hour and when they finally pull over, it’s onto the side of a long, winding, deserted road overlooking the ocean.
Beretta tries to grab my bag as we climb out, but I keep it tucked tight to my side. He laughs as the three lead me down a stairway of cement steps, half hidden by overgrown poppies. They curve to the right at the end, leading us toward a beach cave.
I slow, running my eyes along the spongy-looking rock arch, the opening, the shape of a gemstone; the inside, a shadowy pit of who knows what. There are a lot of these around here, different shapes and sizes, in various lengths from the ocean, some even half full of water.
The guys trek up the small trail to the entrance, turning toward me, and while it looks different from one to the next, humors marked on each of their faces.
Their premature judgment is misplaced but understandable.
I’m wearing solid white and my heels cost more than all of their shoes combined. My hoops are large and solid gold, and yes, visually speaking, I can’t deny I’ve got full-on spoiled, rich girl vibes, but I like to think that’s only at first glance.
That’s not who I am... but I can’t expect them to know this.
I slip my shoes from my feet and climb up as they did.
I’m pretty much check-marking each and every line on the long list of ‘never dos’ by walking into a dark cave on an isolated beach, off a deserted road, with three guys my friends claim are crazy. Yet here I am, being a dumbass.
As I approach, the stereotypical expressions I had thought I first spotted reveal their true selves, and surefire grins curl their mouths.
Beretta slides backward, pushing his body into Arsen’s chest and Arsen’s arm comes over his shoulder. “Lead the way.”
I turn to Ransom, who has yet to look away.
He glides closer, tugs my hair tie from my head and watches as my self-made curls fall around me, his middle finger flicking along the strap of my shoulder bag.
“She ties her hair back without a mirror, lets her silk soak in the muddy sand, and carries her own things.” His tone is low, intensely sarcastic, yet somehow not mocking. “What kind of social princess are you?”
“Hm.” I tip my head, playing along. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
Beretta’s knuckles brush my collarbone as he seizes a long lock, wraps it around his fingers, and gives a gentle tug. “I sure as fuck would.”
I don’t turn his way, and Ransom’s haughty smirk grows.
Making sure his chest brushes mine, he slips past me into the cave.
I follow behind, maneuvering around the narrow entrance, and my eyes widen with surprise.
It’s not as dark and desolate as I imagined, but, in fact, quite the opposite.
A large diamond-like opening at the surface’s top allows the afternoon sun to illuminate the space. Giant tree trunks, both cut and carved, are scattered all around, two creating a couch-like shape, the others offering simple stump-style seating. In the middle, a hole was dug, a deep cast iron crescent embedded there. It’s lined with large stones, ashes speckled in the center as proof of recent use.
I don’t have to look their way to know they’re watching me, possibly waiting for that moment when my nose will lift high into the air or scrunch in distaste, but that’s not going to happen. I lower myself onto the longest one and kick my feet up on the opposite end.
“I take it you guys hang here often?”
Slowly, they drop onto seats of their own.
“Maybe.” Beretta grins, tearing into an M&M’s packet with his teeth. “Or maybe it’s where we bury bodies.”
“Ah, yes, how could I forget, I became your target.” I speak with playful energy. “How dare I watch you from across the room.”
“More like, ‘she dared to watch us from across the room’.”
I laugh at Beretta’s Shakespearean flair. “How bold.”
“How rare.”
My laughter fades and I look away to simmer the sudden curving of my lips.
“So.” I cross my legs. “Which one of you looked me up on social media?”
With unhurried movements, my gaze skitters across the three.
“What makes you think we did?” Beretta nods.
“I know you did. It’s the exact reason I was threatened with a photo I know doesn’t exist.” I speak with confidence. “No phones came out to play in that glam room, I’m sure of it. You looked me up, found nothing... nothing but a way to get me here, and here we are.”