“Frankie, my old friend. It’s good to see you.” Nikolaj reaches out to embrace Frank.
As a pedigree Mafioso, he’s in a snow-white suit with a brown coat draped over his shoulders, a cigar in his mouth, and burgundy shades on his nose. If he had a hat, he’d look like Al Capone. Almost.
“Nikolaj, it’s good to see you too.”
I stand to the side, nauseous, when Nikolaj hugs me as if I’m his daughter, although he wouldn’t accidentally grab her ass. Mrs. Capone, Tamara, blows two kisses in my direction before admiring my long, backless dress. Her compliments fly over my head. I do my best to play my role, smile and praise her earrings. In my head, I’m throwing up a rainbow.
Julij joins half a minute later. He’s also in a suit, but he’s not trying to imitate The Godfather. He’s grown into a man since Dubai. The mocking expression he wore back then is no longer in sight. He shakes my father’s hand, greets my mother, and approaches me. “Layla. You’re prettier now.”
Julij, ugly as always.
“Hey, Julij. How was your flight?”
I don’t want to be here. All the more because Dante was right. I’m sore. I want a hot water bottle between my legs and Dante’s chest to cuddle for the rest of the night.
But I’m here, warily gawking at Julij, who offers me his arm. The hallway’s bursting at its seams now that Nikolaj’s people have arrived. Frank’s pawns, including Adam, are having a blast in the living room, standing in strategic places, not moving a muscle.
The first hour of these soirees is reserved for business talks, so I’m not surprised to see Frank lead Nikolaj to his office. Jess, the gracious hostess, shows her guests around. I have no choice but to accept Julij’s arm. We snatch two glasses of champagne from a passing waitress on our way out the back door.
“I owe you an apology, sugar.”
My eyebrows form a line as I tilt my head, studying his face. We don’t know each other well, and the only impression he made in the past was strictly negative. Until now, I had no idea he knew the meaning of sorry.
“What for?”
“For my behavior in Dubai. I’m not usually such an idiot.”
He doesn’t sound like he’s teasing. Besides, it’s been four minutes, but I haven’t felt the need to smack him yet.
“Is it Dubai or the alcohol that turns you into an idiot?”
“You do. Or did.” He shrugs, attempting to hide a smile. “I guess I tried to woo you.”
Julij’s face would’ve been soaked in champagne if I hadn’t already swallowed. “Are you kidding? You call that wooing?”
“Rough advances?”
“Rough? They haven’t invented a suitable word to describe the kind of ass you were!”
He laughs out loud. “You’re still so polite. An ass is an understatement of the century. I was a fucking dickhead.”
“Polite? “Do you know me? Were you really trying to hit on me? By throwing me in the pool and arguing every minute of the day?”
“I liked that you talked back.” He smirks, his light blue eyes sparkling. “You didn’t let anyone walk all over you.”
Who would’ve thought guys like feisty girls? I thought Cinderella types were the ones snatched first, but it looks like not only gays are interested in me. “I still don’t.”
He elbows me playfully. “If what I heard is true, you no longer need to worry about idiots like me. Your boyfriend will snap their necks before they get anywhere near you.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Did Mr. Capone tell you to talk to me about Dante? I hope you’re not here to chastise Frank for my choices.”
“Mr. Capone?” Julij asks with a chuckle. “I guess you’re right. Nikolaj does look a bit like Al.”
Not unlike me, Julij doesn’t refer to his father as Dad. He uses his name. That’s how they wanted it to be. I only use Dad if I want to annoy Frank.
“And don’t worry. Nikolaj didn’t come all the way here to talk about your boyfriend. I can’t say he didn’t find it interesting, but it doesn’t matter. I won’t try to change your mind.” He finishes his champagne, takes my glass, and disappears to find the waitress.
He shakes hands with Adam, making me realize that not only has his behavior changed but his posture too. He’s no longer a frail, skinny boy. He stands straight, taking advantage of his height, and keeps his shoulders back, showing off his muscular chest. The blond hair is no longer a medium-length mess, trimmed on the sides and styled back in line with current trends. Allie would approve. She’d most likely eye his high cheekbones with a dreamy face, but she’s not here yet.
A moment later, Julij returns with alcohol and a plate of salmon canapés.
“I don’t want to sound rude—”
“Yes, you do.”
I elbow him a bit harder than he did me. “What do you have to say on the matter? Frank tries to make Dante look like an Egyptian plague, but his arguments hit a wall, and it’s not like your father can do more than voice his opinion. You can’t even do that while Mr. Capone is the boss, right?”
“Right.” He takes a packet of Marlboro out. “Shit, this is…” he motions to the cigarette. “One day, it’ll kill me, just like it’s killing Nikolaj. Mr. Capone has cancer, Layla.”
I rest my hand on his arm. “I had no idea.”
“He doesn’t have long left. That’s why we’re here. to inform Frankie that New York will soon be under my control.”
I don’t know what to say. My affiliation with Julij is, in ninety-nine percent, awful. I only got a glimpse of his real personality tonight, and even though he seems okay, I don’t know how to comfort him.
That’s if he needs comforting.
He snaps me out of my thoughts when he steps closer, minimizing the distance to less than a foot. “Don’t worry, sugar.” He touches my cheek, his thumb grazing the skin softly. “We’re all heading there.”
The air around us thickens as the atmosphere changes to an intimate one. Before I understand what he’s about to do, Julij wraps his hands around me, hiding his face in the crook of my neck. Relief washes over me like a cleansing waterfall. I half expected him to kiss me, and it’d be a shame to ruin my immaculate behavior tonight by shoving my elbow in his face. Frank wouldn’t approve.
I move my hands to his back, not to discourage the closeness. In our world, parents aren’t affectionate, but they are our parents. I can only guess how difficult it must be for Julij to wait for his father’s death. If it turned out Frank had a few months left, I’d be devastated.
“I’m sorry,” I say truthfully.
Our fathers are close, and even though they’re business partners first, there’s a mutual respect there. The real kind. Mr. Capone has been a guest at our house for years now. Besides his hands sliding too low down my back, he’s a pleasant man. He’s never hurt or offended me, but I refused to see it until now, hating all of Frank’s acquaintances on principle.
Julij moves away with a heavy sigh, taking a drag of his cigarette. “Frank and Dante’s conflict only brings trouble to the table. It’d be much more lucrative if they buried the hatchet. Maybe you’re the key.”
“Hell will freeze over before they make up.”
“You’re probably right. Neither of them is amicable but never say never. There are hundreds of examples in history where women saved the day.” He grabs my hand, pulling me toward the door. “Come on. It’s time to make a good impression.”
“It’s going to be a long night.”
“Well, good thing you have me to keep you company. You’d die of boredom otherwise.”
Explaining the connection that just formed between us in the short amount of time is impossible. A thread of understanding, like a spider’s web, weaves between us. Deep in my heart, I know it’ll stay there for years. When not acting like a jerk, Julij radiates positivity. He’s real, and even though I shouldn’t be this careless, I trust him.
Nikolaj whisks him away a moment later. I’m left with an army of pillars and three women too excited about the pink table setting… Allie finally joined the herd.
Admiring Tamara’s nails, I down another glass of champagne. Before she tells me which shop on Fifth Avenue she bought the varnish from, Allie drags me to the side to ask a million questions about Julij. As I expected, the dreamy eyes make an appearance. There’s no denying she loves Adam, but she likes to look.
At nine o’clock, the door to our house opens as the rest of the guests arrive. An abundance of well-dressed women and handsome men fill the space. There’s the bank director, the chief of police, and even the mayor. Not to mention all the criminals. An explosive mixture, yet everyone gets along well. As always.
I mingle, deep in my role to ensure Frank won’t have a reason to reprimand me later. Julij sneaks me out for a chat every thirty minutes, and for the first time, I enjoy a party hosted by my father.
“Call me if you ever need anything. Whatever it may be,” Julij whispers in my ear when we’re saying our goodbyes outside. “Promise you’ll call.”
I kiss his cheek. “I promise. It works both ways, Julij.”
He curls his fingers under my chin. “I’ll see you, sugar.”
Seconds later, the door to a white limousine closes behind him. The party ended much earlier than I expected. With Nikolaj’s condition, heavy drinking is out of the question. An evening I expected to be awful turned out pleasantly fruitful. I gained a friend.
