“If I lose, I’ll book you a party room at your club of choosing this weekend. But you have to invite me.”
“And if you win?” Alfie counters.
I smile. “You have to find a way to sneak me out of this house and get me back to my apartment for a few hours.”
“No fucking way. Are you insane?” CJ bursts out.
“No,” I tell him. “Not insane.”
“Why?” Alfie questions. “Why do you want to sneak out?”
“Because I have something I need to do in my apartment. Something I can’t do here,” I tell him.
Elias is the first to catch on. “Jasmine, that’s just… no. I’m not letting you sneak out of here. I’m not letting you put yourself in danger just to go get your rocks off with your little boyfriend.”
“First of all, there is nothinglittleabout my boyfriend.” I smirk when all three men screw their faces up in disgust. “Second, I’m older than all of you. Are you telling me none of you are having sex?” I tilt my head to the side and stare at my brother. “I know you are because I hear it every night.”
He at least tries to look sheepish. “I like to watch porn. I’m not having sex,” he says.
“Sure. So your pornos just happen to moan out:CJ, right there.” I mimic the sounds of the woman he’s been sneaking into his room. “In an accent that’s not American, mind you.”
The Aussie accent is a dead giveaway that he’s running around with Daniella. His funeral. Her father is insane, more so than mine. She is a mafia princess. Gio De Bellis is the Don of the De Bellis Crime Family and not someone my brother should be crossing.
“You didn’t hear anything,” CJ says pointedly at me.
“Sure I didn’t,” I hum before turning to my cousin. “So, Alfie, do we have a bet?”
“Nope, sorry, Jaz. My fatherand yourswill have my balls if I help sneak you out of here.” Alfie throws his cards on the table. “Fold. You can keep it all. Your life and your safety are worth more than a game.”
“You guys are supposed to be on my side.” I pout.
“We are,” Elias says. “I’d do almost anything you ask of me, Jazzy. But I’m not putting you at risk. Wait it out. It’ll be over soon.”
“How do you know that?” I ask him.
He shrugs, his way of telling me he’snottelling me, and stands. “This has been great. I’m going to raid the fridge for Tía Antonia’s leftovers and then I’m out.”
Alfie looks at his phone and literally groans. “I need to go wrangle up my sister.”
“Where is she?” I ask.
“About to be locked away in Rapunzel’s fucking tower when I get my hands on her.” He storms out of the house.
“I’m so glad my sister is responsible. It’s nice not having to worry about her,” CJ says. “Oh, wait, weren’t you just wanting to sneak out to have sex with your boyfriend, who has been sleeping here every night this week anyway?”
“He won’t touch me in this house,” I groan.
“Huh, I like him even more now. I should convince Dad you need to stay here longer.” CJ walks off, leaving me alone to clean up the mess.Typical.
I look at the time. It’s a little past nine, and Jake still hasn’t arrived. He also hasn’t reached out. Opening the encrypted messaging program he installed on my phone, I send him a quick text before I start tidying up.
Me:
Are you okay?
Jake:
On my way to you now.