“Why?” one of the older ones counters.
“No Mafia here tonight,” Drew explains monotone.
“Come on, man. It’s our friend’s birthday. We’re not causing any trouble,” he whines.
“Sorry, guys. Not tonight. It’s time for you to leave.” Drew’s voice is stern, leaving no room for argument.
“Or what?” one of the other guys, a younger one, counters. The rest of his crew whoops and cheers.
“You won’t fucking like finding out,” I tell them, stepping forward, done with the pleasantries.
“And who the fuck are you?” the younger spits out, snorting.
“I’m Roman Montclair. Now get the fuck out of my club before I lose my patience. Lorenzo will have to come collect your bodies,” I growl, name dropping their Capo to convey know how serious I am.
They all raise their hands in peace. “Sorry, man. We didn’t realize. We don’t want any trouble. We’ll go now,” the first one says.
He rounds up the others, and Drew leads them out.
Without another word, I make my way back to my sunshine.
As I near their table, my heart pounds at the sight I take in.
Gracie is yelling at Leo from one side of Cecilia, holding onto her arm, keeping her in her chair.
Leo is yelling back, pulling at Cecilia, trying to get her in his arms.
And Cecilia, my beautiful Cecilia, is passed out at the table.
I run.
I push my way through the crowd, desperate to get to her.
“Stand back, bitch. I’m bringing her home,” Leo spits out, yanking at my Cecilia.
“Let her go. Get the fuck away from us,” Gracie yells back, not letting go of her best friend.
“Or what? You think you can stop me?” he seethes.
“Maybe not. But I sure as fuck will,” I growl into his ear. “Now fucking drop her.”
Leo turns around to face me, letting go of Cecilia. She starts to tilt, muttering incoherently, and Gracie catches her.
Good, she’s not passed out… yet.
“What’s going on?” I ask, trapping Leo against the table with my body.
“Nothing. Mind your fucking busi–” Leo starts. He doesn’t get far into the sentence, because my hands shoots out and grabs his neck, cutting off his air supply.
“I’m not asking you.” I get in his face. “Gracie, what happened?” I ask again, even though I can deduce it from the scene. But I pray I’m wrong.
“Leo called Cecilia a whore for dancing with you,” she starts off strong, sounding like she’s tattling. I tighten my grip on his neck. “He left to get us drinks to cool off. He returned and gave Cecilia a water. Minutes later, she was dizzy and could barely sit up. Stuttering and mumbling. Leo was trying to get her to come home with him. I wouldn’t let him.”
Fuck.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
This motherfucker drugged Cecilia. He drugged my sunshine.
