Page 54 of Play The Game

Avery switches her phone on silent, and I trip over my own feet in shock. Then she props her chin up on her hands and watches while I throw together a good Mounty outfit. I need to blend in.

“No problem. How many times do I have to tell you, I’m on your side. I trust that you wouldn’t be going and killing a decent person. Honestly, I don’t think I would care even if he were decent. If he’s in your way, take him out. Our family first; fuck everyone else,” she says, taking in the tiny shorts and skintight razor tee.

Fuck, I really would kill and die for this girl.

I do a full face of makeup, and then cover all my visible skin in the tinted moisturizer I use to cover the tattoos to get through clubs without notice. Avery helps out with the backs of my legs and when I grab my shoes, she gets up and starts digging around in my bag. When she pulls out another pair of shorts and a Vanth tee Blaise gave me, I raise my eyebrows at her.

“Don’t be dense, Mounty. I’m coming with you and we’ll tell the boys we’re having some girl time. That way they won’t try to jump in, as if you’re some kind of damsel that needs saving, to mess this up for you, and I’ll get to watch you work. There is nothing quite as satisfying as watching you destroy the male population one by one,” she says and when she pulls my clothes on, I nearly choke at her transformation into a Mounty girl. Sweet lord fuck, it’s only a matter of time before some guy hits on her and I’ll have to fucking kill him too.

Yep, just a regular girls’ night out in the Bay.

As predicted the guys all pitch a fit when they get an eyeful of Avery and figure out what we’re doing, and she shoots them all down beautifully. She has an answer for everything and when Blaise tries to hand the keys for the Maserati over she smiles sweetly at him, waving her phone in his face.

“Mounties use Uber. I’m going to live like the locals for a night. I feel desperate already.”

Ash snorts at her, pissed at the both of us, and I step away from them before I get caught in the crossfire.

Harley hooks an arm around my waist and pulls me into his body, his signature move. When he whispers in my ear, I shiver. “Promise me you’re not going somewhere dangerous, babe. Promise me it’s just a girls’ night.”

Fuck. Avery shoots me a look and I fumble to talk my way around it without lying. “I’m taking Avery on a job with me. I wouldn’t take her if I thought there was a chance it could get dangerous. Her safety is always a priority for me.”

He nods and ducks down to kiss me, his hand trailing down my back to squeeze my ass in my shorts, and I shiver. “Do you have any shorts that cover more of your ass?”

I pull away, scoffing at him even as I blush. “I have to blend in. Avery’s wearing the longest ones I own, anyway, and on her long-ass legs they still look indecent.”

At this, Ash levels me with a look. I freeze for a second before snapping, “What the fuck have I done? I was going to go alone!”

He turns on his heel, stalking over to the bar to find the bourbon, and we take the opportunity to leave before he changes his mind and follows us both out.

Avery sits in the Uber like she’s afraid she’ll catch a venereal disease from the seats. I send a photo of her to the guys, and she snarks at me like I’m a traitor to all womankind.

It only makes me laugh harder.

The bar we’re heading to is seedy and dark, perfect to murder some asshole in.

I know the guy at the door, and a curt nod is all it takes before we’re both inside. I slip a little clip of cash into his pocket as we pass, then Avery’s hand is tucked carefully into mine as we navigate our way through the room, blending seamlessly into the crowd of drunken locals.

Well, I blend in. Avery is shuddering a little too much to look local to the discerning eye, but no one here is sober enough to give her revulsion a second glance.

“This place is disgusting! That guy back there had cum stains on his shorts, Mounty,” Avery hisses, and I laugh at her, pulling her along until finally we reach the bar at the back.

Stephen is one of the bartenders on tonight.

Excellent.

I catch his eye and he smiles cheerfully at me, finishing up with his customer and making his way over before the busty blond helping him can bother me. The look she’s giving Avery pisses me the fuck off before I realize she’s glaring at the Vanth shirt. Right. A priceless collector’s item.

“There’s my favorite little ass shaker! Here to dance the night away or should I be worried? Picking things up or making a mess?” Stephen says, and pours me a whiskey without asking. He tilts the bottle in Avery’s direction and she nods, her eyes glued to the glaring blond the same way you’d stare at a box of snakes.

“Making a mess, sorry. You’ll have to call your boss,” I murmur, and he only smiles wider.

“Oh, he called and told me to expect you.”

He hesitates for a second, wiping a glass with a rag I hope Avery isn’t looking at, before gesturing at her. “A friend of yours?”

I nod and down my shot. “She’s with me. I’m looking out for her.”

“You know your friends are my friends, kid. I’ll keep the hordes of ravenous cock in the bar away from her while you shake that ass of yours. Have fun!” he says with a wink, and I laugh at him. He pours me another shot and walks back over to the crowd of people waiting to be served.