FORTUNE TO THE MAFIA

PTE

L IN TH

in one gloved hand, her dark curls swept under a net. Despite the heat pressin

d down and her spirit quieter. In places like this, palaces

ent upstairs, and the truffle risotto for the mistress," called

tune answered coolly, stirrin

ning on her. "You want to take

e complimented it last we

ing to match her to

was when it came to the food, no one cou

th a practiced swirl. Thinly shaved truffle followed, a whisper of

The butler took it without a glance

tood still for a second, staring at the empty plat

, the butler returned look

him first. "Whe

"Miss Emily says she is unw

Darien ask

t was sour. That it ruined her appetite. S

turned red.

rtu

ood ch

said, stunned. "She didn't even sen

e dism

ha

ediately. Pack you

ust slightly but in a room full of eyes and e

gue with the daughter of the man who signs my paychecks?

houlders squaring. "And there was

issed, low. "But I need this job. And s

tripped over her dog and blamed Fortune. Ever since s

gone. This was

ose," Fortune said, quiet

hrug. "Then consider

o let them fall. She pulled off her apron, tossed it on th

r bus pass stuffed into the pocket of her jeans. The wind hit her skin like a slap.

. Of missing holidays, working through fevers, and biting her tongue every t

was nothi

and no money. A chef wi

the container of bread, an

the night buzzed with the distant sounds

fed sneakers, breaths

t her, her

art dr

main kitchen. Her phone, ID, transit card, worn copy of The Silver S

sing abruptly to her fee

for the spare keycard. It was still

ervice entrance, slipping through the side hedge, down th

more clinking, clean up mode. Lights we

staff wing, glancing over her shoulder as she did.

leach and lavender. She moved quickly, her heart pounding

keycard thr

and she sli

ly big enough for anything. Her backpack sat right where she'd left it

he fraying strap with relief. Slinging it over one shoulder, she tu

rom outside. Smoo

ure she w

ad," answered someone else, maybe a staff, she wasn't sur

e Carte

Getting ready for the after party.

steps dr

loset then slipped inside j