As promised, I snuck Leonas, Rocco, and Ricardo into Clifford抯 party. Clifford didn抰 mind. It was a huge party with over two hundred guests so nobody would notice three pot-headed tweens.
Santino pretended he didn抰 care. He抎 hardly talked a word to me since I made him help me with Paris a few weeks ago. When I抎 thanked him for helping me, he抎 given me a murderous look and growled, 揇on抰 thank me.?That was our longest interaction since then.
Mom抯 words had been replaying in my mind constantly. Well, her warning. That was why I抎 respected Santino抯 desire for distance. Breaking my promise to Mom wasn抰 something I could do lightly, and I抎 sworn myself to at least try to stay away from Santino. Of course, that had only fueled my nightly fantasies of him. But there wasn抰 any harm in that, right?
Right.
I was determined to have as much fun as possible at Clifford抯 party, without wasting a single thought on Santino. He was off limits.
Off limits.
We picked up Luisa first. I grinned when she got into the back seat beside me and Leonas. She抎 never accompanied me to a party before and I was glad to have her at my side. She could talk some sense into me in case I forgot my own limits?
Luisa was as usual a bit shy when she greeted Santino. She was a good girl through and through, and I loved her for it. Since she抎 found out about our forbidden kiss, she had even more trouble interacting with Santino, though he had always intimidated her. 揑抦 nervous. This is my first real party.?
I gave her an encouraging smile. 揧ou抣l be fine. Just have fun.?
She nodded, clutching her purse as if it were her lifeline.
Santino headed to the Scuderi mansion next. It was where Riccardo and Rocco still lived with their mother after their father had died. They were already waiting in front of the door and raced down the stairs with huge grins. Of course, they didn抰 have to sneak out of the house like Leonas had done. Their mother had enough to do getting past her marriage trauma to take care of them properly.
There wasn抰 any room for them on the back seat, and Santino snarled at them when they tried to get into the passenger seat, so they had no choice but to sit in the legroom in front of us. Riccardo grinned and exchanged a look with his brother when he pressed up to my legs for lack of room.
揧ou better keep your excitement down,?Leonas muttered.
揙h he will,?I said. 揙r he抣l find out how sharp my heels are.?
Riccardo exchanged another look with Rocco but they didn抰 get a chance to say anything because Santino hit the gas.
If he thought driving like a madman would ruin the party for me, then he was very wrong.
Luisa and I ditched the boys as soon as we arrived at Clark mansion, except for our shadow Santino of course.
We picked up drinks right away and headed toward the dance floor.
Luisa took a hesitant sip from the white wine bowl.
揟ake it slow,?I told her. I didn抰 want to be responsible for her passing out from too much alcohol. I抎 never seen her drink before. I took out my phone. 揝elfie time. I want to send a few photos to Sofia to cheer her up.?
Her marriage with Danilo was still a bit bumpy, and I was sad that she couldn抰 be here with us. With her now living in Indianapolis , we抎 hardly see each other often, especially now that she had wife duties. We made funny faces into the camera and I sent the five most ridiculous ones to Sofia.
I was glad I didn抰 have to marry soon. I guess I had to thank Clifford for that. 揑抦 glad you aren抰 married yet,?I told Luisa.
Luisa made a face and shrugged. 揑 wouldn抰 mind getting married, but Mom is being super picky when it comes to possible husbands.?
No wonder considering her backstory with an abusive rapist of a first husband. I didn抰 say it. Luisa never talked about her biological father.
揧ou抣l be married soon enough. And you could just pick a husband yourself. I doubt your mom would say no if you fell in love or in lust.?
Luisa flushed at the mentioning of lust. I laughed and nudged her. 揧ou抮e really going to be the blushing virgin in your wedding night. If I was gay, I抎 marry you. You抮e just the cutest.?
Luisa nudged me back, looking even more embarrassed. 揇o you know anyone??
I shook my head in response. I hardly knew anyone, but that wasn抰 the worst thing. That way I could relax and not worry too much about every detail of tonight making the rounds in our circles and eventually finding its way to my parents. With Santino in my hands, my life had improved considerably. Even his increased grumpiness because of my little blackmailing scheme was worth it.
揥here抯 Santino? Shouldn抰 he be watching us??Luisa asked worriedly as she looked around. Santino had agreed to watch us both tonight so we wouldn抰 draw too much attention to us with a second bodyguard. It had only taken a little convincing on my part for Luisa抯 mom to agree. Adults always thought I was the good girl so they gave me what I wanted, even the overprotective Bibiana.