XLII *NOT EDITED*

Karma

"Are you sure you're fine to go out?" Vincenzo asks looking over to me, I look out the window and nod my head "I've always loved New York, the tall buildings, the way it looks at night, times square, their accents" I laugh, I hear Vincenzo sigh next to me so I look to him. "I'm okay Vin I promise, I just needed to tell someone" I half-smile taking his hand in mine. After my little emotional breakdown on the plane we landed in New York and basically started getting ready for this dinner straight away, I still haven't spoken to Stefano but that can wait until after I've been to Italy tomorrow, I need to sort that shit out first. "Iggy and Gio will be listening in just in case, you have your gun right?" He asks looking at my upper things for any outlines of it thought my clothing, I lean forward and reveal its tucked into the back of my dress "Are we expecting bad company?" I ask leaning back in my seat, I watch as he smirks my way and shakes his head "No leonessa, but we can never be too careful hmm?".

The car pulls to outside a large building that looks familiar but I can't put my finger on it right now, maybe I went here for dinner when I was here last I think to myself, I undo my seatbelt and before I can open the door myself it opens for me. Vincenzo holds his hand out to me so I take it and get out of the car with his help, he closes the door behind me and puts his arm around my waist tightly, "If you hold me any tighter you're going to cut off my circulation" I joke teasing him but his face is serious, I look around and see people with cameras looking in his direction, he moves my face to look up to him and taps the side of his mouth twice before planting a kiss on my forehead, I guess that means don't say another thing until we get inside.

I let him guide me to where we need to go, once the doors behind us close he takes a deep breath and relaxes slightly, his grip on my waist still tight, I wonder what's got him acting sus? The waiter takes one look at him before bowing his head and asking us to follow him to our dinner guests, "Vin what's going on?" I whisper ask looking up to him, he slightly looks back down at me with a small smile, "We're having dinner Leonessa, oh and turn your microphone on" He smirks, I quickly turn my hearing piece on and the microphone that's hidden down my cleavage "I mean with your death grip on my waist silly" I reply as we are taken into a large room with a few tables scattered around with customers enjoying their meals, "I just like to show people whats mine" He smugly replies as we head towards a large table that's secluded from the others "Oooooo someone's acting like a big lion huh?" Iggy's voice giggles over the ear piece, now how in the fuck am I going to keep my shit together with iggy chirping in my ear every three seconds? I try to hold in my laugh as my high heels click on the wooden floors. We get closer to the table and see two people are sitting there already a woman and a man I guess this is Vincenzo's friends he was talking about.

The woman turns around first and my heart stop's as well as my feet, as does Vincenzo, it's the read headed woman from his apartment all those months again, "Oh look! it's you again little one!" She exclaims getting up out of her seat while looking me up and down, "And lovely to see you again Ace" She winks looking to Vincenzo I can feel my body temperature skyrocket, Vin's hand pulls me even closer into him if it's even possible were basically conjoined twins now, "That's a lovely dress, did you get it in the children's section at Walmart?" She asks in a snarky tone. I go to take a step forward towards her but Vincenzo pinches my ass causing me to look up at him, "Not right now leonessa, soon" He hums softly in my ear.

"That's enough" The man speaks and I swear I've heard that voice before too, he gets up out of his seat and finally turns around my stomach drops, his eyes move from Vincenzo's to mine and his face lights up once he sees me, oh no... this isn't good. "My my my, look what the cat dragged in" He grins staring as he walks over to us, his eyes on me the whole time "Ace brother I thought you weren't going to show up tonight" He jokes, Vincenzo lets go of me for a second as he pulls Vin in for a bro hug thing, he then spins on his heels and faces me "Karma this is-" Vincenzo begins but I finish his sentence for him "Mr Black, we've met".

"Oooooooooooo" Iggy's voice rings through my ear, "I'm so glad I took this job" Gio speaks next. Vincenzo looks away from the pair and looks to me with curious yet confused eyes "We met a few years ago" I say looking at Vin hoping he won't ask any more questions, "Don't be so formal Karma, you can still call me Maison, even Maiso like you used too" He teases and I just know Vincenzo's putting two and two together, "Miss Ferrara you age just like fine wine my dear" Maison speaks again winking in my direction, he attempts to grab my hand but Vincenzo smacks Maison's hand away from me "You don't fucking touch her" he growls, Maison looks at the both of us and smirks "Too late" He hums in amusement. My eyes go to the woman behind him who looks like her heads about to explode, probably because all of the attention isn't on her like usual.

"You fucked him?" Vincenzo asks looking down to me, "Years ago while doing a job for him, and it's Moretti now" I smile looking up to Vin whos not taking his eyes off of me, "Well who would have thought you were going to get tied down huh? Last time I saw you I remember you telling me" He begins but I cut him off, "That I'd never be in a relationship let alone marriage. Yet here we are, now why don't we sit down? Your guest looks like she's going to blow up into a billion pieces if we stand here any longer".

Maison looks over his shoulder to the red-haired woman before looking back at us, he nods once and walks us to the table, "I can't believe you slept with him" He mutters under his breath "And I can't believe you used to fuck everything that breathed the same air as you" I hiss in reply "YOU TELL HIM SIS!!" Iggy yells through the earpiece. Maison and the woman sit down as Vin pulls my chair out of me, I silently thank him and watch as he takes his seat next to me. Once he's sitting he grabs onto my hand holds it resting them on the table as his fingers graze over my wedding ring.

The woman's eyes move from Vincenzo to the ring and back and forth over and over again, "Maison your dates going to get dizzy if she keeps doing that" Vincenzo smirks leaning over to plant a kiss on my cheek. "I thought you only wanted sex" She hisses from across the table and memories of that night come flooding back in as does the feelings and emotions of it, I begin to dig my nails into Vincenzo's hand subconsciously to calm myself down, "I thought the same thing" Maison speaks next looking to me. Vin looks at Maison before looking back at me, his hold on my hand tightens as he looks back to the red-headed woman "With you? Yes I only wanted sex but with her? I want a future. One you wouldn't have been able to provide or live in".

The woman's glare turns to me as she sits herself up in her seat "And what's so good about her? I've heard the stories about little miss orphan over here, she's nothing special, IM SPECIAL!" She screams getting to her feet, wait wait wait who the fuck told her about my past unless it was... "Vin?" I ask looking to him, he doesn't look at me he continues to stare at the woman screaming at me from across the table "It wasn't Ace Karma, she's gotta be in with other people who know about you, try and stay calm and get as much out of her as you can" Gio's voice speaks, I mean Gio could have just said it to save his brother's ass?

"How do you know a damn thing about her?" He asks leaning forward slightly, she flicks her hair over her shoulder and smiles "I have my people". The waitresses come out with plates of food but I'm not hungry, not for food anyways, "I need to use the restroom" I say standing up from my seat, "Take all the time in the world you won't be missed" The woman smirks watching my every move. I roll my eyes as I start to walk away but Vincenzo's hand in mine stops me, I forgot about that. He gives me a look and I know that look it's the 'don't go running away or drinking yourself stupid' look, he kisses my hand let's go so I can walk away, as I walk away from the table I can hear the women bitching about me maybe I shouldn't have gotten up, what if when I come back all three are gone and I'm left here by myself? Dear god what if they kiss?! What if they fuck?!?!?!

Not paying attention and mid spiral I walk into someone and fall onto my ass, "Oh my god I'm so sorry" The woman's voice shakily says, I look up and see a waitress who looks like she could cry "I'm so sorry, please let me help you" She quickly says helping me up off of the ground, "Shit you're bleeding" she almost cries, I look on my elbow and there's a little blood as well as a cut, "Eh I'll live" I shrug as I fix my dress and gun. "No, please I need to help you" She sighs as she ushers me into the bathroom well this is a little sus isn't it? I watch as she runs around wetting paper towel to clean my arm up "I can do it, it's all good why are you so scared?" I ask taking the paper towel form her hand, "My boss would kill me if he knew I hurt one of his friends" She replies softly, I scoff and laugh "That dipshit wont be doing anything, but since you're here. What do you know about the red-headed she-devil sitting at that table?".

The woman cringes and I know she knows who I'm talking about, "That's his fuck buddy. She's always in here with different men, she brags about travelling all over America and fucking all the rich and powerful men, kinda gross" She replies. "You know what? I don't feel like going back there for a while, when do you get off?" I ask as I throw away the bloodied paper towel. "I finish in 5 minutes" She answers sheepishly, "Perfect, meet me in the bar for a drink darling" I reply smiling to her as I walk out of the bathroom. "What did Ace say Karma?" Gio's voice comes through the earpiece again "He said don't go to the bar and get stupid drunk, I can have a few drinks with my new friend Gio".

"This is going to be a shit show if I've ever seen one" Iggy's laughter comes through next, "Igloo stop laughing you're going to make me laugh too" I quietly reply as I sit down on a barstool. I order 2 drinks and 2 shots from the bartender as I wait for my new friend, as she said a few minutes later she finds me in the bar and sits down next to me, I slide a drink and a shot over to her. "How much do I owe you?" She asks digging through her bag for what I assume is her purse, I wave my hand at her shooing her away "Stop it, I invited you so I pay" I reply before downing the shot. I watch as she does the shot too and I know I've found myself a drinking buddy for the night.