Shadow Flight (Shadow Riders 5)

“Who cares,” Pia said. “We can just stay on board and spend the night here. Why did we need the hotel when there’s a bed? Or you three can go to the hotel and I’ll stay here with Mr. Hotness. He’s been looking at my boobs all evening.”

Nicoletta tried not to smile. Taviano was looking down at his phone, and even though he was wearing that stone expression the Ferraros tended to wear in public, she knew he was not happy. He certainly wasn’t staring at Pia.

“You wish, Pia,” Clariss said. “We’re going to the concert, so switch to something else. You’re not ruining this for us. Besides, you love Kain. I thought you were going to have his babies.”

Pia brightened. “I am. I so am.”

She threw her arms around Nicoletta and hugged her hard, staggering a little so they both nearly went down. Nicoletta had to balance for both of them.

“I’m sorry. I love you, my friend. I was so jealous for a minute because I had this idea that Mr. Hotness was going to marry me and carry me off to a place where my mother couldn’t yell at me anymore and destroy everything I try to do. That was a dream that will never happen though. Instead, I’ll have Kain’s babies.”

Bianca shook her head. “Mom will never stop trying to marry us to the richest men she can find. She’s not happy with Dad, but she still wants that life for us. I’m absolutely crazy about Enzo Gallo, not that he would ever look at me. If he did ask me out, Mom would be so ugly to him that he’d only do it once, but honestly, I’d be willing to sever ties with my family just for a chance with him. Not you, Pia, just her. I’m so tired of never being able to talk to a man who interests me.”

“I had no idea,” Nicoletta said. “You live on your own. You both work.”

“It was the only way to get out from under her, but we’re not out from under her. Every time we get a job, she goes to our boss and sabotages it for us,” Pia confessed a little drunkenly. “Then we’re behind on rent, and it sucks always looking for jobs because it looks like we keep hopping from one place to the next.”

Clariss sank into one of the seats, reaching for a strawberry, dipping it into the whipped cream. “That’s awful. You should have told us. I would have helped. You could have moved into my apartment. It’s small, but we could make it work.”

“I could have talked to Stefano,” Nicoletta said. “He would have found jobs that she couldn’t sabotage.” She nudged Bianca with her hip. “And I do know Enzo Gallo. He’s the Ferraros’ cousin. He works as a bodyguard. I can casually introduce you if you haven’t actually met him. In fact, I can arrange a few times to run into him when he’s not working. I kind of know where they’re going to be sometimes.”

Bianca shook her head but then changed her mind. “You’d do that?”

“I want to know if Stefano could really find us jobs Mom can’t screw up for us, Bianca,” Pia said. She slurred her words a bit, but she was looking very sober as she looked directly at Nicoletta.

“I honestly believe he would,” Nicoletta said. “Stefano can do anything. If you and Bianca really want to work, then of course he’ll find you a good job.”

“One where we make enough money where we can be independent? I don’t mean tons, just enough to pay rent and eat,” Pia persisted. “Not pity money. We’ll work for it.”

Nicoletta nodded. “I’m certain he would, but he’ll only do that kind of favor once. You can’t screw up,” she cautioned. “Stefano isn’t the kind of man you cross.”

Pia nodded. “I get that.” She stuffed a strawberry into her mouth. “That’s an even better birthday present than the Kain concert. And I love him. I’m going to have his babies.”

“No, you’re not,” Bianca protested. “I’m not going to get stuck providing for us while you get all the sex and stay home with the kids, you hussy.”

They all laughed and began dancing again. Nicoletta decided maybe she was better at picking friends than she’d thought.CHAPTER TWOThe air was electric as only Kain Diakos and his band could make it. Nicoletta felt vibrations in the air, surrounding them, everywhere. The music pounded through her veins, set her blood on fire, so that she threw her head back and raised her hands in the air, her feet stomping out the beat while her body swayed. Like everyone around her, she had to be up on her feet. Dancing. Singing. Eyes glued to the stage and the magic happening.

The stage would be dark one moment and then light would burst across it, colors dripping down in all shades, and Kain would move through those various hues with his sensual body, delivering his lyrics in his beyond-sexy voice.