“We know,” Sofia said, rolling her eyes. “Just get drunk. That’s what I do.” She shuffled across the seat and pointed at the door while looking at me. “Let’s get out of this prison people like to call a l
imo.”
I snapped open the door and slid out, turning and expecting to see Luna behind me, but she’d gotten out of the other side. My gaze ricocheted across the top of the limo and spotted her standing with Romeo and Christian. I moved to go to her, but a hand on my arm stopped me.
“Find out who Stan is,” Lorenzo said, his voice low for only me to hear. “Get Mr. Blue on it if you need to.” A muscle in his jaw twitched. “I want the bastard in my basement.”
“I’m on it,” I told him, trying to keep my attention on him and not looking over at Luna. I didn’t trust Romeo with her, not when he’d flip flopped in the limo. Had what Aida said really opened his eyes up? Or was he putting on a front? I didn’t know. And I hated that I couldn’t work it out. I needed to be able to trust him. I needed to know he had my back one hundred percent.
“Good.” He slid his palm down his jaw. “Let’s get this night fuckin’ over with.” He sneered as a man wearing a headset rushed over to us. He growled his frustration, and I took that as my cue to leave.
I spun around, my gaze searching for Luna. She wasn’t where she’d just been. My pulse spiked. Where the hell was— Her red dress caught my attention and I breathed out a sigh. She was standing with Aida and Sofia, the three of them surrounded by Christian, Romeo, and Rafael.
She smiled at me as I got closer, and when she was within touching distance, I dragged her against me, needing to feel her. “You okay?” I murmured, following the rest of the group up the stairs to the grand building.
“Yeah.” She placed her hand on top of the one I had on her hip. “You?”
I swallowed, not sure if I should tell her that I needed to know exactly who Stan was. I needed information only she could give. Her blue eyes lit up as we made it to the top of the stairs. She’d never been to anything like this, and I realized this was the first time we’d been out together like this.
“I’m good,” I said, pushing my thoughts away. I’d talk to her tomorrow, get all of the facts I could from her, then get to work. But for tonight I’d just be with her.
The vast entrance was full of guests, with waiters carrying champagne flutes weaving in and out of them. Opulence filled the space, a distinct vibe drifting around the room and wrapping around the most elite in the state. This wasn’t just any function. No. It was one full to the brim with people who liked to portray that they were upstanding members of society, but we all knew their shady dealings were how they made their money.
Corrupt blood ran through the veins of at least half of the people in this room. People who all needed each other. They swapped favors like they were candy. A million dollars meant nothing to these people. It was a drop in the ocean to them.
They were the super-rich, some of them famous, but not one of them had what we had.
Loyalty.
A deep seeded allegiance to the organization we were part of.
We halted toward the left of the room, creating our own group. Even Sofia had stayed put, and she loved to come to things like this and meet new people. Tonight wasn’t about socializing though. It was about showing a united front and telling all those around us that the Beretta Mafia was stronger than ever.
I maneuvered Luna in front of me, keeping my hand on her hip, and whispered in her ear, “Don’t go far from me tonight.”
She tilted her head up, her hand clasped around a glass that she’d picked up from one of the silver trays. “Okay.” She didn’t ask why. She didn’t want an explanation. She read the room, understanding the silent undertones around us.
The music started, a string quartet filling the room with notes. “Want to dance?” I asked Luna.
Her lips pulled up oh so slowly, her smile hitting me right in the gut. “I thought you’d never ask.”
I chuckled, taking her champagne flute and handing it to the nearest person—Rafael. I wrapped my hand around hers, leading her toward an area that had been marked off for dancing. I’d only ever witnessed people on the dance floor at these things, but this time I would be the one being observed.
Her body slid against mine, her chest to my chest, her curled hair flowing off her shoulder and baring her neck. My hand twitched as I placed it on the bottom of her back, bringing her body completely flush with mine as I swayed us side-to-side. We weren’t really dancing, but that didn’t matter.
All that mattered was that she was in my arms, and that everyone saw it.
I was making a statement, not just to the men in my own organization, but to the men in The Enterprise that I knew were here somewhere. I was laying my claim officially, putting the rumors to rest with one simple move.
The touch of my lips to hers. The smile I flashed her way. And the closeness I held her with.
It said only one thing:
She was mine.
CHAPTER 16
LUNA