“What are you doing here?” He asked with a smile.
“I just came to get a coffee, my friend is waiting outside.” She replied, glancing at the car. Cody glanced at the car and chuckled.
“That is Draven’s car.” He chuckled and Xalia smiled.
“Yeah, but my friend is the one driving.”
“Oh. Well, see you around Mrs. Wade.” He said and smiled at her before walking fully into the restaurant. Xalia bit her lip to stop herself from smiling widely, she walked out and walked to the car.
She entered and Allison gave her a questioning look.
“What?” Xalia asked.
“Don’t ask me what. I saw that, I fucking saw that.”
“Saw what?”
“That smile. You suddenly beamed around him. Who is he?” She asked and Xalia chuckled.
“Someone Draven knows.”
“Is there something you are not telling me?”
“No.” Xalia shrugged and gulped out of her coffee.
“Is there more to you and Draven’s fight?” Allison asked worriedly.
“It’s nothing, Allison.” She smiled and Allison sighed before nodding.
She ignited the car and drove out of the parking lot.
“Where are we heading to?” Xalia asked, seeing she took a different turn.
“I got an invite to a gathering.”
“How? You just got here yesterday.”
“I know. It’s not like I got the invite.” She mumbled and Xalia gave her a questioning look.
“Start talking.”
“Fine. I saw the invite in Henry’s car yesterday and I took it.” She replied and Xalia’s eyes widened in shock.
“What the fuck? Why did you do that?”
“I saw a lot of invites there and I picked two. It’s in my bag.” She shrugged as she took another turn, Xalia picked up her bag and brought out the invites.
She opened it and read what the occasion was about but she found it confusing.
“What does it say?” Allison asked.
“It’s just a sentence.”
“A sentence?”
“Yeah. It says ‘Welcome to the clan. *la familia primero*” Xalia read.
“That is Spanish, what does it mean?” Allison asked and Xalia brought out her phone, she typed in the letters on a translating app and it translated it into English.
“Family first.”
“Oh, that’s nice. We are going for a family gathering.” She said and Xalia groaned.
“You want us to get involved in Draven and Henry’s shit? This is definitely about their gangster stuff.”
“I know and that is why I am interested. Why do you think I picked a black gown?” She asked and Xalia rolled her eyes.
“And we are here,” Allison said, pulling over in front of a building that looked isolated. There were no cars around except theirs and Xalia frowned.
“Are you sure this is the place?” She asked, turning to Allison.
“Well, according to the address, yes.” She replied.
“I don’t think this is a good idea, Allison.”
“Come on, what is the worst that can happen?” Allison asked as they walked out of the car, they looked around as they walked to the entrance.
They got to the entrance and met the door opened, it was a storey building. They walked in and saw a dark hallway, they both exchanged looks before proceeding.
They noticed two men standing in front of a door at the end of the hallway and they walked to them.
The men looked at them and one of them stretched his hand toward them, Xalia placed the invite in it and he looked at their faces and then at the invite.
“Password?” He asked and they both became confused.
“Pass… ”
“la familia primero.” Xalia cut Allison off and the man took a final look at them before stepping out of the way.
Allison exchanged looks with Xalia before they both walked in.
They walked in to see people dressed in black walking around, the scent of alcohol and other hard drugs filled the air.
There were tables around and some were sitting and having a drink, Xalia noticed a few tables with guns on them. She tapped Allison and they both exchanged looks.
“Yeah. I know, I see it too.” Allison whispered. Music was being played in the background.
Xalia looked around for any signs of Henry but she couldn’t find him.
“Let’s sit at that table.” Allison said pointing at a table and they both walked to it, they sat down and looked around.
“I wonder what this is all about.” Allison muttered.
A middle-aged man suddenly walked to them with a smile and they froze, the fear of being caught made them freeze.
“Hello, ladies. l” He called while stretching his hand for a handshake, they both took it and smiled nervously.
“Hi.” They responded.
“I haven’t seen you guys around. Are you new?” He asked and they both exchanged looks.
“Actually, we… we are… ”
“Oh, you guys must be the ladies from Fiji right?” He cut Allison off.
“Oh, yeah. From Australia.” Xalia said and smiled widely.
“Well, it is such an honour to meet you. I have heard a lot about you guys and what you do. I must say I am proud of your work in Fiji.” He said and they both chuckled.
“Thank you.”
“I look forward to working with you two, we could strike a deal sometime.”
“Of course. We would love to.” Allison replied.
“You must be excited for tonight’s event. I heard a new lord is going to be chosen.”
‘Is that what this is about?’ Xalia thought.
“Yeah. I am really curious about it. I wonder who it might be.” Allison said.
“It’s possible it would be Wade but Beck is in town, it’s such a huge challenge.” He replied and Allison glanced at Xalia.
“Did you say, Beck?” Xalia questioned knowing the name rang a bell.
“Yeah, Cody Beck, rumour says he is back for good.”
“Cody?” Xalia asked surprised and the man smiled.
“I guess we will find out when it’s time. Enjoy the party ladies.” The man said and walked away.
“Well, your husband is about to become a mafia lord, no surprise there.” Allison said sarcastically with an eye roll.
“What?” She asked when she noticed Xalia was silent.
“Cody is one of them.” She muttered. She felt a little disappointed. She never thought he would be a gangster too.
“Oh, are you surprised? You said he is someone Draven knows. Have you ever seen someone who is not a criminal with Draven?” Allison asked and she sighed.
They both grabbed a glass of drink from the waiter passing by and gulped it.
“Draven is going to get mad if he sees us here.” Xalia said.
“Maybe.” Allison shrugged.
“Hold on, who are the two ladies from Fiji by the way? Are they at this party?” Xalia asked, looking around.
“We could borrow their identity for a while.” Allison chuckled.
As Xalia looked around, her eyes met with familiar eyes and she felt her heart stop beating. He was staring at her from a distance and she slowly smiled.
As she stared at him, everyone else seemed invincible to her, she held onto her glass and kept smiling. He smiled back at her and slowly walked towards her.
Allison noticed Xalia’s silence and she looked in the direction she was staring at.
“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.” Allison muttered and looked at Xalia who was smiling.
He got to them and Allison scoffed.
“Mrs. Wade.”
“Cody.” Xalia replied.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t notice this when we met earlier. You look so stunning.” He complimented and Xalia blushed.
“Hi, nice to meet you.” He turned to Allison and she ignored him.
“Okay.” He chuckled and turned back to Xalia.
He slowly leaned to her and leaned closer to her ear.
“Adios diosa sexy.” He whispered and smiled at her before walking away.