“You make it sound so appealing,” I say, laughing. “Why would we do this, exactly?”

“Because my sibs are driving me crazy and I need to get out of the house.” Like me, Gina’s the firstborn in her family. “Or we could rustle up some alternate IDs and go to a more happening place.”

“You know what happened last time I did that,” I remind her.

“Yeah, getting marched out of a nightclub by the cops is such a buzzkill. Maybe we should wear disguises.”

I laugh again. Gina is a crazy woman. “Okay, In the Frame it is. We can fend off the skinny oglers.”

“Right. See you there in an hour?”

“Sounds good.”

I take my time getting ready. A shimmering red dress that won’t give my parents a heart attack — or not much of one — and sexy-but-comfortable(ish) shoes that I can dance in. Light makeup, carefully styled hair, and a tiny purse for my wallet and phone.

The basement has a separate entrance, which Cait and I always used when we wanted to sneak out, but since my talk with Dad I haven’t snuck anywhere. When I go back up, my parents are on the couch in the living room together, snuggled up in front of the tv. Mom’s head is on Dad’s shoulder, his arm around her. “Hey,” I say. “I’m meeting Gina at In the Frame.”

They turn their heads in unison to look at me, and I get a little pang in my heart. Mom and Dad are so in sync with each other. I want that with someone.

“Have fun,” Mom says.

“Call if you’ll be late,” Dad adds.

“Okay. See you later.”

Parking’s at a premium downtown; I find a spot a few blocks away. Fortunately, it’s a mild night, and even without a jacket I’m comfortable. There’s a line out the door when I reach the club, but it moves quickly, and a few minutes later I’m inside. The walls are black, decorated with movie posters, memorabilia, and portraits of screen stars from the 1920s on. It somehow manages to be closer to cool than cheesy.

I spot Gina waving at me a few seconds later from a little round table not far from the bar and the dance floor. She’s in a purple dress that looks fantastic with her red hair. “Nachos or potato skins?” she says as soon as I reach her.

“Damn. Tough call. If there were more of us, I’d say both.”

“Woman after my own heart.” We settle on potato skins, and Gina goes to order while I hold the table. “So,” she says when she gets back with a soda for me. “You and Constantine Adamo.”

“And your real agenda emerges,” I say teasingly. “Were your siblings really driving you crazy?”

Gina grins. “No more than they ever do.” She takes a sip of her drink and says, “Looked like the two of you were getting into it pretty good today.”

“He drives me nuts,” I admit. “But not at all in a brotherly way.”

“Gotta appreciate a hot man,” Gina concurs, looking over at the dance floor, which is indeed packed with skinny high school boys. “So you think he’s worth the hassle?”

“Maybe,” I say. Definitely, says my libido. “I’m willing to investigate the possibilities.”

“And the rumors don’t bother you?”

I screw my face up at her. “What rumors?” Her expression changes, and I get a warning chill. “Gina, what rumors?”

“Oh, hell. I should learn to keep my big mouth shut.”

Our potato skins arrive, and I wait until the server’s gone before I tell her, “No, you shouldn’t. If there are rumors, I want to know what they are. Unless it’s just nasty gossipy stuff.”

She regards me glumly, her usual buoyant spirit muted. “Not those kind of rumors. I just assumed you knew, from Cait or someone.”

I make a note to ask my bestie about whatever Gina is going to tell me. “Lay it out, girlfriend. Whatever it is, I’m better off knowing.”

“I guess so. Well.” She sighs and picks up a potato skin, taking a bite while I wait impatiently. “Rumor has it that some branches of the Adamo family — and Kosta’s is one of those branches — might, possibly, engage in activities that the police frown upon.”

I feel my eyes get big. “You’re kidding.”

“Nope.”

“What kind of activities?” My heart is racing and not in a good way. I’m a cop’s daughter, for crying out loud. No wonder Dad was freaked about me talking to Kosta.

Gina shakes her head. “I really don’t know. It’s all innuendo, wink-wink nudge-nudge kind of stuff. Like, suggestions that maybe some of what they do isn’t entirely above board, but they get away with it because they’re Adamos.” She hesitates, then goes on. “The only specific thing I’ve ever heard is that a couple of friends told me you can score drugs at Kosta’s.”

“Fuck.” My head goes straight down to our table, and only Gina’s fast action keeps me from getting my hair in the potato skins. “Not drugs.” I can’t believe the beautiful man who wanted to be sure I ate would be okay with that.

“They aren’t my thing so I’ve never tried,” she says. “Maybe my friends were just blowing smoke. And even if they did score, it doesn’t mean Kosta knows about it. It could all be underground, informal stuff.”

“Yeah.” It doesn’t make me feel a whole lot better, but it helps a little.

“Sorry to ruin the mood.”

“It’s all right,” I say. “I’m glad you told me.” I’m about to ask her more about the rumors when my phone rings. I check the display and it’s an unknown number.

A very familiar-looking unknown number. I don’t have Kosta’s card with me, but this might be what he wrote on the back. “Hang on,” I say to Gina, and accept the call. “Hello?”

There’s a pause and then Kosta says, “Where the hell are you?”

My spine straightens. “Nice to talk to you too,” I snap. “I’m fine, thanks, and how are you?”

“Babe.” My nipples go hard at that word. It’s full of impatience and male charisma and just a hint of danger.

And that’s when I stop lying to myself, because it hits me with undeniable clarity: Dangerous is exactly what I want. Rico’s warnings and Gina’s rumors notwithstanding, Kosta draws me like the proverbial moth to a flame precisely because he’s not safe.

“I’m at In the Frame,” I tell him, and it comes out all throaty because my whole body has ripened, priming itself for his touch. If he were here right now I’d drag him into the nearest dark corner.

“In the Frame?” He’s amused, as if I told him I were going on the kiddie rides at the park. I’m torn between embarrassment and annoyance.

“I was invited,” I say, and leave it at that.

“I asked you to call me.” Soft, but the words of a man who’s used to being obeyed. A quiver runs through me, and I understand even more why Cait gets off on Tonio’s bossiness.

Not that I’m going to make it easy for him. “You didn’t specify a time,” I retort.

“I see how it is. Okay, we’re having this conversation in person.”

“Oh, are we?” I say, more than ready to argue, because fighting is an outlet for all the impulses surging through my body.

“If you’re gonna give me sass, I want you where I can get my hands on you.”

My mind flashes back to our conversation at the café, and I do a full-body shudder. “Kosta,” I whisper, and even over the phone I can feel the electricity building.

“Right,” he says. “You good to drive, babe?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m at the club. Get here.”

Then he’s gone, and I don’t even think about trying to fight it. Need overwhelms everything else, even thoughts of my dad’s reaction if he finds out. Hopping down from my stool, I tell Gina, “I gotta go.”

She wasn’t hiding the day they passed out the brains. “Kosta?” she says, and I nod. “Be safe, chica. But not too safe.”

It’s as if she read my mind. Flashing her a grin, I head for the door. I’m not sure exactly what’s waiting for me at Kosta’s. But whatever it is, I’m ready for it.