Shadows Of Desire

Chapter 12

Leandra Moreno

After downing a couple drinks, I stumble my way to a group of men, Salvatore Maranzano's men. It's no surprise that they're a bunch of hideous men. All I needed to do was smile and easily get them to hand over information on the Codex. 

I arrive at their table, the champagne clouding my mind subtly. I thought everything was according to plan until I see...Amelia. She was there, talking to them with her stupid perfect smile. She was purposefully bending over, to reveal her cleavage which only made me urk in disgust.

Amelia's eyes flick towards me, her fake perfect smile never leaving her face, but there's a hint of annoyance in her gaze. She stands up straighter, her golden hair falling perfectly over her shoulder as she turns to face me fully. The men around her—Salvatore's disgusting goons—shift uncomfortably in their seats, some glancing between us, unsure of what to do.

One of them, a greasy guy with a leering grin, looks me up and down. "Look what we have here. Ain't this a treat?" He smirks, clearly not taking the hint that he's about to get verbally shredded.

I cross my arms, swaying slightly, letting the champagne fuel my fire as I stare him down. "Oh, honey, if this is a treat to you, then you clearly haven't seen a woman in years." I turn my attention back to Amelia, ignoring his greasy attempt to flirt, if that's what he's calling it. "What are you doing here, Barbie? You lose your way to the plastic convention or is this your new day job—professional cleavage flaunter?"

Amelia's smile sharpens, though she keeps it sweet, almost patronizing. "Lea, darling, I didn't realize you'd be joining us. Don't tell me you've come to ruin another one of my little chats," she says, her voice laced with false charm. Her eyes dart briefly to the men, clearly signaling that she has them wrapped around her finger.

I feel the urge to slap that perfect smile right off her face, but I keep it in, keeping my expression playful as I lean in close to her. "Oh, no, sweetie. I just couldn't resist coming over here to remind everyone how absolutely desperate you are. I mean, bending over like that? Pathetic. You might as well wear a sign that says 'I'm available for tips.'"

The men chuckle awkwardly. One of them, a rough looking guy with a scar running down his face, steps forward, clearly trying to intimidate me. "You talk a lot for someone in your position," he growls.

I cock an eyebrow, unbothered by his weak attempt at scaring me. "Yeah? And what position is that, exactly? Drunk and still sharper than all of you combined?" I give him a pointed look. "Let me guess, you're the muscle? Cute. Try not to strain yourself thinking too hard."

He bristles, his face twitching with irritation, but another one of Salvatore's lackeys, a wiry man with beady eyes, quickly interjects, trying to calm the situation. "No need for trouble here, ladies. We're all just having a friendly conversation, right?"

I laugh, but it's more of a sharp bark than anything else. "Friendly? Please. The only thing friendly about this situation is how friendly I'm feeling towards your wallets, considering how easily you idiots hand out information." I glance at Amelia, my eyes narrowing. "But then again, some of us have to rely on more... obvious assets."

Amelia's perfect facade cracks, just slightly, and I catch the flicker of fury behind her blue eyes. "Jealousy never looked good on you, Lea," she says, her voice cool but biting. "You could learn a thing or two about subtlety."

"Subtlety? From you?" I let out a sharp laugh. "Please. The only thing subtle about you is your IQ." I take a step closer, my gaze flicking between the men. "Now, if you boys want to keep your pathetic little conversation going, I suggest you start talking about the Codex. Or, I could start talking. To Salvatore. About how you let a couple of women walk all over you. Your choice."