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“Only when it comes to you.”

“Good, because I will cut a bitch.” She smirks, as if her words are a joke. We both know full well they’re not.

“I’m aware,” I tell her. “FYI, if I get killed sneaking into your bedroom tonight, make sure I’m buried back in Boston.”

“You’re not breaking into my bedroom,” she huffs.

“I am. I have a dildo to destroy.”

“You can’t seriously be jealous of a vibrator.” She laughs.

“Miss Valentino, Mr. O’Malley, papers now, and then you can both go and see the principal,” the teacher calls out.

Aurora laughs. “Okay. Are we in middle school?”

“You’re acting like it, so yes,” he fires back.

I remembered her mentioning how much she wanted to rip this fucker’s tongue out. Now I wonder if she’d hold him down while I do it for her.

Chapter Twenty-Three

My hands run down the sides of my body, over my hips. I’m wearing a pair of black leather shorts with a see-through corset top that laces up at my back. Paired with my favorite red-bottomed pumps. My hair hangs in loose curls down my back and my lips are painted the brightest of reds.

“Your father is never letting you out of the house dressed like that,” Mabilia says from where she’s perched on my bed.

“Which is why he won’t know I’m wearing this,” I tell her, picking up a long black dress and sliding it over my head. “This isn’t my first rodeo, coz.”

“Oh, I’m aware,” she says. “At least tonight you won’t be crawling into my bed smelling like sex.”

“Nope, I plan on staying the night with Charming,” I say. I’m careful never to utter Connor’s name in this house. You can’t be too safe.

“Sure, well, I’ll be at Tommy’s if you need me,” she says.

“All Ineedis for you to be my alibi. If anyone asks, I’m having dinner with you guys.”

“You know Dante and Orlando will more than likely be at that party.”

“Dante will be too busy with Josie to notice me. And Orlando, well, I’m sure he’ll be otherwise occupied too.”

“Yeah, keep telling yourself that.” Mabilia shakes her head. “Okay, you ready?”

“How do I look?” I ask her.

“Like a nun.” She grins. “Your Papa will approve.”

We both laugh as we make our way downstairs. “You know, if your boyfriend’s cooking kills me, I’m going to haunt you until your dying day,” I tell Mabilia when we hit the landing.

“Girls, where are you two off to?” Enzo walks through the front door, standing in the entryway and blocking our exit.

“Tommy is cooking us dinner,” Mabilia says with pride.

“He still alive? Thought the Pakhan would have put an end to him by now.” My brother flicks an invisible piece of fluff from his coat.

“Don’t be an ass. It doesn’t suit you,” I tell him.

“If the girls in this family had better taste in men, I wouldn’t have to be an ass,” he replies.

“Really, and who would be a better option?” I ask him.