all well-acquainted with your duties within the club, and you’ve fulfilled them to almost excellence since.” His eyes come to mine. “Absolute excellence.”
I nod, accepting his compliment.
“Once phase two is completed, we will be back here to fulfill the final step. Open your envelopes.” He looks down to his watch, pressing the button on the side. “You have two hours to fulfill phase one.”
I tear open the envelope, finding a black piece of paper with words written in silver scribbled across.
I fold up the paper, grinding my teeth. “Are they ever going to do anything remotely cliché or normal? Or are we always just taking hits from out in left field.”
Bishop looks up at me with hooded eyes. “We’re right in our element.”
I smirk at him. “Touché.”
I gesture to the line of cars parked on the curb. “We need to all be able to get away if needed. We should all take our own cars.” I beep the alarm of my Bugatti, pointing down the line. “Even though they’re going to know it’s us.”
Bishop laughs, sliding into his Maserati at the front of the line. “Could be another band of outlaws who all roll in blacked-out Euro cars.”
Nate climbs into his Lambo, Eli in his Ferrari, Hunter in his Porsche, and Cash into his Aston. All black. Everything black, but each license plate with a crown hidden behind the numbers that is only exposed under a black light.
I rev my engine, just as a text lights up on my phone.
Saint: Thirsty.
I pause. “What the fuck.” I quickly text back.
Me: You with Tillie?
Saint: *loading image*
Nate revs his engine loudly behind me, and I catch his arms flying up around himself in the rearview mirror. I ignore him.
“Yo!” Nate yells at me out the window.
The image loads and I freeze. Bishop pulls out and I follow behind him, double-clutching until I’ve reached the speed needed. I lift my phone and hit dial.
She answers on the second ring. “You’re getting too comfortable with pissing me off.”
“You like it?”
“No, I’d prefer you naked.” Then I sigh, squeezing the steering wheel. “You’re distracting me and I can’t be distracted right now. Put Tillie on the phone.” There’s shuffling before Tillie’s voice purrs through the other end.
“Little Terror, you’re testing my fucking patience.” I swerve into the right lane, remaining behind Bishop.
“Good. You’re hot when you’re mad.”
I roll my eyes. “I’ll be sure to fill Nate in.”
“Oh, he knows.” She breathes out a sigh. “In all seriousness, I know what the phases are. Can you—”
“—I’ve got him, Tillie. I won’t let anything happen to your baby daddy.”
“Thanks, Bran Bran. You’re sweet when you want to be.”
“Fuck you.”
“Love you, too.”
“Watch that girl. She’s learning a little too quickly how to ride on my nerves.”
“About as good as she rides on your dick?”
“Tillie!” I hear Scarlet and Elena in the background.
I chuckle. “Nothing comes close to her riding on my shit. I’ll see you later.”
I hang up and push play on a random-ass playlist. “Popular Monster” by Falling in Reverse screams through my speakers.
Saint
I remember the first time I wore a dress. A really pretty one. It was one of the first purchases I made with Brantley’s black card and was a signature piece from Dolce & Gabbana. It had small black sequins sewn into the satin, with spaghetti straps that hung from my petite shoulders. I liked it but didn’t love it. I sent it back.
I run my hands over this one, and the feeling I was hoping to feel when I wore that signature piece is the feeling I’m experiencing now. It’s an addiction, filling my veins with warmth, comfort. I think I have a shopping problem. This one is as pure in color as puffy clouds, but hugs my body tight. It falls to the ground at my feet, but has a single split that cuts right up over my hip bone. There are feathers that line the slit, the edges of the strapless area at the top, and the bottom of the train. Sequins are sewn into the bodice, where it dips between my breasts, which spill out the seams. Literally.
“Okay, yes, this is it!” Tillie says from behind me, and my eyes catch hers in the arched full-length mirror. Scarlet’s home is chaos, with dresses, makeup, and workers running around everywhere, going between here and a hotel in Riverside. It’s two hours before we have to be there, and I’ve still yet to get my face made up.
“Come sit,” Scarlet says, waving me