He nods. "Yeppers. I don’t think I’ll let her go."
"You better not. Love looks good on you." She punches his arm playfully.
When they walk off, we sit and Aurei puts his arm around me then pulls my chair between his legs. He leans up and blows in my ear. "What are you thinking?"
I lift my shoulder and kink my neck as goosebumps pop out, then I cut my eyes at him. "How love looks."
"Hmm. Does it look good on me?"
I kiss his cheek. "It does, but I was thinking about Gio and Antonio."
"What about them?"
"They clearly love each other. They’ve just grown apart and that’s sad." I look back at them and see Angelo is leaning over talking to Quintus and Antonio and I realize Mia is gone.
I’m distracted by that knowledge and give Aurei a confused look when he says. "Gio needed that."
"Oh. Yes. She did." I turn my attention back to them. They are still sitting stiff, but I can see the 'want to' in both of them. There must be a lot of 'couple baggage' interfering. "I think they need a bigger push." Our drinks arrive, and we down the water first, then sip our Crown in silence while we listen to the noise around us. I look around curious to see where Mia is, but my eyes keep drifting back to Aurei. He is sitting back relaxed in his chair and studying me. His face looks needy and his eyes are hooded. Finally I ask him. "What are you thinking?"
"How good love looks."
I smirk at him. "Is that all?"
"No." He smirks back, then his sexy sideways grin spreads across his face. "I was thinking I’m ready to take you bed."
"It’s still too early."
"Then help me take my mind off your perfection. Tell me what trickery you are planning for Antonio and Gio. I see your wheels churning."
I grin at him. "I’m thinking about pushing those two back together."
"Let me know if I can help."
I smile at him. "Thanks. I will."
"It’ll cost you."
I chuckle. "Now who’s tricking who?"
The DJ steps to the mic and says, "Antonio, you’re next."
He looks around confused. Aurei says, "You’re up, cuz!"
"Which one of you paid him more than me?" He laughs and stands. No one says anything as he digs in his pocket. "How much more is this going to cost me to get out of it?" Still, no one says anything. "I guess I’ll have to go find out."
As he walks by, I take Aurei’s hand and pull him up. "We don’t want to miss this." I wave to Gio. "Come on."
As the three of us walk to the stage, I tell her. "Stand right in front."
She watches Antonio as he talks to the DJ. "Why?"
"He’s not getting out of it." I put her in position. "Stand right here and enjoy his performance."
She looks at Aurei and he says. "Stand right in front so he can sing to you."
She looks at me. "You paid the DJ?"
I wink at her, then the DJ says. "My bad. It’s Siri and Oriana first, then Antonio."
Oriana gives a little squeal and jumps up. Antonio jumps down frowning and tells us. "Looks like someone has paid handsomely to control the show." He looks at Gio and she smiles at him.
"Don’t be a party tooter. It’s fun!"
"It’s party pooper." He smirks.
She rolls her eyes, flirting with him. "Tooter, Pooter. Pooper. What’s the difference?"
He starts to laugh now and says. "Never mind."
When Oriana steps up on the stage, Aurei lifts me up. The DJ is holding two microphones. She takes one and brings me the other. She is all smiles, "I love this song! We are going to win!"
I grin at her. "Let’s put this away!"
When we get in position, I see that Augustus is standing next to Aurei. He leans in and whispers something to him. They talk, then Aurei looks back to their table. I look too for the first time and see that Zita and Bob aren’t there. Only Milo and Vanessa. She must be getting ready to crown Aurei King. I smile down at him. He’s going to be a noble ruler!
Oriana and I sing a duet to "Anything Could Happen." She sings first in alto and I sing the soprano. As we sing, I watch Antonio and Gio trying to decide if I’m going to go along with my original idea or not. They are talking and smiling, but not touching yet. When the song is over, there is clapping and I thank Oriana. She waves bye as she hands the mic back to the DJ.
Antonio comes up and stands by me. I hold the mic down by my side. "Gio is having a good time, isn’t she?"
"Yes." He looks down on her.
"I like her, Antonio. She’s a good woman."
His eyes narrow a tad. "Yes. She is."
Augustus meets Oriana at the steps. We talk as they return to their table.
"How long have you two been married?"
"A lifetime."
I laugh. "Hardly!"
He chuckles. "We married too young."
"Oh. Why?"
Now he gives me his full attention. "We were madly in love."
"Were? What happened?"
He gives me a sad smile. "Children."
"Oh! Not enough time in the day?"
"She lost her spark."
"Ah. Well, she seems to be finding it again." I smile at him and hand him the mic. "Here you go."
He puts the mic in the stand as Aurei helps me off, then he steps up to cheers and hoots. He holds his hands out to calm them. "I will punish the person or person’s that paid off the DJ when I find out who, but I will not forfeit so I’ll sing." His song is "Locked Away" by R.City featuring Adam Levine. Almost instantly, the lyrics transform both him and Gio. The words ask if the woman he loves would stay with him if he lost everything and got locked away. If he couldn’t buy her fancy things, would she leave? At first Gio stands still and I groove next to her, offering moral support. But when the rap starts, his eyes keep falling on her, and she begins to groove for him.
Aurei takes my hand. "You amaze me!" I dance a Salsa step to the song.
"Continue to be amazed." I wink at him when the song ends.
Antonio jumps down and stands in front of Gio. Neither of them speak, but the DJ announces. "Gio. It’s your turn."
She turns a surprised look at me. "Me?"
Antonio says. "If I have to, you have to." He lifts her up, then he walks up and stares at me, knowing who paid the DJ off now.
I smile, knowing Aurei is grinning at him. "Don’t go. You’re going to sing again."
He looks at Aurei and Aurei says. "It’s what she does."
He turns silently around and watches Gio as she prepares to sing. She takes a deep breath, then sings "Big Sky" by Rachel Loy. The song is about a woman who is left alone and is lonely. How she is young, but feels old. How an old woman gives her advice about being bold because time is slipping away from her. Time she can’t get back. Don’t be afraid. Live with passion! Gio gives a fantastic performance. She has come out of her shell and sings with confidence. She tells Antonio with the song, that she’s not going to live in solitude any more.
We stand next to him, not dancing, but watching Gio too. I can see Antonio’s body tensing. I hope he stays. Several times he looks over at Aurei and Aurei ignores him, keeping his eyes glued on Gio. I slip my hand into his and he opens his fingers letting mine slide between, then he gives me a squeeze.
When the song is over, Gio turns to walk to the end of the stage, but Antonio steps up and calls her over. She looks down on him and he says. "I’m supposed to sing to you again."
The DJ confirms it. "Antonio. Dude. You’re up again."
He sets Gio down, then hops back up. He steps bravely to the mic and sings "Anything Goes" by Randy Houser. As soon as the words sink in, the pain in his eyes is evident and the cry in his voice is real. Gio stands stock still, then she hangs her head and I see her shoulders shake. I slip my arm around them. The song is about a man who turns to cheating on his wife because she has withdrawn from him.
The dance floor is quiet when the song ends. The DJ says, "Maximus."
Aurei looks at me
and holds out his hand. I leave Gio’s side as Antonio jumps down and I lay my hand softly on Aurei’s. His thumb strokes me and shivers shoot up my arm. "What am I singing?"
I smile. "You are singing a love song they need to hear. Now go amaze me." I turn him around and push.
Antonio is standing in front of Gio. His hands are on her shoulders and his thumbs are stroking her. She is trying to gather herself before she looks up at him. Antonio glances at me and the pain is still there.
I tell him. "Stay."
He gives me a single head nod and stays.
Aurei steps up to the mic and the music begins. The song is "To The Moon and Back" by Luke Bryan. The lyrics describe all the different things that a couple experience throughout years together. Experiences that bond them. It is a complete love song. Aurei’s eyes lock on mine and I sway as he sings softly to me. The love we have sparks electric. His voice is so tender and his tone so pure, it echoes in my heart. I see Antonio put his arms around Gio and he draws her to his chest. She lays her cheek against his heart, and they begin to sway to the melody. I look around and see a small sea of phone lights swaying with them. My eyes fill again when she lifts her head to look into his eyes. He whispers to her and then they kiss.
When the song ends, Aurei steps around the mic as the DJ says. "Angelo. We need to lighten the mood."
Aurei jumps down and my eyes twinkle. "That was good trickery, wasn’t it?"
"You are the sweetest one!" He tells me as I melt into his arms. He whispers the Italian words in my hair and I hold him tight.
Angelo makes a loud announcement when he gets up from the table. "It’s Thriller time!"
The crowd roars and everyone starts to move. I frown. "Thriller time?"
Aurei just grins as the dance floor fills again to maximum capacity. Antonio, with Gio hugged tight against him, asks Aurei. "Is everything ok, Boss? I heard Augustus say Zita and Mia in the same sentence. That can't be good."
Gio mouths a quiet 'thank you' to me and I wink at her.
Aurei tells him. "Mia is spreading her usual negative shit."
"About Bee and the baby’s daddy?"
"No." He intentionally doesn’t look at me and I know she’s told them I’m a whore from Vegas.
"I’m sure I’m the flavor of the night and I’m not vanilla." I roll my eyes, making them laugh.
Angelo appears through the parting crowd and puts his hand on Antonio and Aurei’s shoulders. "Give the fat boy a boost, would you?"
They push him up onto the stage just as a squeaky door blasts us from the speakers followed by heavy steps and wolf howls. My face splits into a grin. "Thriller? Really?"
"Really!" Gio says. "It’s a family tradition! Do you know it?"
"Oh yes. I know it."
Aurei picks me up and deposits me back on the stage. "He’s going to need some help with the dancing part."
When I walk over, he gives me a high five and we walk in place together, pretending we are strolling, then when he sings, he sings all around me. The dance floor is packed with as many family members as it will hold and everyone is doing their own version of zombie dancing. When it’s actually time in the song to zombie dance, Angelo and I dance it together. It’s a hit and miss for him, but no one is having a better time than he is. When it’s over, he gives me a big hug and the DJ says. "Siri. Don’t walk off. You're up."
I give him a 'really?' look, but step up to the mic. When the song starts, I wonder who picked it for me, but the thought doesn’t stay long as the music to "When I Grow Up" by the Pussycat Dolls takes over. My hair flip with "Sup" gives Aurei a warning what’s coming. He pumps his fist to the music. I take that as 'don’t hold back' so I dance the choreography. I am sexy, I did want to be famous, I do have groupies and I’m about to become a Star.
The familiar thing happens to the people on the dance floor who stayed after Thriller. At first they look surprised or maybe shocked, but then the perfection of my performance makes them begin to root for me and they get into it too. Hands up, pumping and jumping, the dance floor comes alive as the beat takes hold. I end my performance, leaning off the stage again for Aurei to catch. He gives me a soft landing and I give him a "Whew! That’s tougher than I want to admit!"
He laughs. "Let’s give you a break then."
We begin to thread our way back to our table through the crowd and are half way there when the DJ announces the next singer. "Mia."
Aurei stops mid stride and his head jerks up. His hawk-eyes turn to the stage.
"What’s wrong?"
"Mia doesn’t participate."
"Oh. Well, apparently she’s changed her mind. Maybe I inspired her." I giggle, still feeling exhilarated.
"Or maybe its competition for attention." Aurei says still frowning. "She doesn’t do anything without a reason behind it."
I give him a knowing smirk. "That sounds familiar."
When we arrive at the table, Mia is standing on the stage. I sit, but Aurei stands with Angelo. They exchange a look and he shrugs. "I don’t know what she is up to."
When the song starts to play, Damn. She sings "Every Breath You Take" by Sting and the Police. The hair on my neck wants to rise. Is this a threat? Aurei studies Mia. I can tell by his demeanor he thinks it is. His body is flexed and tense. I put my hand on his arm, and he looks down at me.
"What the hell?"
He shakes his head. "I don’t know what’s up."
Gio laughs. "I didn’t even know she could sing."
Antonio asks her. "Did you know she was going to sing tonight?"
"No. I’m surprised too."
Aurei steps back to where Quintus sits with Jemma on his lap. Antonio leans over and they huddle together. I look back at Mia and she is giving the performance of a lifetime. When he comes back to me, he slides in his chair without saying anything so I ask. "Is everything okay?"
"Angelo says she’s been angry since they left Rome and something pissed her off earlier. You and I know what."
Gio agrees. "She’s been angry ever since Siri showed up."
Aurei tells us. "She’s just showing her ass right now."
But when the next song starts, she stands there. She is singing two in a row. Defiant! Definitely making a statement. It’s "Rolling In the Deep" by Adele.
Oh, snap! She’s threatening Aurei!
I look at Aurei and watch the tension coil. When she sings that she shouldn’t be underestimated in the things that she is willing to do, he stands and the other men stand too in unison. Aurei looks at Quintus and tells him. "Stay with Siri. If we aren’t back when Mia returns, make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid." Then he and Angelo push their chairs back to leave.
I reach for his hand and when my skin touches his, he looks at me. His face is scary badass! "Aurei?"
"Stay with Quintus." He commands.
I open my mouth to say something, but then close it and just nod at him. There’s no point saying anything while her stupid ass is singing that she is not going to let this issue go. I’m not sure why she chose the venue of this Karaoke battle to make her point, but maybe it’s just to let everyone else know she doesn’t agree.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
I watch silently as Aurei and Angelo walk across the dance floor to where his parents are. They have returned to the table again with Augustus and Oriana, Milo and Vanessa. Quintus comes to sit beside me. Jemma sits alone in their chair. Our eyes touch, but there is nothing to say. Antonio is holding Gio’s hand and he is whispering to her. She is nodding her head at him. Looking back at the stage, there are a few couples dancing, but most are simply watching her, or Aurei, or me.
Mia is staring at our table and my skin starts to crawl. She's got balls! By the time the song is over, I’m fit to be tied. It doesn’t matter her motives. She’s made one helluva statement! When she simply says my name, I stand knowing the confrontation is at hand.
Quintus grabs my arm. "Oh no you don’t."
My blood boils. Pure venom spews fro
m my mouth. "Take your hand off me! Right now, Quintus Liotine! If you think I’m going to sit here after that, you are wrong! That’s treason in my damn book, buddy. She’s threatening Aurei in front of his whole family and she’s calling me out! I told you before. It’s his life and his choice."
"And he will handle it."
I snatch my arm away. "No, I’m the reason she’s threatening him. I’ll handle it in front of his whole family too!" I turn to the dance floor and inform him. "She don’t know me! I’m going to crush her at her own goddamn game." I flip my hair with southern badass, redneck attitude and the Vegas Diva walks out onto the dance floor to meet her. When we pass, I stare her ass down. She doesn’t blink. She is supremely confident.
We shall see how smug you are in just a damn minute.
"Thank you, Mia, for showing your true colors to me. I prefer to receive information straight line, not curved."
Her mouth forms a bitter line when she hears Aurei’s words come out of my mouth.
I’m pushing her buttons. Good! Dammit!
Her cold eyes try to cut me, but I simply flip my hair at her and walk to the stage. When I arrive, I take the side steps up. My anger makes my stride long as I cross to the DJ. My breasts bounce and I don’t care. I’ll sing Kelly Clarkson’s "Mr. Know It All" to Mrs. Know It All!
The DJ looks like he got caught jacking off and he says. "That was weird!"
I smile sweetly at him. "What song has the weirdo chosen for me?"
He looks embarrassed when I see it. "Ah!" I stand there a few seconds absorbing the song choice.
"You can change it. You don’t have to sing it."
"Ha." I smile at him. "No. I’ll sing it. It’s perfect."
When I walk up to the microphone, the crowd is quiet and I look out at them. Aurei stands next to Bob and Augustus. Both of them have their hands on his arms holding him back. His thunder is rumbling all around them. Angelo is walking with purpose and looks pissed off as he crosses the dance floor back to Mia. She is sitting between Antonio and Quintus. I turn my back to them, take several deep breaths, relax my shoulders, look up at the ceiling, and find my center, letting my anger go. I slip again into Divine Diva-ness like Cinderella slipped into the glass slipper.
Being In Love (Siri's Saga Book 5) Page 25
