For Luca (Chicago Syndicate Book 2)

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Authors: Soraya Naomi
winces while glancing at my legs. “I did shave.” I tie the belt of the blue cardigan I’m wearing over my sleeveless, ivory-tiered dress as a shiver runs up my spine from the cold. It’s not even that chilly, just the mildly cool temperature of fall, but I’m cold because I barely get out. 
    “Thank god, or else we’d be heading right back to your place.”
    “Where are we going?” I’m determined to try to have a pleasant Saturday evening. That constant emptiness still lingers, but tonight I’ll make an effort to enjoy myself with my friend.
    “Cocktails & Heels.”
    “I’m not wearing heels.” I look down to my extremely comfortable nude flats.
    His lips thin in a straight line. “Not a good enough excuse. Even without heels, you’ll get in. Besides, we’re almost there.” He meets my eyes. “Ten minutes.”
    The place is swarming with people when we arrive, and I follow Jason directly to the bar to order some drinks as I untie and remove my cardigan. It only takes five minutes for me to swoop in on an empty barstool, and Jason brings our drinks.
    “Long Island Iced Tea.” A grin pulls at his lips as he hands me the tall, cold glass.
    “You do realize this is my first drink in months, and you give me this?” I arch a brow but pull my lips over the straw.
    Jason laughs and stands right in front of me so no one bumps into me and makes me fall off the seat. “You look good. Not what I was expecting,” he blurts bluntly.
    “Well, thanks.” I roll my eyes.
    “You know what I mean.”
    “I do.” I sigh and lean forward so he can hear my words in this jam-packed place. “I’m having a difficult time getting over him, but I really want to. It’s confusing and draining.”
    He caresses my hair affectionately. “Give it a little more time.”
    “That’s all I can do. I need a job to establish a routine again because now I have too much time on my hands. How’s your job?” I change the topic to a more fun subject and take another sip of my drink as I notice Jason’s gaze straying to the blonde on the stool next to me.
    “So far, so good. It’s a lot more administrative work than they said it would be, and I’m not enjoying that aspect, but I can’t complain. At least I found one quickly. I’m keeping my eyes open in case any position becomes available for you.”
    “Thanks.”
    We exchange a hasty grin when the blonde finally flirts back with him. He inconspicuously points his thumb to her, so I nod, relaying that he can flirt away and doesn’t need to stay with me.
    Swiveling around in my chair, I face the bar. The wall is lined with liquor bottles, and two bartenders put on an entertaining show while mixing the cocktails.
    Jason almost bumps me off the stool when he helps the blonde from her chair and turns to me with a sorrowful look. “Sorry. Come dance with us?”
    I shake my head. “No, no. You can go.” I’m not going to be the third wheel on the dance floor.
    With my attention back on the bartenders, I taste my drink again and realize how lonely I feel surrounded by all these unknown faces. A few men smile kindly, but I just ignore them.
    I’m startled when I’m suddenly engulfed by two big arms but instantly relax when Jason’s cheek is pressed to mine. “So…my wingman did such a good job, I can call it a night already, but I don’t want to leave you.”
    He releases his hold, and I pivot around to face him. “You suck! You drag me here, and after half an hour, you leave?”
    “Come on; we’ll leave together.”
    I point my thumb over my shoulder to my half-empty drink on the bar. “I’m finishing my drink, and then I’ll take a cab home. Go have fun.”
    “You sure?”
    I know he would stay if I asked him to. “Yes. Just call me tomorrow.”
    “Definitely,” he replies and walks backward two steps before bumping into someone.
    I watch him disappear through the door with his latest conquest, then I spin back to the bartenders and my drink. The alcohol is

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