Capo Dei Capi (Secrets of the Famiglia Part 1) novel Chapter 31

A chill in the air nips at my naked flesh as Sienna grabs my hand and pulls me into what I would say is chaos.

The whiff of alcohol, weed, and cigarettes hit me as I take my first inhale of the indoors. The place is filled with people.

Less than a meter away from Sienna and I is a set of stairs leading up to the top floor where Elisa, Kylie, and Ren seem to be heading.

I hear the catcalls as Kylie’s name is screamed by various people. Unfamiliar hands touch my own, which is still locked on to Siennas'. She is pulled to the side by a beautiful girl with thick red and blue-braids capsuling a fine-boned face.

“Sin, what on earth are you doing all the way over here?” The girl yells loud enough to be heard over the music.

“Mason wanted to come and watch the game. Kylie and I joined for the after-party.” The girl laughs as Sienna turns to me, those brown eyes still not looking right as she tilts her head in a notion for me to come closer.

“This is my friend Liya, she’s coming to UW next year,” Sienna introduces me as the music goes quiet for a few beats before the next song plays.

“This is Makena, she’s a 3 times state champion in the National Cheerleading League.”

“Hey.” I move my hand to shake hers, but she has other plans as she hugs me. She’s super tall, like Sienna and Kylie, so my short form has my face by her very well-endowed chest.

“Come on, let's go upstairs, I can’t even hear myself breathe. I’m glad we met Liya. I’ve seen you around at Azure a few times. Nice place.” My cheeks heat up as she gives me a confused yet knowing look. I'm not precisely Italian looking, taking in my straight nose, pale skin, green eyes, and blonde hair, but my chin and the slight accent I inherited from the Italian part of my bloodline isn't totally lost. And if that didn't give it away, the company I hang around with, sealed the deal.

We take the stairs, pushing our way through. Two guys make out on the left as a really wasted girl sleeps on the top two steps. The rest of the people scattered around the upstairs area remain by the corridor and one of the rooms.

The music dies as the strong whiff of weed hits my nose.

“If my uncle smelled me now, I don't think any amount of holy communion and repentance is gonna be saving my hide when he gets a hold of it,” Sienna whispers in my ear as we walk down the corridor to the end door that’s currently open. I laugh because I understand exactly what she means. My Papa will turn my skin rainbow.

Another staircase which leads to the bottom floor is made visible as a light is switched on.

“Kylie's hide might just be next if she's caught smoking.” The male voice from behind us has a distinct tone to it. Sienna spins around so fast she almost trips.

I barely catch her in time with both my hands wrapped on her upper arms and my tiny body pushing her up.

“Whoa. I wouldn’t want you falling on the face now, Love.”

I look up at the guy, and I want to fall at the square jaw and full thick lips, I’m sure has caused many to fall in his presence. Short, light brown, unkempt hair glows under the warm lighting meant to map our route through the corridor.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your little friend?” His dark green eyes pierce me, as a small smile plays on his lips. I hear the hint of an accent I can’t really place, however, if given a chance to guess, I would say Scottish.

“What are you doing here?” Sienna walks up to him and pulls the guy by his grey V-neck t-shirt.

“I thought you not coming this side until next fall,” Sienna carries on talking when he doesn’t respond.

His eyes stay on me, and for some reason, I can't place, there's this nagging sense in the pit of my stomach telling me this moment is essential.

“Actually, funny, you should mention that. I had a bit of an emergency, you see,” He explains.