Chapter 31
It was the day of the reception and Poppy was being fitted to receive intel from Luke at the party. She just hoped the answers he gave were the right ones. She didn't want to see him killed. Deep down, she believed Luke to be a good man.
Her sleeveless tulle cocktail dress with a stunning sweetheart neckline looked to have been made just for her. But the wires and microphone weren't exactly the perfect accessories to go with such a high fashion dress.
Roman watched as Remi affixed the wiretap to Poppy's dress, struggling to get it right.
"Sis, that's not going to work. They could spot that wire a mile away."
"Hush. I'm trying my best." Remi wasn't much of a sewing girl, so she was failing miserably. Pricking her finger on the needle, she stuck her finger in her mouth. "Ouch, son of a bitch, that hurts!"
Yanking the dress and wiretap from her hands, Poppy rolled her eyes. "You're doing it wrong. You must slip it in under the hemline. That way, it looks like part of the dress. You're bunching too much fabric and you'll ruin the tulle by yanking on it like that. You have to finesse it and treat the fabrics gently."
"Well then, genius, you do it. Claudia, you know damn well you can't do any better than I am. You've never done menial labor a day in your life. More or less know how to sew. Admit it, those clothes in that store are stolen black market goods. Luke probably did a heist on a semi-truck to get that stuff."
Poppy stopped for a moment, glaring at the woman. "I used to live on a farm, smart ass. I've done more work in a day bailing hay and using a pitchfork than your snobby rich ass has done in your lifetime. I know how to sew and am damn good at it."
"What did you say to me, bitch?" Remi scolded, jumping to her feet from the sewing machine.
"You heard me. You're a spoiled rich girl with an attitude problem. I've been sewing since I was old enough to pick up a needle and you're ruing this beautiful dress. Now move, I can do this."
Going right to work, Poppy was sewing through the fabric with ease. Remi stood glaring at her brother, hoping he'd give the order for her to end this woman right then and there.
"Remi, calm down. Look. She's doing it. Wait… You can sew?" Roman stepped closer, admiring her skill.
"Of course I can, you moron. I'm a fashion designer. I went to a fashion design school right here in Chicago. Then after I saved enough money from making clothes back home, I moved here and opened my shop. One of which is probably closed by now, because some asshole has me captive… There. It's finished."
Looking over the dress, Remi was in awe. "You did that in less than five minutes."
"Well yeah. It's just a basic whip-stitch. It will hold just fine until this thing is over."
Roman smiled, almost proud of her accomplishment. He had never known Claudia to do anything creative. Or at all, for that matter. She was more about shopping for clothes than making them.
Narrowing his eyes, he looked over to Remi, who was clearly thinking the same thing. "Go get dressed. We'll wait out here."
As Poppy trotted off to the restroom to change, Remi turned to her brother. "What do you think? There is no way Claudia learned that in just a few weeks."
"If she's determined enough to run a scam, she would. I don't know, Remi. Something is off about her. She doesn't talk, act, or even walk the same. She's so…"
"Normal? Yeah. I notice too. Roman, you don't think Luke really brainwashed her, do you?"
"Seems like it. Or maybe she's finally snapped. She's always been a little crazy and maybe something happened to make her finally go nuts."
"Nah, this chick is nice. Not even crazy can fix that. Claudia hates me and other than that little outburst, she's been nice and polite. She even said please earlier when she asked for some water."
"I noticed. It doesn't sit well with me."
Just then, the bathroom door swung open to the room where Poppy had been held captive. When Remi's eyes went to her and her mouth dropped open, Roman followed his sister's glance. There, he found the most stunning beauty he'd ever seen. She was like an angel dressed in white. The sparkle from her dress giving off just enough glow to make the shine in her eyes dance playfully about.
He couldn't breathe. She was giving him life and all he wanted was to keep her locked away in this room forever, making her his. He'd treat her like a princess in his palace, and he the willing prince.
Princess… yes, that was the word he'd been using. But until this fiasco, he'd never called Claudia that. He not once even thought of her as such. Bitch, gold digger, harlot, tramp, thief, whore; those were words they came to mind before. Now, before him, was everything he ever wanted. Beauty, class, elegance, refinement. The total package.
Slowly, he walked to her, without so much as acknowledging his sister, who was raving over the woman's outfit. When he reached her, Roman pulled Poppy into his arms, lacing his fingers around the back of her neck. Quickly he pressed a kiss so deep on her lips her toes curled.
Letting their tongues dance across each other, Poppy let out a moan as she leaned in closer. It was warm and inviting. Exactly how she had imagined.
"Roman! What the fuck are you doing?" Remi squealed.
Hearing his sister's shrill voice, he quickly backed away, wide eyed and unsure of what just came over him. "I'm… I'm sorry, Poppy. I mean Claudia."
Poppy couldn't speak. The taste of his lips on hers was heaven with the hint of mint. The perfect mix of pressure and softness still lingered there as she reached to touch her lips, feeling the residing warmth of his touch. She blinked away the enchantment with her eyes wide, in response to his own.
"Perfect," she whispered.
"What?"
"Oh… uh.. nothing. Why did you…?"
"Why? Because my brother has lost his ever-loving mind." Slapping him on the arm, Remi wanted to shove him out the window. "Is crazy contagious around here? What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"It was a mistake, Remi. Get off my ass about it. I just got carried away. She just looks beautiful, and I wasn't thinking. You do look lovely, princess."
"Thank you?" She blushed.
Watching the smiles shared between the two; Remi threw her hands up in disgust. "You have got to be kidding me. Roman, she's engaged. Stop being a weirdo. Ever since this tramp got here, you've been acting like a lunatic. Fuck her or kill her. Either way, make up your damn mind! Are we going to find out who killed Beau or not?"
"I'm sorry, Sis. I know. I screwed up. Sorry, Poppy… I mean… Cl-Claudia."
That short stammer made Remi look at her brother as if he was truly insane. "You're in love with her."
"No, I'm not. She's hot is all. I haven't got laid in a while."
Poppy just covered her mouth with her hands, trying not to laugh. "It was nice. You're a good kisser."
"Stop encouraging him, short stuff. Come on. Let's get out of here before his stupid ass does something else embracing. You have a wedding reception to get to."
Lead by Tate who was waiting at the door, Poppy practically skipped away.
Stepping into his path, Remi stopped her brother. "Roman, don't do this. Don't screw this up. She betrayed you before. Don't let her do it again."
"What if she's not Claudia?"
With a shake of her head, Remi closed her eyes to calm herself while letting out a breath. Her brother was getting on her last never with this Claudia business.
"You're really losing your touch, Brother. Just stick to the plan and keep your dick in check. She's getting in your head. That bitch is Claudia Ricci. The same one who broke your heart and stole your money. She'll eat your heart while you're dying in her bed. Don't forget that the Ricci's are more ruthless than any of the five families. Had Luke known what she's capable of, he'd never gotten involved with that whore."
Nodding, Roman knew his sister was right. "All right. Let's just get her to that party. If Luke is behind this, we end them all. Tonight. Let no one escape."
"Now that's the brother I know. I'll have our men surrounding the dining hall. No one will get out alive."
"Leave Luke for me," he said coldly as he walked away.
As Remi heard her brothers' words, she shivered with anxiety. She knew her brother would kill him without hesitation. Whispering to herself, she mumbled, "Please, Luke. Please be telling the truth."