me. The vulnerability of my aura enhanced around him, and it told me I must've said or did something stupid.
"How do you drink like a fish?" I whimpered, fixing my sunglasses that I borrowed from Sophia. She came out and joined us on the side, reading a book to bask in some sunlight under the safety of her hoodie and sweats. Being in a bathing suit came later down the road, but I was happy she found herself enough to join our fun. Well, what I planned to be fun until I had a hangover from hell.
"I never stop." Shrugging, she lifted her glass to me.
"One day, you'll have to," I hissed at her.
"And it'll be the day I die from liver failure." Smacking her lips, she made a refreshing sound and chugged some more.
Within earshot, I heard Sofia laughing at us as she heard the banter between Kasey and me. Sometimes, my mind forgot our relationship wasn't normal to most people. Sofia set her book down and called for our attention, so I used my hand to turn my seat a little more. "Are you guys always like this?"
"Only on our good days and now that I don't have to complain about her shitty ex." Kasey wriggled her eyebrows at me, daring me to say otherwise. She didn't know her word triggered me to remember what I said to Costas yesterday. I kissed his cheek to thank him for not killing Tim. Kasey sat up, enjoying the bloom of red against my cheeks. "Oh, my little friend just remembered something embarrassing. Spill, bitch."
"How could you let me get so intoxicated?"
"You let me know that you trusted me enough to let it happen," she laughed even harder.
"That trust is gone," I whispered with a growl, looking over to see Costas still typing away on his laptop within earshot in the other direction. Kasey caught on and let me be because she knew I'd fall apart if anything openly shared about my loose lips while drunk.
"You weren't that embarrassing. Remember the time Astrid peed in the middle of the parking lot because she couldn't hold it?"
"Yeah, and you were the one making water sounds beside her to encourage her public indecency," I snorted.
"You two are wild," Sofia giggled. Standing from her chair, she waved Costas down. He immediately looked up like he never stopped watching us out of the corner of his eye. "I'm going to my room again."
"Check in with Gregor inside. He'll radio me to let me know you're safe." Costas tipped his chin. Sofia saluted him and marched to escape his gaze. She probably felt like she had no freedom, and I could understand that. Even though I understood why they had the rules in place for our safety, it often felt constricting. Before, I'd go running whenever I felt like it, but I chose daylight and a time where a few others would be around to hear me scream for help. It didn't take being kidnapped by a mafia prince to make a girl aware of predators. These ones would just shoot me dead too.
"Gregor was fun," Kasey just had to make a cheeky comment to me about her sexual prowess. Her head swiveled to see Costas as she tossed me a wink. "But I bet he's not as fun as Costas."
