I'll Do Anything (The Challenge Night Series Book 1)

by K. L Mann

“You’re here!” Arianna jumps out of nowhere into my embrace. She’s not in a formal gown thank God, she’s wearing a gold, sparkly, cocktail dress that shows off her neckline and legs.

  “I’m here!” I hug her back. Gio takes a few steps away from me. “Sorry about my bachelorette…” I start to explain.

  “Are you kidding? It was perfectly disastrous just like the movies!” Arianna giggles and covers her mouth, glancing at Gio. Her cheeks flush.

  “How many people are here?” I ask nervously, seeing a few unfamiliar faces.

  “A few cousins came but other than that it’s just the normal fam, plus you’ll meet our little brother.” Arianna’s eyebrows raise like she’s exhausted only mentioning him.

  “Marco, right?” I smile. “Lorenzo warned me about him a bit.” I admit.

  “He’s…” She starts to add context.

  “Right here.” A teenager with a sharp jawline, dark brown eyes and messy black hair comes from behind Arianna. He’s sixteen according to Lorenzo but he looks older, maybe nineteen. “Marco, pleasure.” His hand reaches out toward me.

  “Katherine, I’ve heard lots about you.” I smile and take his hand.

  “All great things, I’m sure.” His hand leaves mine and falls into one of his pockets casually.

  “Of course.” I ignore his sarcasm with a smile.

  Gio leaves my shadow while we are talking. There’s so much pressure without Lorenzo at my side. I don’t want to do this alone. I’m sort of upset with him.

  I’m gonna need a few drinks to deal with this alone.

  “So, Lorenzo’s not here and Gio seems to have disappeared. Who wants to get drunk and pretend not to be?”

  “Ha!” Marco laughs. “She's alright.” He tells Arianna. “Let’s raid the bar, we have a half hour before dinner will be ready anyways.” He holds his hand out implying I should walk where he gestures.

  “You in?” I ask Arianna.

  “I have to be good; Lorenzo is already mad at me for… Never mind, you guys go ahead.” She smiles lightly, trying to hide her discomfort poorly.

  Now I want to know why Lorenzo is mad, but I want to drink more.

  Marco brings me to a room I haven’t been in before. It’s a fully stocked unoccupied bar, I like their style. Though, I imagine it’s for staff to make drinks for parties.

  “So, how much trouble am I going to get into for being a bad influence on you?” I question as he jumps over the bar.

  “Please, you’ll be fine, they’ll blame me.” He shrugs and grabs a tall bottle of vodka. “I’m used to it.” He grabs two shot glasses next.

  “Shots?” I smile big. “You sure you wanna compete with me like that?” I tease

  “I may be seventeen, but I can take you.”

  “First of all, you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.” I laugh. “Second, you’re seventeen? Did you just have a birthday?”

  I thought Lorenzo said he was sixteen.

  “Of course, he left that part out.” Marco scoffs and pours two shots. “Today is my birthday.” He slings back the first shot and I take mine next to keep pace.

  “It’s your birthday?” He starts to pour more. “Why didn't anyone say anything?”

  “Why would they?” Marco takes another shot and I follow.

  The vodka is surprisingly smooth and doesn’t burn as badly as it normally would. He starts to tip the bottle to pour more.

  “Wait.” I stop him.

  “Two shots is your idea of hard to beat?” He scoffs at me.

  “No.” I roll my eyes. “This dinner, this isn’t for you? But it’s your birthday?” I confirm.

  “Yeah, so?”

  This is horribly sad.

  My heart aches for him. I don’t even know him and yet I feel a need to immediately rectify the situation I’m presented with. I think for a moment.

  “Do you have a car?” I question him.

  “I do… why?”

  “Cause, we’re going out.” I inform him. “Can you sneak us out of here? So, we can celebrate your birthday like you should be doing right now.”

  “Is this some kind of messed up test from Lorenzo?” Marco looks at me with suspicion.

  “God no!” I scoff. “I’m officially upset with him. Who lets their brother's birthday be ignored?”

  “You’re serious?” His eyes light up. “Where are we going to go?”

  “You have friends you want to invite to a party?” I smile big, an idea forming in my mind.

  “Well, yeah.” Marco shrugs.

  “Any chance you have Gio’s fathers phone number?”

  “You want to throw me a party at club Lucifer?”

  “Just give me your phone.” I huff and hold out my hand.

  Ten minutes later and everything is in place. I bought out Club Lucifer for the night. I was going to use Lorenzo’s account but Gio’s father said it would be a wedding gift instead. They weren’t open tonight anyways. He swore his secrecy because I told him it was a surprise party; I didn't exactly lie. Lorenzo will be surprised when he finds out.

  “Okay, the building is ours. A few bouncers and two bartenders will be there. Invite whoever you want, but we need to sneak out before we’re caught. Send a mass text or something.”

  “How the hell did you just manage all of that?” Marco looks like I solved the Da Vinci Code before his very eyes.

  “I broke Nicole’s bitch face and it made him laugh, he likes me.” I smile.

  “Oh yeah, I heard about that, Dad wouldn't stop laughing at the footage.” He laughs and types out a few texts quickly, he actually looks happy. “We can go out the back by my room, my cars around the corner from there.”

  We sneak around the house to a back door and escape before we are noticed. There’s a five-car garage that he sneaks into. I wait for him in the cool dusk air. One of the big doors opens and a black sports car slowly pulls up to me. My mouth falls open as I take it in. I get in and look around the interior, amazed.

  “This is a Bugatti Chiron Noire.” I rasp, nearly drooling. “This is like a four-million-dollar car. This is ridiculously cool.”

  Marco steps on the gas and we pull out of the property.

  “Three and a half actually.” He laughs. “My mom’s idea of a birthday present last year.” Marco explains and shrugs it off.

  “It’s beautiful.” I tell him.

  “Yeah, bloody beautiful.” Marco grimaces.

  I don’t reply, I only assume to know what he means.

  We Own It by 2 Chainz and Wiz Khalifa pours through his speakers as he speeds up. I nod my head along with the beat, happy that the song is English for a change.

  “You like this song?” I confirm, doing a little dance in my seat.

  “It’s good, American music is more my style. I don’t really embrace the whole Italian everything mindset like Lorenzo.”

  “Good, I’ll make sure the DJ knows.” I smile at him.

  The ride feels quick with how fast we fly down the roads. The lights of the buildings we pass flicker through my window and I watch, letting them light me up.

  We park around the back of Club Lucifer like Gio’s dad said to.

  “Are you still prepared to be drank under the table?” I tease as we exit the car.

  “Are you?” Marco bites back.

  “You’re gonna regret this tomorrow.” I laugh. “Come on, let’s get drunk before Lorenzo finds us, and kills us.”

  Marco laughs back.

  We make our way to the back door and a bouncer lets us in. The club is empty but the music is loud and there's a note on the bar for me.

  I think it’s very nice what you’re doing for Marco. I know it’s his birthday, I figured you’d feel for him. His relationship with his family is complicated. I would guess you have an hour or so before Lorenzo finds you. Please enjoy your time.

  -Giovani Colombo Sr

  I smile at it then rip it up into small pieces, destroying the evidence. The bartender is a beautiful woman with lo
ng pink hair and playful bangs. She’s in all black and has a few piercings.

  “Can we have ten shots of vodka please? Oh, and can the DJ only play songs in English tonight?” I smile at her and she smiles back.

  “Whatever you want sweetie, I’m getting paid double for this.” She laughs and gets started on the shots.

  The lights dim and the red LED’s kick on. The music flips from an Italian club song to Swing by Savage and the familiarity fills me with excitement.

  Marco is on the phone and then groups of people start to pool in the back door. He makes his way back to the bar after hanging up.

  “You don’t want to greet your friends?” I question him.

  “I will, after we do these.” Marco points to the tray of shot glasses the bartender just placed in front of us.

  “Ready?” I clap my hands excitedly at them.

  Marco responds by taking one and throwing it back. I do the same. We go shot for shot for five each. Meaning we’re at seven total now.

  Child’s play.

  “Can we do ten more?” I ask the bartender who just handed out a few beers. Marco doesn’t look fazed. “Go say hi to your friends, I’ll wait for you.” I smile at him.

  He listens and I see him run off to a group of guys and a few girls. They all laugh and some of the girls hug him quickly. He keeps a hand on one of their waists after the embrace ends.

  He must be interested in that one. She’s cute. I hope he’s having fun. Why don’t his parents throw him a party? Why didn’t Lorenzo even mention it? Should I have invited Arianna? Oh well. If I’m going to get in trouble, I’m going to be too drunk to care.

  Marco looks back at me as the shots are presented in front of me again. His friends and him make their way over to me.

  “Guys, this is Katherine, my brother’s fiancé. Katherine, this is Leo, Aurora, Carmella, Matteo and Angelo; my friends.” He points to each of them as he tells me their names.

  “Marco says you think you can out–drink him.” Angelo, the tallest, and seemingly the oldest tells me with a laugh.

  “Marco doesn’t know what he’s gotten himself into.” I say, throwing back another shot.

  Marco takes his next as well.

  “I don’t know…” Leo rubs his chin. “Marco’s tolerance is pretty high.”

  “Yeah, he’s like so good at drinking.” Aurora, the one he kept his hand on earlier says with a doll smile.

  Maybe she’s a hookup. She seems a little empty upstairs.

  I can’t help my judgy thoughts sometimes.

  “Yeah?” I take another shot. “Well, I’m older, and more experienced; at all things.”

  “I doubt that.” Marco takes another shot and smiles.

  His cockiness is clearly hereditary.

  “No?” I laugh and sip down another. “Lorenzo hasn’t told you much about me, has he?”

  I giggle and feel my tongue start to numb.

  Marco follows my lead again, keeping up. We’re at ten each now, I think.

  “No, I bet there isn’t much that would surprise me though.” Marco shrugs, he’s challenging me. I take my last two shots back-to-back and stand up. Marco watches me, raises an eyebrow and does the same with his remaining shot.

  “Got a knife?”

  “Of course. I’m still a Vitale, whether they like me or not.” Marco raises an eyebrow at me, then hands me a switchblade from his pocket.

  “Tell me what to hit.” I encourage, as I flip it open, feeling for its weight and balance.

  “You’re kidding.” One of his friends’ scoffs.

  “She’s crazy.” Aurora whispers to the girl who’s name I already forgot.

  Marco smirks.

  “Back wall by the door, the art piece. Hit the silhouettes head.” Marco points to the target and I lock it in.

  I motion his friends to get out of my way and they do. My path is clear and I know exactly how I need to throw. I know I want to add a little flair, I love showing off when I drink.

  I toss the blade above my hand with a little flip, catch it and throw it violently fast at the target. The knife sticks exactly in the center of the arts head outline. Little gasps come from his friends at my side and Marcos eyes are fixed on me; dark like Lorenzo’s.

  Marco claps slowly, watching me closely.

  “We’re on twelve shots each. Are you ready to keep going?” I change the subject, feeling weird with all of his friends watching us.

  He nods.

  “Ten more, please.” I tell the same bartender.

  There is another one working the other side of the bar, she is handing drinks to some partygoers. I sit back down and more of his friends are pooling inside of the club. People are dancing and drinking. Marco’s close friends that he introduced to me stay to watch us compete.

  I thrive on the competitive nature. Ten more clear liquid shots are presented to us. I really want a chaser at this point just to taste anything else, but I won’t ask for one.

  Why Are You Here by Machine Gun Kelly comes on and I smile and do a dumb dance with my hands in my seat.

  “MGK your thing?” Marco questions my excitement.

  “Definitely.” I confirm.

  I whip around my hair a little ridiculously but it feels so nice. My hair fans my warmed skin.

  “So, Lorenzo huh?” Marco takes his thirteenth shot. I take one too.

  “Yep.” I smile and don’t wait for him to take the next, I beat him to it. I’m eager for my brain to go foggy. “What about him?”

  Marco laughs and takes another shot with ease.

  “Never thought he’d settle down, that’s all.” He shrugs.

  I’m a little unnerved that he’s keeping pace so well, most people fall out by now. He’s too young to have a tolerance like mine. We each take another; my stomach is full of vodka and I feel it but my head isn’t fuzzy enough yet. I wish it was, my bladder is screaming at me to stop.

  “To be honest, I didn’t ever see myself with someone like him.” I admit, sipping down another burning wet shot of vodka.

  “No?” Marco raises a brow at me and takes another. His friends are watching us, listening like we’re a television show. “Broody, secretive, judgmental workaholics, not your normal type?”

  Our tray of shots is empty, I know we’re even but I’m losing count. Marco signals for another round and my skin flares, I love drinking myself to oblivion and I haven’t done it for far too long. I know this shouldn’t feel so good, but it does. I shouldn’t feel electric but I do. I shouldn’t be drinking with him like this, not with the way it makes me feel. I know Lorenzo will find me soon, so I try not to worry.

  “No, my normal type is worse apparently.” I roll my eyes and take another shot that he hands to me.

  “Interesting.” Marco muses.

  We clink them together and throw them back.

  “You have no idea.” I grumble. “But hey, now you’ll have a cool sister in the mix of family chaos to run away and drink with.”

  “Sure, if they don’t turn you against me as well.”

  “I’m not so easily corrupted.” I assure him.

  “We’ll see.”

  The latest tray of ten is gone. Meaning seventeen each, maybe more. I lose count pretty easily. My head is starting to fog up a bit and I giggle. Giggling is good or bad, I’ve either gone too far, or just far enough.

  “Ready to tap out?” I offer him mercy.

  “I think we have to call a truce.” Marco grumbles and points behind me. His voice isn’t the slightest bit slurred. I’m impressed and concerned for his well–being all at once.

  I turn around to look and nearly jump out of my skin.

  Luca, Gio and Lorenzo are standing behind me. They don’t look happy, somehow this makes me laugh way too loudly.

  “Heyyy guys!” I wrap my arms in the air around them all, trying to hug them. “You made it! I missed your grumpy faces.” I joke and giggle at myself.

  “Yeah, our invitation must have gotten lost.” Gio i
s the first to speak. He’s not happy. I've never seen him this broody.

  “Well!” I exclaim too loudly. “It’s Marco’s birthday, and a dinner party for your birthday is just sad.” I pout sarcastically. “So I called in a favor with my new favorite Colombo. He’s much nicer, not so judgy.”

  Gio’s jaw tightens but he doesn’t speak. They all continue to look at me with fire in their eyes. I knew they’d be mad but they look a mess and seem completely out of sorts.

  “You’re gonna take me home now, aren’t you?” I mumble at Lorenzo with a frown.

  He nods. He looks like I stabbed him.

  “Okay. But Marco and his friends can stay.” I fold my arms over my chest. “I already got permission, don’t be mad at him. It was my idea, he thought I was trying to trick him at first.”

  “Fine, they have an hour more. Luca will take him home after.” Lorenzo snarks. “Now, let’s go.”

  I see Luca’s eyes roll and then glare at me.

  “Okay!” I jump up, excitedly into his embrace. He catches me. “Happy Birthday Marco!!” I yell back to his brother as Lorenzo carries me out the front door.

  “Thank you!” I hear him yell back.

  Gio is following me and Lorenzo.

  I’m put into the SUV.

  No one speaks.

  “I’m in trouble, huh?” I giggle and cover my mouth.

  “You have no idea.” Lorenzo sends chills down my spine.

  “You gonna punish me for being naughty?” I giggle again and hiccup.

  “We thought you were kidnapped.” Gio hisses at me.

  A twinge of guilt comes over me, but the vodka quickly eats it away.

  “You should have called your dad.” I shrug. “I was mad at you.” I tell Lorenzo. “You didn’t do anything for your brother's birthday. That’s not nice.” I declare.

  “I’m not nice.” Lorenzo retorts.

  “That’s why you went MIA? Because you felt bad for Marco?” Gio scoffs.

  “What’s the big deal?” I huff.

  Silence.

  “You were worried about me?” I grab my heart and smile at them.

  “Of course, we were!” Gio yells at me. “Arianna was crying the entire time we were looking.”

  “Our mothers too.” Lorenzo grumbles.

  “Okay, okay. I’m sorry.” I sigh. “But I don’t regret it. Marco shouldn’t have to pretend to be happy at a family dinner on his birthday when no one is even acknowledging it’s his birthday. It’s not right.” I take a deep breath. “And, you weren’t at dinner. That’s not fair to me, I shouldn’t have to keep doing all of this stuff by myself. It’s stressing me the fuck out.”