Page 29 of Devious Corruption

She rests her chin on my shoulder, holding me tightly.

“Whatever is going on, it’s going to be okay.”

“Yeah. I know.” I pull back with a forced smile. “Be good over there, but you know…not too good.”

She laughs. “Same to you.”

I say my goodbyes to the rest of the girls, avoiding Vee’s questions when she tries to demand what’s going on between Lev and me. As I pass a waitress bringing out a tray of something absolutely delicious for what I assume is part of dinner, my stomach rumbles.

I could stay. I could sit down and eat, and pretend Lev and his men aren’t glaring at me. That I’m not being watched like some criminal who is about to steal the sterling, but who needs that sort of drama?

Standing on the outside, I’m good at that position. Growing up in the foster care system, I learned quick where the real family lines were drawn. Plenty of themtried to pull me into their circle, but at the end of the day there were always the insiders and the outsiders.

And I’ve always been the outsider.

These girls, they’re family. Connected by blood and by marriage and by a loyalty I’ve never experienced. They’re the inner circle now. And me being here is going to create awkward moments. Like when I’m asked why the mafia guards are staring me down like I’m about to steal the china.

Better to go.

It would probably have been better if I hadn’t come to begin with.

“What did you do?” Nicolette grabs my arm, yanking it downward as I pick up my drink. Ice water spills over the top and down my hand.

“Nicolette!” I free myself from her grip and put the glass back down on the top of bar, taking the napkin the bartender offers.

“What did you do? I told you to be nice to my friends. I told you not to be such an asshole.” Fire burns in my little sister’s eyes.

She doesn’t need to tell me who she’s talking about. There’s only one person I’ve spoken tothis evening that would set off Nicolette. There’s only one of her friends who sets fire to my temper whenever she’s nearby.

“I didn’t do anything.” I drop the wet napkin on the bar top and pull my little sister away from the small crowd gathering.

“Well, she left.” The accusation is clear. Almost as clear as the shimmering overlay of my little sister’s dress. I really let this girl get away with too much.

I quickly glance around the room. The last time I checked on Maxine’s whereabouts, she’d been standing with the Volkov women. They’ve all dispersed now, and Maxine is nowhere to be seen.

“Why did she leave?” Dinner hasn’t been served yet, and she’d come all the way across town. Why would she only stay for half an hour, then leave?

“Because you have your fucking men glaring at her.” Nicolette hisses. “What is going on?”

“No one was glaring at her. And watch your mouth.” It’s a lie, I’m sure.

I gave the order for her to be watched. Not that she herself was a danger to anyone here, but I wanted to know the moment she seemed to get a call from her brothers.

The little fuckers have slipped through the detail I put on them. They haven’t been seen in over twelve hours.

“You made her feel unwelcome. I don’t understand why you don’t like her.”

“I don’t even know the damn woman.” I grit out. “My job, little sister, is to keep you safe?—”

“What sort of danger could Max possibly be?”

“She’s not, but I don’t trust her brothers. You said yourself they cause her trouble.”

“I said they put a lot of demands on her, always wanting things from her, and getting the landlord on her case because of noise complaints. I didn’t say she was dangerous. There was no reason to run her off.”

“No one ran her off.” As my gaze roams the room again, I realize Jaxon is also gone. “You have other guests to be concerned about.”

“Lev.”