Scandalous Heroes Box Set by Serenity King, Pepper Pace, Aliyah Burke, Erosa Knowles, Latrivia Nelson, Tianna Laveen, Bridget Midway, Yvette Hines Read Free Book Online Page B

members who kept their distance from this group.
    Marietta Battaglia smiled at her. “I used to wear dime store shoes, and make them sexy when I was a stripper in Chi-town.” Bette began choking on her martini. Marietta shot her a withering glare. “You got a problem with that?”
    “Ah, no. No.” Bette tried to recover.
    Marietta smiled at Kyra. “Takes talent to turn shit to sugar. Doesn’t it, sweetie?” Marietta asked. Kyra only nodded in response. “Which is probably why my sister wants to shut down this shitty operation run by these bitches.” Marietta tossed a glare back over to Bette. Catalina reached over and touched Marietta’s hand. She said something in Italian, which silenced Mirabella’s sister. Kyra was shocked. She knew Mirabella was refined and cultured, but this sister of hers had a hard edge like the women she knew in her old neighborhood. And for whatever reason she took an instant disliking to Bette for making fun of her.
    A blush stained Bette’s face. The poor woman looked like she would bolt any minute. The others were silent and respectful. As if to even breathe a word would bring down a lightening bolt. Kyra recognized the tension in the air and was able to define it. The tension was fear.
    She decided to be the brave one and speak. “I just like making beautiful accessories. No matter the canvas. These shoes I wrapped in silk, and sewed in each emerald crystal myself. They sparkle like jewels in the moonlight. That’s why I wore them with the dress from Mirabella’s.” Kyra said. She gave Cleo a sideways glance. The evil woman had specifically told her she was not invited. So why was she there? Either she lied or she finagled an invite and purposefully teamed up with Bette to make this night miserable. Kyra calmed herself. She had chosen to ignore her recommendation for silver accessories. She’d done so because she knew fashion possibly better than them both. Bette and Cleo glared openly at her. The tension between the women charged the atmosphere. The ladies sipped their drinks not taking their eyes off one another.
    “Benissima,” Catalina said. “I like the shoes, now can we change the subject about the girl’s feet?”
    Mr. Tate laughed. The others chuckled. Catalina nudged Marietta who continued to glare at Bette and Cleo. “We need to hear about Carole Montague’s latest project.” Catalina said. She set her martini down on the coaster. “Which one of you is the lead on the event she will have next month in Paris?”
    Three people spoke at once. Each one of them clamored to share their version of the projects status. Kyra accepted a drink from a server and tried to listen and pretend at being interested. However, the openly hostile look Marietta Battaglia kept flashing Bette was far more entertaining.
     
    Renaldo smiled. The jade goddess looked uncomfortable. He could hear her jubilant voice over the others at first. Now she sat silent with her drink in her hand.
    “Can I speak with you?”
    Renaldo looked over to see Tate had left the others and come his way. If he hadn’t been so focused on Kyra he would have been aware of Tate’s approach. This is why he never let women distract him. He should always maintain focus. He nodded to Mr. Tate that he would listen to what he had to say right where the man stood. He knew of Tate’s connection to Don Mancini in Sicily and didn’t trust the bastard.
    The man loosened his tie. He perspired as if he’d just left a sauna. And his face was flushed with his internal heat. “I want a conversation with your boss,” Tate stated.
    Renaldo arched a brow.
    “Ugh, Giovanni Battaglia. I’d like to have a conversation, a sit down, you know meeting with him. I’ve made several attempts to contact Mirabella and she isn’t returning my calls.” He combed his hand back through his hair. “I think it’s customary that I go through him? Right? A respect thing with you Italians?”
    “Sicilian,” Renaldo said through clenched