Page 121 of Beni

Possibly.

And maybe, so was she.

This was nuts.

“Drinks, drinks, drinks!”

Their conversation about her future living situation was put aside as the Rossi brothers approached the table, both carrying trays full of drinks.

“Was that your drink order?”

Beni chuckled. “Yeah, but I didn’t think they would bring it.”

“Good to make them work,” Cam said, “keeps them humble.”

“That’s enough of that,” Cory grumbled.

“Just saying.”

More trays were carried through.

Cory slapped a guy on the shoulder that August didn’t recognize, but a few others seemed to, including Beni. “Thanks for the help, Neil.”

“Yeah. No worries, thanks for the invite.”

“Of course.”

The guy—Neil—glanced Beni’s way, asking, “Where did you disappear to on Friday? Thought you were supposed to be working with the rest of the guys in the crew?”

“Something more important,” Beni said. “Besides, you’ve got the crew handled on the east side, right?”

“Always have.”

“Right.”

Before the guy could reply, Tommaso came up to the table with a grin, reaching for one of the lowballs of whiskey. Lucky for him, because he did look a little drunk—totally unusual for Tommaso; he didn’t drink heavily in public—Camilla missed it until he was downing the drink, and it was already too late.

“Tom,” she warned.

“Relax, I’m fine,” he replied, glancing Beni’s way to ask, “and speaking of the east side, did they move that shipment of cocaine again?”

Beni nodded. “Yeah, sure did.”

“The one he uses on the west end?”

“Looks like it.” Beni reached for one of the red vodka drinks, handing it over to August with a wink. “But that’s enough business for tonight—we’re here to have fun.”

Tommaso grinned. “Right, fun.”

Neil slipped away from the table.

No one else seemed to notice, though.

August went back to her friends, her drink, and her man. Nothing else mattered to her except having a good time.

“I’m not that drunk,” Tommaso grumbled.

“You overdid it a little,” Beni replied, “and I only needed you to seem like it, you fucker.”