I Unintentionally Became Her Kitten

Chapter 82: Schmooze

The individuals who had been sitting at the front table with Nico stood as Alisha crouched to look through his pockets and pulled his phone out and handed it to me. It was still warm from his body heat, making an icky feeling swarm under my skin.

Alisha stood again once she was satisfied the corpse had nothing else to offer.

Tye approached us, looking over the other mobsters.

“How was your trip?” he asked, as if there wasn't a limp body at our feet.

“It was nice,” Alisha told him. “Things weren't too crazy while I was gone?”

“People were restless but no one got hurt,” he informed.

I was acutely aware of the other people listening to their exchange, waiting to jump into the conversation.

“Good,” Alisha said, and pulled me close again as the man who'd been talking to Nico when we interrupted them took a step closer, drawing her attention. She acknowledged him with her gaze.

“I'm glad to see you alive and well,” the man told her.

“The feeling is mutual, Joseph,” she told him. “Was there any significant disruption in business while I was away?”

“No, product moved as it should have.” He looked at me. “I don't believe I've met your companion,” he said.

“This is Kit,” Alisha explained.

I nodded, finding myself ducking my head a bit respectfully as I did so. “It's nice to meet you,” I told him.

“The pleasure is mine,” he responded.

I should've said, ‘it's a pleasure,’ or something similar I realized. ‘Nice’ was such a commoner word. Though this man named Joseph didn't appear to see it as distasteful at least, not like I might expect from someone who very clearly was high in Alisha’s ranks. 

Still the pit in my stomach wasn't lessening. I could really use the bathroom and some ice water.

Alisha continued to discuss product with Joseph, still holding that knife, though it was sheathed. I could gather Joseph was the one that handled imports from other families or organizations or whatever. There was a lot of discussion of North, South, and West. Even some about trade with the Santos and the Costellos. I didn't know the smaller families received some of their products from the Takenos.

I looked around restlessly for a bathroom as Joseph finished his socially acceptable time with Alisha. The next person approached though Alisha turned to me before they could greet her 

“Is something wrong, Kit?” she asked quietly.

Part of me wanted to make a gesture at the corpse still on the floor but I knew better in a room full of people willing to murder.

“Ba– restroom,” I managed.

She looked up at Tye but he was talking to someone else so instead she turned to where Matteo was still observing and made eye contact with him. It was all he needed to approach us. I tried not to panic. I needed space. I needed to be able to have a bit of a mental breakdown if necessary. Matteo was going to make that harder.

“Escort her to the restroom, please,” Alisha told him anyway.

He nodded and got closer to me. The instinct to shrink into myself won before I attempted to fight against it. People were staring at me as I passed. Some of them I recognized, like Sergei, who still looked like a thug when dressed up in a suit. The gazes felt like fishing lines tangling up around me, making the beating in my chest faster and tighter. 

Matteo led me back into the lobby area and then to a hallway off of it, all in the same light neutral colors.

“I'll be right here,” he told me in that deep voice.

“Thank you,” I said quietly and pushed the door open.

It was a multi stall bathroom, but from what I could see, there were no windows or other entryways. I doubted anyone would dare try to cross Matteo. He was still incredibly intimidating and if this was a more public place, I'd worry about someone calling the police about a man lurking outside the women’s room.

For now though, it was only mobsters who knew him as an enforcer.

I had time to lean against the sink and take a couple slow deep breaths. My heart was still pattering. At least I was away from the stares here.

Was it not urgent to dispose of Nico's body? Was schmoozing really more important than that right now? And was I supposed to be schmoozing? People definitely had been eyeing me in there. Even before I pulled a gun out. I hoped I'd never have to do that again. My conscience still felt on fire, even if Nico was a bad man and was cheating on his wife and had maimed people and slept with his boss's mom and attempted to murder my partner and called me a liability and–

I took another slow breath, reminding myself to slow down and take a mental step back. Nico was a problem. Alisha had made the decision to get rid of him and I only wanted Alisha to be okay.

So why was I still shaking so bad?

I ran the cold water and put my hands under it, trying to ease the nerves. It only helped a little but I wasn't visibly distraught so much anymore. It would be nice to put some cold water under my eyes but I didn’t want to risk disturbing the makeup there. I instead let the water cool my fingers until they were practically numb and then dried them and then pressed the tips against that under eye area, appreciating the fleeting coolness.

Another deep breath later, I straightened my hair out and stared at the reflection in the mirror. I didn’t look like the same person as a few months ago. My hair didn’t even have the same color, instead being more vibrant and glossy. The gauntness around my face had fleshed out. I looked a lot healthier, even with the tension in my brow and the puffiness under my eyes from almost crying on the way to the bathroom. 

I headed back out into the hall, finding Matteo staring intently at the lobby space, though no one was there that I could see.

I gave him a nod at his questioning expression and he led me back to the event room. I was thrown back into that tangled web of stares as we went back to Alisha, who had gotten a glass of wine at some point. There was also a man now draggin Nico’s body off the platform and out a side door, possibly an exit, and leaving a long smear of blood in its wake. My stomach went straight back to uneasiness but I couldn’t really make a good excuse to have to use the bathroom twice in the span of five minutes. I'd just have to pretend I didn't feel like throwing up.

When I was close enough to Alisha, Matteo fell back and resumed keeping his eyes on things at a distance. Tye was no longer able to be Alisha's primary guard since he was currently talking seriously with a few other men I didn't know, and as such, didn't know what they did for the family. But since he was now, officially, acting under boss, his time would be taken up with other things than escorting us around. I didn't know who would be replacing his role as my guard then. I doubted Alisha was going to let me go extended periods of time without someone to keep an eye on me, at the same time, she’d probably need Matteo for enforcement things and her third choice was dead.

I didn't know any of her other guard types.

Alisha urged me back to her side so I approached and ended up accepting a champagne glass, finding the liquid dry and very fizzy, to the point it almost burned whenever I took a sip.

There were so many people who jumped at their chance to rub elbows with Alisha. It was a bit overwhelming and I did my best to politely answer every question directed at me, though I didn’t necessarily know how to answer some of them. One of the suited men asked me how I became associated and I found myself stumbling over thoughts and words, and froze up for a long moment before he nodded and moved on. What could I tell someone who asked me that? Alisha fixed him with a warning stare, though, and I gathered it was a bit of an improper question for him to ask. Perhaps because the nature of Alisha and I’s relationship had a large sexual component and I probably wouldn’t be in this situation if we hadn’t started sleeping together.

Sergei took his turn too. He, like many of the others, had a glass of some kind of alcohol, though he was acting as sober as ever. I was starting to feel the warmth from the champagne, only a third of the way through the small glass.

“Ms. Takeno,” Sergei greeted her.

Alisha kept the sterness in her gaze as he addressed her, and took a sip of her champagne.

“It's not like you to be forgiving,” Sergei commented.

Alisha took her time with her sip and slowly lowered the glass, never taking her eyes off of him. “It’s not forgiveness,” she reassured him.

I wasn’t sure what the implications were here. They had to be talking about her pardoning Nico’s little rats, but… why was it surprising? If she threatened to kill them outright, wouldn’t they have wanted Nico to kill Alisha?

“Yes, but you know it looks bad.” Sergei pointed out.

I saw the crease in Alisha’s brow deepen. “Do you want to stir up trouble already, Sergei?” she asked shortly. “I don’t have much patience for your nonsense right now.”

Sergei took a step back. “No, I’m just trying to tell you my perspective. Without Mr.Accardi, there’s going to be stirring about,” he explained. “Wouldn’t you appreciate what things look like to someone in the old family?”

Alisha didn’t seem particularly relieved, sighing briefly. “The north block is serving you well?” she asked instead of continuing the conversation.

“Very. My numbers are back to good levels. I greatly appreciate your generosity.’

“Good,” Alisha said, just as brisk with him as ever and then turned her attention away from him, instead engaging in another man I didn’t recognize.

The night went on like that for some time. I had tried to make mental note of everyone that Alisha talked with but by the end of the night my thoughts were just swirling about with bits and pieces of everything. Nothing really made a lot of sense.

It felt like forever but eventually people were dwindling. Tye came to stand at her shoulder looking intimidating again.

As the last person finally finished talking with Alisha and gave her their respectful head nod and an “enjoy your evening,” Alisha finally relaxed and set her empty wine glass down on a nearby table.

“Doing okay?” Tye asked once no one was within earshot.

“Mm,” she said agreeingly.

“How is the wound on your back?” he asked.

“Healing. It's hasn't bled anymore and it looks clean.”

Tye nodded. “Good.”

They surveyed the room together. I looked around as well, finding the room quite a bit emptier than before. People were gradually leaving.

Soon, Alisha and I could get some rest. And Tye too. He was good at hiding it but I knew him well enough at this point that I could see the weariness in his movements. It was subtle but still present. He didn't quite move in his natural manner.

Alisha didn't make any move to leave, instead picking up another wine glass and folding her arms with it, waiting and observing as the last of the minglers were finally shuffling out.

I let out a breath when she finally put that untouched wineglass down again and leaned against the table, exhausted.

“You should go home and get some rest,” Tye informed her. He glanced over at me, almost expectantly. It took a moment for the intention to sink in.

“Yes,” I agreed and gently laid a hand on her back. “This is over now,” I reassured her. “So you can sleep properly.”

She snorted a little.

I leaned a little closer, hoping to reassure her more.

“It's never over,” she mumbled, but she stood upright again. “Not in my lifetime.”

Tye was grim, evidently agreeing with the statement.

“But… Nico’s gone,” I pointed out.

They had dumped a bunch of powder on his blood and then swept it away but there were still some streaks left. I was sure over night it would be scrubbed down but for now there was still a reminder of the murder.

“He had loyal subordinates. Not dumb enough to stand up for him but they'll be pissed. Nothing is more dangerous than angry old men. At least…when you're a business woman.”

I wanted to console her and reassure her everything would be fine but I didn't know that for sure. Instead I stood next to her and made sure she knew I was there. 

“I'll drive us home,” I told her. She looked half dead.