"You like it, don't you?"
"What?" I managed to breathe.
"The fear, Miss Night," he mused, "you crave it."
_______________________________________
Sabina Night owes Antonio Marafi her life.
But when he asks her to spy on the Russo crime family, Sabin...
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Audrey agreed to meet me at a bar closer to her side of town, and consequently, closer to Marafi's side of the city. The bar that we agreed to meet at, the Magic Hour Ale House, was owned by two women that had a daughter in Audrey's class. No crime family ownership or connections to mess up a much needed girl's night out.
My sister's auburn hair was a shade richer than mine, but it was unmistakable. The moment I spotted it, I climbed off my barstool to greet her with a cheerful hug. Naturally, the words "dress cute" meant something different to the pair of us but that was to be expected.
She pulled back, scanning my outfit— a black, slinky dress that hung low on my back and short on my thighs. She shoved me playfully on the shoulder.
"Dress cute? Cute? What the hell does the word cute even mean to you?"
I laughed, ushering her into the seat next to me. If I needed to be reassured of our differences, I needed to look no further than the flowery sundress she wore falling off her shoulders like she was from the pages of a fairytale. Whereas I looked like I just tripped out of a less age appropriate film.
Before I could usher the bartender over, he was in front of us, greeting my sister with a wide grin which probably meant Audrey was likely going to get this drink for free. She smiled back politely, setting her purse down on the bar and scanning the menu.
"Can I make a recommendation?" The bartender asked, not taking his eyes off of my sister while she read. I snorted, watching the other people along the bar top who had yet to be served. And who had been waiting since before Audrey sat down.
Audrey glanced up. "Oh, that's sweet of you. I think I'll actually do a glass of Chardonnay to start please."
The bartender's dimples deepened and he nodded. She turned to me.
"Seriously, you could've warned me that cute meant I have to look as hot as I possibly can."
I sipped my own drink. "You're clearly not doing so bad, little sister."
"Huh?"
Her confused expression made me laugh again. Fitting that one of us could read and manipulate people for a living while the other never assumed someone was thinking a bad thought. One was a skill and one was a luxury.
The bartender returned to place the glass of wine in front of her before I could explain what I meant. He looked as though he wanted to say something else to her but she said a polite 'thank you' and turned her attention back to me.
"So," she began, "I assume work has been shit?"
"Why do you say that?"
"You called me needing a drink and to go out after you got back from a work trip, right?"
"Oh." I cleared my throat, shifting in my chair. "Right. Yes. It's just gotten a little bit more... complicated."
Audrey's brow furrowed, gauging my reaction. I was a good liar, something I prided myself on, but most of the time I was lying to people who didn't know me. My sister knew me better than anyone.
