Page 38 of Where the Wind Whispers

Her former friend took a step forward, threatening and angry with only a look. Violet didn't even flinch as Nicole came to stand toe-to-toe with her.

“Be careful what you say about me,” Nicole warned. “I’m not in your shadow now, Violet.”

Was that what this was about?

Who had the spotlight?

Violet had news for Nicole—she didn’t want it.

Not the Gallucci side, anyway.

Violet simply smiled, unafraid.

Nicole couldn’t hurt her.

None of these people could, she was learning.

Violet leaned forward, smiling as she whispered in Nicole’s ear. “No, you’re the one who should be careful. Haven’t you heard? I’m ruined now—poisoned. You wouldn't want any of that seeping over on you, right?”

With a laugh, Violet winked as she stepped away from a stone-cold, frozen Nicole.

“Enjoy your night,” Violet said her shoulder. “Don’t forget to smile, Nicole. They love that. Remember?”

Violet had just rounded a corner to make her way into the main room when a form saddled up beside her. To her surprise, Caesar Accardo joined her stride as if he’d been walking with her the entire time and slipped her hand around his elbow.

“You look lovely,” he told her.

“You look less bitchy today,” she replied.

Caesar managed a smile that somehow pulled into a smirk as he chuckled. “Bothering your brother’s wife, Violet?”

“Looking for someone’s girlfriend to fuck, Caesar?”

His laughter boomed, echoing down the hallway. Silently, he pulled her into the main room, keeping her shadowed in the entryway as people filtered into the space through the other entrance on the other side.

“You are a riot,” Caesar said.

Violet shrugged. “You’re just arrogant.”

“I’m aware. I’m not drunk enough for this party, though.”

Violet chose not to reply to that. Instead, she asked, “What do you want?”

“I have to say hello—be seen. It’s the proper thing to do. Don’t take it for more than it is; it’s formalities.”

“You mean to say you don’t like me?” Violet put a hand over her heart, pretending to be hurt. “You wound my ego.”

“Nothing worse than you’ve already heard tonight, I’m sure. They’re certainly not quiet when they talk about Alberto’s rebel slut of a daughter who shamed her family and ran off to get married to a rival Russian who then sent her back without even the wedding rings he put on her finger.”

Violet couldn’t even bother to be embarrassed. “Ah, you’ve heard all of that, then?”

“And more,” Caesar replied with a sigh. “I take it you haven’t heard the whispers about me, huh?”

That did pique her interest.

Just a bit.

She didn’t particularly like Caesar, as she didn’t know him. She also didn't actively dislike him, either. After all, anyone who could piss off Carmine with nothing more than a grin won a dozen and one brownie points from Violet.