Page 36 of Vows of a Mobster

“Of course, I promised,” I could hear a smile in his voice. “Daphne,” he greeted my other friend. “And who are you ladies hiding?”

“Hello, Mr. Agosti,” Daphne greeted him, as she took a little step away from me. Now, I could finally see him. He wasn’t wearing his signature dark expensive suit, although I was sure these clothes were no less expensive. He was wearing jeans, a white crisp shirt underneath a black jacket, paired with a set of shoes and the only jewelry was a watch that screamed money.

“Brianna,” his smile got wider. “What are you doing in there?”

“Your brother was going to try to make me wear heels,” I chuckled softly. “So I thought I might as well get sandwiched between two crazies.”

His gaze traveled to my feet. I wondered what he thought of my choice in shoes. I always preferred Converse or ballet flats. Today I wore converse shoes.

“You guys know each other?” Marissa asked in shock.

“Yes, I spilled coffee on him a few days ago,” I explained, slightly amused at the shocked expression on her face. “I offered to buy him a new shirt, but thankfully, I negotiated it down to just a cup of coffee. Smart, ha?”

“Very,” he agreed.

Marissa gave me a strange look. “What?” I asked defensively. “It would be a waste to spend that much money on a shirt. Coffee he can at least enjoy.” It made complete sense to me, then I added teasingly, “If he isn’t wearing it.”

“I didn’t say anything,” she replied, a concerned frown between her eyebrows. I knew that look well, shooting tiny alarms through my veins. I couldn’t fathom what would cause her concern. She seemed to like Mateo better than Marcus so that must have meant he was the better cousin.

“Why are you looking at me weird then?” I questioned her.

“I am not looking at you weird!”

“Yes, you are.” I glanced at Daphne. She noticed it too. But Marissa quickly got herself together. A smile replaced her concerned frown and I wasn’t sure which was more alarming.

“Now you are smiling, which is even worse,” I mumbled. “Just remember what happened last time you had that smile on your face.”

Now all three of us chuckled.

“Well, that sounds intriguing. Brianna, you will have to tell me all about it,” Mateo chimed in. “Unless it is another long story.”

I laughed hard. “It sure is, and no, this is one I cannot tell you about,” I cackled. “You know, the saying… chicks before-”

I cut myself off, and felt the heat color my cheeks. Marissa and Daphne burst into laughter. Mateo’s piercing eyes twinkled so I knew he understood exactly what I was going to say.

“Whatever,” I muttered, pondering why I felt so at ease talking to him. I usually kept myself on guard with men but this one made me feel comfortable. And gosh, he was hot. “You get my gist.”

“I sure do,” he confirmed. “Marissa, your gift.”

He handed her a beautifully wrapped present. Marissa jumped on it like a little girl. I was glad too since I’d managed to make a complete idiot out of myself. My eyes searched out my daughter, again, and my heart stopped seeing Marcus lifting her up in the air over the pool.

Before I knew what I was doing, I pushed away from my girlfriends and started running.

“Marcus, no,” I screamed, running towards them.

Two sets of eyes turned my way.

“It’s okay,” he shouted back, a wide smile on my daughter’s face. He was swinging her back and forth ready to toss her into the pool.

“Put her down,” I shrieked. I knew I sounded like a lunatic. “Now! Put her the fuck down.”

Now, that got him. I rarely cursed. His smile faltered and he froze, Emma in his arms in the air. I ran across the yard, aware of everyone’s eyes. It might have been the last time I got invited to this house. By the time I finally got there, there wasn’t a single guest here that wasn’t focused on this scene.

“Give her to me,” I ordered him, my voice oddly calm. “Now.”

He stood motionless, and it took all I had not to start screaming at him.

“Marcus, give her the child,” Mateo’s voice sounded from behind me. I didn’t turn around, nobody mattered to me right now except Emma.