Sneek Peek at Chapter 3! Must have 25 votes! So VOTE!!!
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Esmeralda fiddled with her hair anxiously as she lent against an ornate table inside the powder room. Kira had been in the bathroom stall for over 20 minutes and Emerald was starting to worry. Just then Sara came into view she looked at Emerald and shook her head sadly.
“It was the shrimp that done her in.” Sara said glumly. Translation? Kira had a fondness for shrimp even though her stomach did not.
“She’s going to be in there for awhile, she told me we should just go ahead and head back to the party without her, she knows how your father is waiting for that dance.”
Emerald sighed torn. She didn’t want to leave Kira alone like this that would be so selfish of her. Sara mentally rolled her eyes sensing her friends inner turmoil and smiled at her unflinching loyalty even though they had just met Kira. Sara knew Emerald way to well to know she would be satisfied simply with that. She cocked a perfectly plucked eyebrow at Emerald still smirking.
“Go on back to the party, I got Kira. You promised your dad after all and you know how he gets when he cant find you.” Sara said, ever the voice of wisdom.
Emerald groaned, it sounded exactly like her father to turn something as trivial as a long bathroom run into a full-fledged covert operation for the FBI, probably convinced she had been stolen out from under the stalls!
Emerald glanced at Sara, who just made shooing motions with her hands.
“Go, go, go!!!” She chided. “I’ll see you as soon as Kira is done making peace with her stomach.”
Emerald sighed defeated giving Sara a grateful look.
“Ok, ok. But I’m coming right back if I don’t see you guys as soon as the song is over!” Emerald called from over her shoulder as she trotted back out into the hallway.
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“Just play it cool, guys.” Dante hissed.
The word ‘cool’ stirred up the image of a scene from the movie West Side Story when the greaser gang was walking down the street snapping their fingers like a boss. Ciro tried not to laugh as his nerves strained on edge.
The pack was still huddled around the doorway debating if coming to the party had really been such a good idea after all. Felix had mumbled something to Ciro about sending Dante an ancient voodoo curse to render him infertile… or better yet incapable.
Ren took a deep breath, calming himself as he strode towards Angelo bravely. Even he had no idea if was doing this out of bravery, stupidity, or if he was just feeling suicidal all of a sudden.
Angelo turned his attention towards Ren and the rest of his pack as he watched them follow Ren's lead to approach him. The men all quietly scanned the crowd, feigning disinterest to Angelo's obviously unexpected pressance.
There was no doubt these men had managed to draw each and every female eye towards them, as they seemed to glide into the ballroom like fluid predators on the hunt.
“Angelo, I’m surprised to run into you here tonight.” Ren said honestly holding out his hand to shake. Angelo looked at the outstretched hand for a moment seeming to debate something before taking it. Both men gripped each other’s hands firmly as they shook.
“Lorenzo, I’m quite surprised myself to see you all here as well.” Angelo replied coolly, leveling Ren with an unnerving stare.
“Are you acquaintances with Alberto?” Ciro asked curiously. Angelo nodded.
“Yes, we are old friends.”
The conversation died.
“Lorenzo? Ciro? Is that you? My look at you boys! What do they put in the water now a days!?” A booming friendly voice said behind Angelo.
Heads swiveled to see Alberto approaching with a glass of something that looked like rum in his hand. His cheeks were rosy, his words were slightly slurred, and his demeanor entirely too friendly compared to his usually quite and reserved, soberer self.
Ren and Ciro smiled greeting their friend with easy 'Hello's', the rest of their group were all happy to see Alberto in high spirits. They laughed as they watched the happy drunk sway a little on his feet.
“Whoa there seignior! Don’t you think you’ve had enough to drink tonight?” Dante said trying to take the glass of rum from the old man. Alberto dodged Dante's hands expertly albeit still slightly impaired, not giving thought to his drink that sloshed about in his cup messily with all of his sudden movements.
“Come, come, now boy, your beginning to sound like Aida.” Alberto chided taking a swig.
Leo and Felix laughed while Dante shook his head. He was the last person on Earth to tell Alberto to stop, ever the party go-er himself. Michael stepped up smoothly behind Alberto and took the glass, chugging it in one go, Alberto frowned at this and muttered darkly as he stumbled away to get another glass from the bar.
Speaking of Aida, there was suddenly a tap on Angelo’s shoulder.
“I was starting to climb into my coffin waiting for you to say 'Hello' to an old friend.” A tart voice behind Angelo said. Angelo groaned inwardly forgetting how much Aida hated to be ignored.
“Aida,” Angelo started trying to sooth the jungle cat back to sleep. “I did not forget. I was simply preoccupied waiting for someone.” Aida pursed her thin lips and glared at Angelo. The creases around her eyes deepening as she pondered weather to forgive him or not.
Aida was a prim woman who valued punctuality, formality, and factuality more than a dragons weight in gold. With graying hair that softened to an ashy white and clear blue-brown eyes, little escaped her all seeing eyes much the same as her father.
“Hmm. I’ll let it go only because I have an idea as to whom you are waiting for so anxiously.” Aida forgave him finally.
The packs ears perked up at the words ‘Angelo’, ‘anxious’, and ‘waiting’ being said all in the same sentence. None to discreetly the grope had been scoping out the party and coming up with polite way to excuse themselves from (mostly) Angelo and Aida’s awkward company. Curiosity peeked. The men strained their ears to listen with newfound rapt attention for the conversation.
“How is she? Have you introduced her to your friends here?” Aida hitched a thumb at the men gathered around Angelo.
Dante was dying to know who she was. Who exactly were they talking about?
Angelo nodded his head ‘no’ gravely. Aida nodded with silent understanding.
“I wouldn’t have either.” She said backing Angelo, the pack just looked confused. Who was Angelo not introducing to them?
Suddenly the room grew deathly silent. The group looked around only to see all faces turned towards the grand marble staircase in awe.
The group turned.
And there she was…
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Bwahahaha thats all you get! now vote my pretties! jkjk (-OvO-)
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Predator's Desire
Romance"____" He said. Emerald blinked confused, she must have spaced out for a second, what did he say. "What?" She asked. "____" Emerald was sure this time, he had said the word. THE word! The four letter word that made her face flush with heat, her ha...
