Page 51 of Brian and Mina's Holiday Hits
“One and the same,” Gabe says. “And, do you remember Julie?”
I raise a brow. “I’m not sure what you think is wrong with my memory, but yeah… that girl you moped over for months? Pretty sure I remember.”
He points at the table Mina is sitting at. She seems to be involved in a discussion with the famous Julie. “I found her in Dmitri’s establishment. I want that motherfucker and all his men dead. Do you think you and Mina can handle it?”
“Not for free. I only do jobs specifically for the house, unless it’s a contract.”
“Since when did you care about the money?”
I shrug. “I’m not your pit bull, Gabe.”
“How much?”
“I’ll do it for a couple million.”
“What? That’s insane!”
“That’s me and my girl’s going rate, now. Take it or leave it.”
“Fine. I’ll take it.”
“Mina!” I shout across the cafeteria.
She turns to look at me, all demure. “Yes, Master?”
I have to fight the eye roll. Do people in this house really buy this anymore? I glance around the room. Clearly they do. I guess the reality of our actual relationship would be too surreal for them to consider. I motion for her to join us and then we go with Gabe to iron out the details.
TWENTY-SEVEN
mina
I let outa low whistle when Brian steps out of the bathroom, Friday night. My brain is barely able to comprehend what I’m seeing. Brian, in a suit.
Brian. In a suit.
“Mina? Are you okay?”
I shake my head. “I am not okay. You’re wearing a suit. You look so… suave.”
He smirks.
“Like James Bond,” I add helpfully.
“You could have stopped at suave.”
Fair enough.
“Where are you going?” I don’t know if I want to let him out of the house looking like this. I mean I know his energy doesn’t exactly invite a lot of women to cozy up to him, but still.
“Where arewegoing,” he corrects.
“Where arewegoing?” I ask, playing along, but on the inside, I’m excited. And more importantly, what am I wearing?
He answers both my spoken and unspoken question by laying a black garment bag across the bed and handing me a thick cream-colored invitation on Crane stationery.
“I scored this invite to the Windsor Estate tonight.”
I goggle at the envelope in my hand. “I thought you said the job wasn’t until Halloween. That’s still almost six weeks away. We’re not ready.”
