me. David’s casino really is an entire world of its own. There are about a million restaurants and shops, plus the huge spa, which I’ll remember forever as the site of my first Brazilian bikini wax. And then there’s a massive aquarium and greenhouse. It’s a gorgeous space, with huge palm trees and all kinds of exotic flowers. The air has a delicious sweet scent thanks to the beautiful, colorful blooms. There’s even some fresh cinnamon growing. I’m dying to break off a fragrant piece—it’s amazing in coffee—but I restrain myself. Plus, there’s the gentle chirping of small birds and the occasional squawk of the larger parrots as they hop in the treetops above, from one palm to the next.
So I’m roaming around the greenhouse and sipping an iced latte, soaking in the atmosphere. I’m finally feeling at peace. And then I hear her.
“Psst! Psst! Lilly!”
I know the voice immediately of course. I just can’t see where it’s coming from. And I can’t really believe that it’s her. The last few days have carried me into a world that’s so far removed from what I’ve known my entire life…including Parkville and my family. My sister being here now seems out of place.
“Lilly!” She hisses again.
Then I spy her, hunched over behind a flowering hibiscus. The first thing I want to do is laugh out loud. She’s partially hidden behind the large pink petals, stooping down. On her head she has an awkward looking blonde wig, which is slightly askew. Coupled with the bright pink oversized sunglasses she’s got on, the whole getup accomplishes the opposite of what she’s trying to do. Instead of hiding, she’s standing out more than ever.
“Deanna?” I say, walking closer to her.
“Shush!”
“I’m not bugged,” I can’t help joking. But, I cast a wary glance upwards, into the palms above. I know there are cameras in here somewhere. I just haven’t spotted them yet. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to get you the fuck out of this hellhole. But ugh, first give me a hug.” She steps forward and throws her arms around me. I give her a big squeeze, my heart warming at my sister’s touch. But my mood sinks at her words. I think of how annoyed David was when I snuck one toe across the property line. He definitely won’t be happy about this.
“Deanna, you don’t have to worry about me. I’m fine to finish out the week here.” I step back and extricate myself from her grasp, surveying her face with concern.
“No way! I feel like shit for getting you into this mess.” She removes her giant shades and I can see that there’s genuine remorse in her eyes.
“Are you okay?” I have to ask because her lipstick is smudged and when she takes her sunglasses off, I can see her eyes are red-rimmed and bleary.
“Of course,” she snaps. “I just had a late night.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. That explains why she smells like alcohol. She must have been out late, partying and drinking. She clearly didn’t bother to take a shower before coming here.
“Now let’s go.” She grabs my arm and starts pulling me out of the greenhouse. As she walks, she brushes rampantly against various plants, scattering leaves and petals onto the ground.
“Deanna, please.” I pull back slightly. I’m wearing those crazy wedge sandals that I got and I’m not used to walking in them. I can barely keep up with Deanna’s frantic pace. “We made a deal. And I gave my word that I’d see it through.”
“Gave your word?” She turns on her heel and whirls to face me. “To that asshole? That jerkoff? Come on, Lilly, we both know that’s crap. Your word doesn’t mean shit to a monster like that.” The birds in the greenhouse, sensing the discord and irritated at Deanna’s outburst, are getting rowdy. A parrot squawks overhead.
“He’s not a monster,” I say quietly.
“What the fuck? Why are you defending him? Is this some Stockholm syndrome crap?” Deanna leans in closer and I can smell the liquor on her breath. Scared, I step back. “What is he doing to you here, Lilly?” She takes her hand and tugs on the hem of my skirt. I’m wearing a short, pale-pink wrap-dress, cinched just underneath the bust. “This isn’t you, these short skirts and expensive dresses.” She gestures at my outfit. “Where did you get this fancy shit from anyway? That looks designer.”