I licked my lips. Would I get a second chance to be so close to this southern, leather-bag monster?
“Evie…” Sebastian warned. “Don’t.”
“Aw, is he your daddy now? He tell you what to do and where to go? I bet he picked those clothes too, didn’t he?” Dourif mocked, bending down to do a line.
“Shut the hell up, Jason.” Sebastian rolled his eyes.
Jason came back up, grinning. “I’m just calling it as I see it.” He put his hands up. “Feel free to prove me wrong. Does he own you, darlin’?” Once again, he offered me the bill.
This was a test, I just wasn’t sure what the question was. This had nothing to do with Sebastian ordering me around.
“I don’t do drugs alone,” Jason whined. “So one of you better take this bill from me or get the fuck out and don’t come back.”
Sebastian started to lean forward, but fear caused me to shove Jason’s hand away and dig into my own wallet. I pulled out a twenty and rolled it up, leaning toward the drugs. Sebastian’s hands turned into fists at his sides as he understood what was happening. If one of us was going to keep our wits, it needed to be him.
“That’s right. Go on now. Plug one nostril and just snort.” Jason put his hand on my back encouragingly. Keeping eye contact with Sebastian, I did as instructed, hoping he’d read my mind. My stomach tightened with nerves as I bent down and snorted. I’d never done cocaine before. The powder stung. I fell back, stunned. My heart sped up, and warmth spread through me—everywhere but my face, which had gone numb.
Then...
There was a beat where my mind was blank, and then—everything hit at once. I looked around and inhaled deeply. Everything was so…sharp! I could smell every note of the cigar on the table. I could feel every beat of the music reverberating through my body. My fingertips vibrated. I could think clearly! And fast. I could do anything I wanted to. I leaped up, and Dourif took his two lines and joined me.
“Atta girl. I knew you weren’t no cop. Come on. Dance with me like your momma used to.” He turned the music up with a remote. Club music bumped in my ears, making the euphoria that had taken over my blood even better. I didn’t consider myself a dancer, but when he reached out and started swaying, I found myself joining in. Sebastian, a few paces away, turned and went around a bar, where he ducked and came up holding a Red Bull. He popped the tab and strolled over.
“Those things are so bad for you!” I shouted over the music.
He froze, the can on his lips. “Bitch, you just did cocaine.”
The words sounded silly when he said them, causing me to burst into laughter. I spun around and danced with Dourif. When my high wore off, I was a bit tired. I plopped back down onto the couch, and when Dourif went for another bump, I forced myself not to partake. I’d passed the test. I needed to get back on task. There would be other opportunities for fun. This was Hollywood, after all.
Sebastian’s eyes were glued to the ceiling in annoyance.
Dourif snorted another line and sat back, turning his head to look at me.
“Now, why are you here, Little Lita?”
“Here? I—you invited me.”
“No, why are you back in Hollywood?” He snickered. “I’m not fucking stupid. We heard they shipped you off to some aunt in the Midwest. Why come back? This ain’t no place for a girl like you.”
“Like me?”
He reached out, running a long finger down my cheek. I shuddered and clenched my fists to keep from smacking him away.
“Innocent.”
I fought back a smirk. My gaze drifted to Sebastian, who was shaking his head and sipping his Red Bull. He caught my eye and tilted the can, encouraging me to go off. I turned back to the man on the couch.
“I know you killed my mom!” I blurted then widened my eyes, wondering if I was still feeling the effects of the cocaine. My eyes shot to the clock on the wall. It’d been close to an hour.
“Whoa now.” He threw his hands up in the air. “I didn’t take part in no killin’.”
For a second, guilt poured into me, but then he continued.
“I was just there for the rapin’.”
Without a second to think, I reached forward and grabbed him by his white hair and yanked him down, smashing him face first into the coffee table. Cocaine flew everywhere, and when I let go, he lifted his face and gasped, looking very much like Mrs. Doubtfire. He shook his head and sniffled loudly, inhaling what cocaine was near his nostrils.
“Now, Little Lita, if my face wasn’t so fucking numb, I’d be a lot angrier.” He stumbled up and shook the attack off, turning his back to me. I jumped onto the couch and then launched myself at his back.
