Keeping Secret (Secret McQueen) - By Sierra Dean Page 0,83
BRIDE.
Brigit was wearing a blinking pink button proclaiming her a Bridesmaid!, but hers seemed more subtle somehow. I’d allowed the sash, tiara and a pink feather boa, but I drew the line at a penis cup. My dignity could handle a lot of low blows. Drinking cosmos out of a phallus-shaped sippy cup wasn’t one of them.
We met Mercedes and Kellen at a booth in the very back corner of the club, where I was finally able to relax. The black leather couches were crammed up against a solid brick wall, with a low ceiling overhead, which was the floor of the stairs to the second level, and our position provided us a great view of the whole dance floor as well as part of the upstairs bar area.
I let out a breath. This was the only place an assassin might feel comfortable in a jam-packed club. That is, if I ignored the stripper pole in the middle of the couch circle.
Kellen and Mercedes were both wearing blinking Bridesmaid! buttons, and each looked a little too happy about seeing me wrapped in pink feathers. It wasn’t until I flopped next to Kellen on the sofa that I realized there was someone else in our party.
Eugenia was sitting alone, wearing a dress that was a size too large and a few inches too short. She must have borrowed it from Kellen because the design screamed look at me, while the girl in it appeared to be hoping for quite the opposite.
“You never told me you had a sister,” Kellen shouted over the throbbing bass of the music.
“No one told me either until last week.” I gave Eugenia a quizzical look, and she smiled meekly.
“Callum sent me. He said it was important for family to be present at your wedding. I’m staying with Kellen.”
“Just you?”
“No, Ben too.”
“Who’s Ben?” Kellen asked, bubbling with excitement.
“My brother,” Eugenia and I said in unison. Eugenia continued, explaining, “He’s with Lucas at the penthouse.”
“You have a brother too?” Kellen gaped at me. Mercedes looked intrigued as well but must have thought better of asking questions in the middle of a packed nightclub.
“We’re twins.” Eugenia sipped the drink in front of her.
“How did you get in?” I pointed at the club. “And what’s in that?”
“I have a little pull,” Mercedes offered.
“And it’s 7UP,” Eugenia finished.
“For someone who’s only been a big sister for a week, you’ve already got the overprotective thing down pat.” Kellen laughed.
“I’m not even going to ask what’s in yours.”
“I’m over twenty-one,” she reminded me. “And gin.”
“God help us all.”
“Who said you could bring a boy?” Kellen pointed to Holden, who was still lurking around outside the booth.
“Holden’s making sure things stay fun.”
“Then make him dance for us.” Kellen got to her feet before I could stop her and grabbed Holden by his sleeve. “Are you going to dance for us, Holden?”
The vampire looked bewildered and amused. “I don’t get paid enough to dance.”
Kellen rifled through her glittery gold handbag and pulled out a roll of hundred dollar bills so thick I had to catch my breath. She peeled off at least ten and jammed them into his blazer’s front pocket, giving him an all-Benjamin pocket square. Once she’d put the roll of money back in her purse, she pointed to the stripper pole in our midst.
“Dance.”
I bit my lip to keep from laughing at him, but my trapped giggles bubbled over, causing me to snort.
“Secret, it’s your party. Make him do it.” Kellen was using her semi-drunken state and playing up her cuteness. I was betting this particular move went a long way with human men.
“Sorry, Kel. I need Holden’s attention out there.” I gave an apologetic shrug. “As much as I’d like to see him shake his ass, he has work to do.”
At I’d like to see him shake his ass, Holden raised two dark brows at me, his beautiful face showing faint surprise and a lot of dirty promises. I flushed.
I got up and moved to the seat across from Eugenia, and Kellen bounded off to get me my first of many drinks. During a brief lull between songs, I smiled at my sister and reached out to touch her hand. “I’m glad you’re here. I wish it wasn’t…” I rolled my eyes and jerked my chin in the direction of the dance floor. “You know. I wish we could talk.”
“There will be time.”
Kellen returned empty-handed but with a six-foot-five muscle-bound guy trailing behind her, his massive hands loaded with bottles.