Page 46 of His Lair

It will never not be weird that both of my friends have wives. Everything is changing so quickly. Carlo married Antonia under the guise of entering an arranged marriage to bring our organization together with her father’s. We didn’t learn until just before the actual wedding that he was always in love with her.

“I’ll take Jazzy for ice cream and bring her back later,” I suggest as I push to my feet.

“Why?” Carlo questions me.

“Because I’ve got competition for the fav uncle spot, and I’m not letting these two fools beat me,” I tell him. If anyone deserves to be the favorite, it’s me.

With Jazzy’s hand in mine, we walk out of the office and across the casino floor. My gaze flicks to the reception desk. It’s as if I can tell she’s there.

“Oh, can we bring Lailani some ice cream too, Uncle Sammie?” Jazzy asks, spotting the woman who’s caught my attention. I thought she would be at home. I didn’t know she was working tonight.

“Sure can, princess.” I smile down at Jazzy. “Do you know what her favorite is?”

“Strawberry,” Jazzy says with confidence.

I should know that. Why the fuck do I not know what her favorite ice cream is?

Chapter Twenty

“Lailani, Lailani! Uncle Sammie and I got you ice cream. It’s strawberry, your favorite!” Jazzy yells as she runs up.

I open the side door to let her behind the counter. Then I look over to Fefe, who is working beside me. “I need to take five,” I tell her.

She nods. “I’ve got you.”

Grabbing Jazzy’s hand, I lead her through the back entrance, away from customers and all my coworkers, who are now staring at me. “You got me ice cream?”

“Uh-huh. And you have to come to dinner tonight at Uncle Louie’s and Auntie Charlotte’s. Please,” she says with pleading eyes.

I look up to Sammie for some kind of assistance. I cannot go to dinner with his friends. That would be weird. “Um…”

“I’ll let Charlotte know you’ll be coming.” He smirks. Bastard knows full well I do not want to go.

“Yay! I’m going to ask Auntie Charlotte to sit you next to me, Lailani.” Jazzy squeals. “It’s going to be fun!”

“I bet it is,” I grumble while glaring at Sammie, who seems totally unfazed.

“Come on, princess, we should leave Lailani to get back to work.” He takes hold of Jazzy’s hand before turning to me. “I’ll pick you up later.”

“You don’t need to do that.” I shake my head, but he’s already walking away.

“Bye, Lailani!” Jazzy yells out again.

What the hell did I just get myself into?

I pull my phone from my pocket and quickly message Emmanuel. Maybe he can come up with a reason for me not to be there.

Me:

Any jobs in the Amazonian jungle?

E:

Do I look like a recruitment agent?

Me:

What about the North Pole? I’ll take anything that gets me out of this city tonight.