Page 39 of Vows of a Mobster

“Okay, okay.” Brianna took a swig of her drink then put it on the table. “We should all dance,” she announced. Giovanni pulled her along by her hand. He whispered something into her ear and she threw head back laughing. Marissa and Daphne followed.

The way Brianna moved on the dance floor was a pure seduction. The song wasn’t seductive per se; not too fast but not exactly slow either. She moved with each music beat, like it was part of her. Giovanni was a good dancer too but it was she that led him. I watched her in fascination as she swayed, a wide happy smile on her face. She was at ease when dancing, I realized. There were seconds where she’d close her eyes, lost in the dance and music.

Daphne and Marissa danced too, but I couldn’t tear my gaze away from Brianna’s form. The women laughed, but none of it mattered to me. They all danced, laughing… like the entire party disappeared for them.

“Come on, give us a move,” yelled Marissa.

Brianna kept swaying to the music, Daphne and Marissa kept yelling,Do it, Do it.Just as I started to wonder what exactly they wanted her to do, Brianna lifted en pointe and turned in place on one leg. She looked like a sensual goddess as she performed pirouette, one of the most difficult ballet moves. And she wasn’t even wearing pointe shoes. Her form, balance, and strength were mesmerizing.

Brianna lowered from en pointe, performing the pirouette and seamlessly transitioning back to the modern dancing with Giovanni. He had an awed look on his face and I couldn’t blame him. She was gorgeous. Just like the ballerina that I’d seen perform a few weeks ago. The look of pure delight on Brianna’s face matched that ballerina. Could Brianna be that same ballerina? I recalled the voice we heard on our way out when we ran into Giovanni. It was soft and sensuous, just like Brianna’s.

“Well, that woman is a beauty.” Antonio sounded impressed. I didn’t bother tearing my gaze away from her. I was sure I watched her as hungry as my brother and every other man at this party.

Brianna was oblivious to everyone as her daughter ran over to the mother demanding to be picked up. Brianna leaned over and picked her up, then continued dancing with her daughter. Loud squeals of happiness mixed with music, and for the first time in my life, I wished for a family.

It was clear Giovanni knew her very well. The easy way they interacted and danced I wondered how far Giovanni’s and Brianna’s relationship went. Maybe they were lovers in the past and remained good friends. A thought lingered in the back of my mind but refused to come forward. I couldn’t shake off the feeling that it was important.

I glanced around to see if I could spot her husband. If I was her husband, I wouldn’t tolerate another man’s hands on her, cousin or no.

I scoffed at myself.Was I jealous of my cousin?

At least he was more her age.

Brianna’s light laughter carried on the breeze.

“No, that's it,” she replied to whatever the question was. “Come on, let’s go back and have another drink.”

The little girl demanded to be lowered and took off from her mother, going back to her friends.

The party came back to the table. I noted all Marissa’s brothers eyed Brianna adoringly. Although it was different from Marcus. He was trying to convince Brianna to dance with him, but she kept shaking her head in refusal. My brother was fascinated with her. He wanted to fuck her. I warned him, but it didn’t stop him from buzzing around her like a fly. But then he’d catch my look and quickly disperse.

I decided come Monday, I would remove her from his floor. I promised Marissa her friend would have a job but I’d have to find her a different position. I couldn’t have my brother causing havoc with a married woman.

Maybe she could be my secretary, I pondered and the next minute congratulated myself on becoming a hypocrite in my old age. I just lectured that my brother couldn’t touch a married woman. Having her around me all day would be too tempting. Brianna had a peculiar way about her that attracted glances.

Now back at their table, all three were chuckling. Brianna whispered something to Marissa and Daphne, causing them to gasp in shock.

“No way,” Daphne answered her in disbelief. “Seriously? Albert?”

Brianna shrugged her shoulder. “That’s what it said.”

“You should test it,” Daphne exclaimed.

Brianna gave her an undignified look. “No way. You test it. I’m not fascinated by it.” Whatever they were discussing, all three of them had mischievous looks in their eyes. They were in their own little circle, the whole party forgotten. “But make sure you report whether it is truly good,” Brianna added, barely containing her laugh.

Daphne retorted something with a smug look to her face, making Marissa and Brianna laugh hard. They both shook their heads hard. Those three were definitely in their own world.

“Stop it,” Marissa’s laughing voice traveled over to our table. I never cared to know what women were talking about but damn it if I didn’t want to know now.

Brianna had a bottle of Corona Light again in her hands, drinking directly out of the bottle. I kind of liked that she wasn’t trying to be too girly, sipping some fruity drink or using a straw. It didn’t take away from her girliness but it made her kind of real. She looked completely comfortable and at ease although I had a distinct feeling she didn’t like large gatherings. Nobody had to tell me that but I’d bet my fortune on it.

Brianna murmured something in a low voice, her eyes twinkling mischievously, and all three of them chuckled. Marissa added something, making Brianna and Daphne gasp then burst into a fit of giggles.

My aunt came to their table, breaking their moment. She had a group of people with her. It seemed she was dismissing her daughter and her friends from the table.

Brianna just shrugged her shoulder, her eyes traveling to the playground searching out her daughter.

“Hey, bambinas. Come sit with us,” Antonio surprised me by calling the girls over to our table.