Blood and Fire (McClouds & Friends #8)(171)

She shrank away, sensing a trap. “Um. I think that’s my cue to—”

“Are you staying for the reception?” His scarred hand clamped her wrist. Her wrist went nuts at the contact. A ripple effect that shot bright sparks all through her system.

“I don’t think that would be a good idea,” she quavered.

“I have to talk to you,” he said. “Please. Come with me.”

She grabbed a wrought iron gate and hung on. “To where?”

“To the receiving line. I can’t risk letting you out of my sight.”

“No problem!” Liv McCloud popped up, Eamon in her arms, and leaned to give Lily a kiss. “Glad to see you, Lily. You’re wanted urgently in the receiving line, Bruno. Hurry. Edie’s aunt is twitching and frothing. Don’t worry, Eamon and I will babysit Lily for you.”

“I don’t need to be babysat!” Lily snapped, testily.

“Of course not.” Liv took her arm. “Le’s go pay our respects to the bride and groom, shall we?”

It was a unique form of hell to have everyone hugging her, exchanging grins and winks, thumbs-up, when she was just going to let them down again, once they knew the truth. The receiving line itself was the worst. She was passed from one McCloud to the next, getting fierce hugs and significant glances from each one. Bruno grabbed her when she got to him and held her tight, in a hard, breathless clinch. The raw, burning look in his eyes just undid her.

Edie gave her a hug when Bruno finally released her. “Thanks for coming.”

Lily laughed, soggily. “I had to, right? To get the portrait of my mom. Holding it for ransom like that, that was a very dirty trick.”

“Whatever works, right? I kept my side of the bargain. It’s in the car, all ready for you,” Edie assured her. Her arms tightened around Lily again. “He needs you, you know?” she whispered.

Lily’s heart was squeezed. She extricated herself, greeted Edie’s sister, a dewy creature named Ronnie. Then Tam gripped her arm.

“Congratulations for Irina,” Lily offered. “I saw her during the ceremony. She’s beautiful. I’m so glad things turned out well.”

“Me, too,” Tam said. She leaned forward, breathing the words into Lily’s ear. “Far be it from me to criticize a sister for giving a man a hard time,” she murmured. “Just be sure you don’t make yourself pay too high a price for it. Satisfaction’s hollow when you’re all alone at night.”

Lily jerked herself loose. “It’s not that simple!”

“Right. Nothing ever is.” She shoved Lily right into Zia Rosa’s waiting arms. “Good luck.”

Zia’s smothering embrace was sharply perfumed with jungle gardenia. Zia cupped her hands, pinched her cheeks. “Ehi, you’re pale! Sciupata! Not eating?” Her eyes slitted. “How’s the tummy?”

“Just fine, just fine,” Lily assured her hastily. “The best.”

“You seen our little Tonio, and Lena? Ain’t they cute?” She jerked Lily’s chin around. “See? Look! Miles has Tonio, and Sveti’s got Lena.”

Lily looked. The kids really were beautiful. Tonio giggled madly, head and shoulders flung back over Miles’s arm as Miles yanked up the kid’s crisp white blouse and snuffled his belly. Lena was on her butt on the floor in her white dress, trying to take off her little white Mary Janes, while Sveti crouched next to her, imploring her to reconsider.

“They are beautiful,” she said, with utter sincerity.

“Ah, but they need a mamma, hmm?” Zia Rosa murmured, sentimentally. She pinched Lily’s cheek again.

A strong arm slid around her waist, pulling. “Zia, that’ll do.”

Lily didn’t know whether to be grateful or panicked when Bruno swept her away from them all, maneuvering her into the ballroom all decked out for dining and dancing. A band was setting up, and the glamorous string ensemble she’d noticed at the ceremony was tuning up, too. “What’s with the musicians?” she asked him.

“The Venus Ensemble?” he asked. “What about them?”

“Six gorgeous girls in low-cut sequined gowns, and they play really well, too? It just seems like a statistical abnormality to me.”

Bruno grinned. “Nah. Remember what happened to Kev and Edie? The mind control, and all that crazy shit?”

“Sure I remember,” she said.

“Those were the girls that got imported to do the crowning jobs. Trafficked from Moldavia, Belarus, the Ukraine, with all the usual tricks. Promises of jobs, green cards. Since the best crown interfaces were with female artists, the traffickers recruited girls from conservatories. And obviously, they favored the pretty ones.”

“That’s so creepy.” Lily looked at the group of beauties busily tuning their instruments, chilled at the thought.

“It is, but it turned out OK. After Kev saved them, they got green cards and formed this string ensemble, and now they’re raking in the dough. Posh weddings, receptions, concerts. They’re famous, and hot, and they kick ass. Their agent can’t handle all the offers.” He waved. A dark-haired violinist smiled back. “But this gig they’re playing for free.”

The first violinist lifted her instrument to her chin. The others looked at her for a moment of expectant silence.