Playing The Game - Book Four in The WSU Series

- Chapter Thirty-Seven -

"I had my bets on Alex."

I'm fucking married, well, I was before the official wedding ceremony. But now, it's legal in the state of New York. Lizzies went outside for a breath of air, I had sent Blake to go find her a minute ago, but for now, I'm sitting at the bar with my best friends who know nothing of my real life.

They know the fake one I created for the purpose of being considered normal. They know what the media knows, my families rich and owns almost everything in New York. This is technically true, minus the mafia aspect of it. The boys don't need to know, it wouldn't benefit them. I question whether or not Alex knows, he must know something especially with him being in relation to the Italian Mafia through Andrew Lewis.

Or, maybe he is kept in the dark, almost like my mom.

"Winter wedding?" Hayden questions Roma who takes a sip of his drink. They all thought Roma and Ele would wed first, I don't blame them— they are soulmates. God, Ele really did do a number on Roma. "Give it a few years," Roma says with a smile as his attention is stuck on Ele whose dancing with Liv. If only they knew the danger that was surrounding them. The Chicago Outfit wasn't invited, it would be a mockery if they were. Especially with the rumors of war, anyone from the Outfit would be breaking the treaty. The treaty was enforced because of my past behavior. But Giovanni Pazi had it coming, he was no angel like Lizzie wanted to believe.

"Your dads watching," Hayden informs and as I look towards the back I do indeed see my father in conversation with some of his most trusted, watching us, watching me. "Let him," I respond as I look away to see Kai heading straight towards the bar. I silently curse as I remember him and the boys don't mix well. They shouldn't mix.

"You banned me from drinking," Kai accuses me as I study his body language. He's had a drink, that I know. But it's true, I told the staff to not serve him alcohol, there was no way in hell I was having him spill all our secrets. "You're not twenty-one," I respond and I hear Hayden chuckle beside me. "As if that's ever stopped me," Kai points out and it's true. Especially with our family name, and his reputation, the bars don't question his age. They are all owned by us anyways.

"Don't be a dick, Kian," I hold back any harsh remarks as I see my father move from one group to Lizzie's father. I nod my head in that direction and Kai understands what I mean, "do you know where Elizabeth is?" I ask and Kai shrugs before he too allows the high alert to set it. "Didn't Blake go to check on her?" And at this point, I've ignored the boy's presence entirely as my attention goes to Blake who is chatting up some women at a table.

"Kai, outside," I state, and the both of us jump into action. The boys exchange a look with me but I shake it off. All that matters now is finding Lizzie, what is the West took her? That's always a probability in the back of my mind or Chicago. I'm not naive, I know Aria Pazi is here. I invited her, I knew she and Lizzie were close— figured it was my way of showing that I can be remorseful. As me and Kai stalk across the ballroom I exchange a look with Blake who understands and follows in suit. I button my jacket to reach the gun in my holster, as Kai has done the same. They wouldn't have got to her, Lizzies smart enough, she's also strong enough to fight them— that I believe. She'll be fine, I have to keep reminding myself of that before I lose my shit with all our friends and family inside.