The Mafia Boss's Secret Baby Mama

Eliana's POV

"Tell me again why you're wearing that dress if you don't plan on getting laid tonight?" Sophia's voice cut through the bass-heavy beat of the club, smirking as she tilted her glass in my direction.

"Excuse me?" I said, nearly choking on my drink.

"You heard me." She said, leaning closer, "That neckline? Those legs? And don't think I didn't notice the glitter you swore you wouldn't wear. Eliana, sweetheart, you came here hunting. Admit it."

"She's not wrong. That shimmer on your thighs is practically screaming touch me." Juliette said, tipping back her shot and licking the salt from her wrist with exaggerated flair.

"I just wanted to look nice, okay? It's called self-care." I said with a tease.

"Self care?" Sophia said, leaning in. "Honey, if a man doesn't have his hands on you by the end of the night, it'll be a crime against humanity."

"Careful, Soph. She might take that as a dare." Juliette added laughing so hard she almost spilled her drink.

The three of us had come out tonight to just have a little ladies' night. To enjoy some drinks, music... and maybe some views.

"You two are the worst," I said with a laugh, narrowing my eyes at both of them.

Because the thing is they weren't entirely wrong. I hadn't come to the club planning to find trouble, but I wasn't exactly running from it either. Yes, I'd spent an extra ten minutes picking out this dress. And yes, I'd dusted my thighs with that shimmer lotion I'd been saving. Maybe some part of me was open to whatever the night might throw my way. What's a girl gotta do?

"Look at her blush," Sophia teased, nudging me with her elbow. "That's a guilty face if I ever saw one."

"I'm not blushing."

"You're definitely blushing," Juliette said, smug. "Neck to ears. Classic Eliana giveaway."

"You both should be banned from ladies' night." I groaned again playfully, tugging at the hem of my dress.

"Please," Sophia said with a dramatic roll of her eyes. "Without us, you'd still be at home, curled up with a blanket and Netflix. Tonight is about freedom. Fun!"

"Translation: she's already picked someone out," Juliette stage-whispered to me.

"Maybe I have. Maybe I haven't. A girl never tells." Sophia smirked, not even bothering to deny it. She tossed back the rest of her shot like it was water, her eyes scanning the crowd again with practiced ease.

I shook my head but couldn't hide my smile.This was why I loved being out with them. Sophia's wild energy and Juliette's sly humor. They both pushed me out of my comfort zone even when I resisted.

A waiter passed by with another tray of shots, and Juliette snagged two before he was even gone. She slid one to me and raised hers high.

"To guilty faces and wasted potential." She said.

"And to making sure Eliana doesn't go home alone tonight." Sophia added as we clinked glasses.