“Yes, but is lively music too much to ask for?”
Personally, I’ve enjoyed the music this evening. They’ve instrumentally covered popular songs and given a nice variety throughout the decades.
“You know,” Enzo says to Sully. “Not every event needs to be a party. It baffles me how your father is preparing for you to take over his company when you can hardly manage an evening among his associates.”
“I’m managing just fine, thank you very much. I just like to have a good time.”
“Which is why I brought you to Europe,” I cut in. “So you could get it out of your system, Sullivan. It seems as though it's very much stillinyour system. Perhaps you should heed our advice, amico mio.”
“Wow, what is this? Gang up on Sully night?”
“Not ganging up, just reminding you that you’re an adult with adult responsibilities and expectations.” Enzo flashes me a look that says ‘he’ll never get it.’
Gripping Sully’s shoulder in my hand, I tell him, “We just want you to succeed, amico.”
Getting frustrated, Sully shrugs out of my grip. “Enzo and I werebothdiscussing going to the club tonight, not just me. Your reminders are unwarranted—you’re my friends. Stop treating me like I’m a child or you’ll find yourself with one less friend.”
He tosses back the remainder of his drink and slamsthe glass onto the bartop a little too hard before walking away.
“Oops, did we do that?” Enzo says sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
“He’ll get over it. He always does.”
Enzo signals to the bartender again, so I turn my back to the bar, my eyes sweeping through the crowd. It only takes seconds before I find Vinnie. The beads on her gown sparkle in the light as she laughs with the groups she’s conversing with.
She’s breathtaking.
The taste of her still lingers on my lips, and coupled with the sight of her, my cock begins to harden again.
As to not seem obvious, I continue to look around the room, appreciating the time and effort that went into such a beautiful event. Light shimmers off every crystal in the ballroom, creating tiny kaleidoscopic rainbows that dance across any open space. The women are impeccably dressed, dripping in jewels and beaded gowns, while the men selected tuxes that show off their affluence.
I hope the gala raised millions for the Venus-Hope foundation, which was set up to provide childhood cancer patients with the funding needed for their treatments and anything they feel would cheer them up. Parents should not need to worry about whether their insurance will cover the chemotherapy their children need, and the children should be able to request something that will make them happy during the most difficult time in their life, and be able to receive it.
Each year the Lucchettis donate upwards of five-hundred thousand dollars. This year we doubled that figure, as I matched my parents’ donation.
“I’m going to hit the road soon,” Enzo says. “You coming?”
“Soon.”
I seek Vinnie out again—she’s with a new group, completely unaware that everyone is giving her their full attention, admiring her as she speaks with them.
As I openly stare, a nagging sensation prickles my awareness, drawing my gaze elsewhere. On the wall opposite of where I am, stands August St. Jean, watching me with far too much interest.
Anger flashes through me as I meet his stare, silently challenging him.
He smirks, then turns to look to the exact spot I was just looking in. I don’t give him the satisfaction of following his line of sight—I know he is looking at Vincenza.
When he pushes off the wall and heads in her direction, I toss back the bourbon the bartender just dropped off, giving August my back as I set the glass down. Every instinct tells me to intercept him, but I refrain, knowing it’ll only draw suspicion.
“You good?” Enzo asks. “You look pissed all of a sudden.”
“Sì,” I snap, then realize my tone. I’m digging myself a deeper hole by reacting this way. “I think the day has finally caught up with me.” Turning back to face both him and the ballroom, I speak to my cousin,all while watching August. Thankfully, they’re practically aligned now and I can do both.
August approaches Vincenza, reaching for her hand. Bringing it to his mouth, he kisses the top of it.
The women in the group have dreamy looks on their face, as though they’re falling in love with him for simply being in their vicinity.
Vinnie flinches slightly, shaking her head before he pulls her out onto the dance floor.
