Page 4 of Final Installment

“And that was four months too long!”She rubbed my back in that soothing, motherly way.Everything about her was familiar, and I felt the tension leave my body.Momentarily, at least.

I breathed in the scent of her perfume.White Diamonds.She’d worn it as long as I had known her.The floral notes called forth my favorite memories of coming home from school to Mariana’s hugs and her crispy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and ice cold strawberry milk.

“Come inside!”She shut and locked the door behind me, and I was taken aback by the lack of décor.As if reading my mind, she said, “They canceled.”

“Who?The florist?”I had been expecting the entryway to be overflowing with flower arrangements and bustling with activity as caterers prepped for the night’s small party.“The caterer?”

“Everyone.”Mariana made a face.“They didn’t get paid.”

“What?Why not?”

“Your mother is having cash flow problems again.”Mariana stepped closer and lowered her voice.“A man came to the house the other day, and they argued in her office.”

“A man?What man?”

She shrugged.“He had a mark on his face.Red and purple.”She gestured to her right eye and cheek.“He had an accent.”

“Albanian?”

She shook her head.“No, something else.Italian maybe.”

Were there any Italian mobsters here?I might have fled Houston and my family, but I still knew enough about the underworld to name the major players in the city.Or, at least, I thought I did.

“Your mom lost a huge development contract.Maybe it was something related to that.Four of her agents walked to start their own firm.She’s counting on the money that your grandfather owes her for Dafina.”

And the money in my purse.The money my mother had demanded I bring.The money she had practically blackmailed me to get.

I had a sneaking suspicion my mother was gambling again.That was the only explanation for her cash flow problems.She had received a fat lump sum payout when she divorced my stepdad Brett plus a bunch of property, including this house, free and clear.Her business should have been generating enough money to allow her to live very comfortably.

But my mother’s money problems would have to wait.Right now, I was more concerned with salvaging the dinner party tonight.

“What can I do to help?”I might not want to be here, but I had to make the best of it.“Do we need servers?Can we get last minute catering?”

“I have the menu prepped and ready.My sister is sending the boys to help with serving, and she’s loaning me one of her line cooks and assistant chefs for the rest of the afternoon.”

“If we need more help, tell her I’ll pay.Immediately,” I added.

“You shouldn’t have to pay for—.”

“No one is going to find out!”

Mariana and I both jumped at the shrill screams from upstairs.Dafina.The belle of tonight’s ball.

“Luka Beciraj is not like the idiots you’ve dated, Dafina.You’re playing a dangerous game.”

“And I’m going to win just like I always do!”

“What’s that about?”I asked as my anxiety skyrocketed.

Before Mariana could answer, my mother screamed, “You stupid little bitch!There’s no winning!This isn’t a game!If he finds out—.”

“Baba didn’t!”

There was a silence followed by the unmistakable crack of a hand slapping a face.“You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, Dafina!”

“Why don’t you just lock me away like you did Dani?Throw me in Menninger and forget about me!”Dafina screamed a few moments later.

“That can be arranged!I still have their number in my phone.”