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“I’ll bring your car by later. Call us when the baby’s here!” I shouted as they shut the doors.
We stood in a cluster watching the taillights disappear around the corner.
“Never a dull moment.” I bumped Ashley’s shoulder, and she sighed.
“It’s not our style.”
Marco and Frankie stomped outside, and for a second, I prayed they’d keep walking and leave me be for once—but that’s not how my life worked.
“Sasha. A word.” Marco gestured for me to join him.
I dropped my chin to my chest and took a deep breath. “Excuse me,” I mumbled to my friends.
When Marco, Frankie, and I stood in the building's shadow out of earshot, Marco turned us, so our mouths were obscured. “Our guy fell through.”
“What do you mean?” I rasped, the air suddenly gone from my lungs.
“It’s not happening tonight,” Marco said, his voice full of barely contained rage.
“No.” I violently shook my head and looked behind me. My friends stood together, watching us with concern. Glaring at Marco, I fisted my hands at my sides. “Then go and do it yourself. It needs to happen tonight. Luca’s not going to survive in jail. They’ve almost killed him once. What’s to say next time the warden won’t let him bleed out?” My voice was so shrill I wasn’t sure if they understood what I was saying.
Marco reached out, but I took a step away. “No! Fix this.”
Frankie glared at Marco, then turned to me, his face softening. “We can’t do it tonight. We don’t know if Cy was tipped off or what’s happened with our guy. It could be a trap.”
I nodded. “So that’s it? What happened to, ‘We just need a bullet and a clear shot?’ Isn’t that what you said, Frankie?”
He frowned. “We have another plan in the works. Be patient.”
I sucked my teeth. “Be patient.” I poked the inside of my cheek with my tongue. “If Luca gets hurt again, you’ll bleed right there with him.” Baring all my teeth, I walked backward until I spun and rejoined my friends. “I need to change.”
Adriana, Jazz, Imani, and Ashley followed me silently. In the elevator, they shot worried looks my way. It wasn’t until we were in the suite that someone finally spoke.
“What’s going on?” Ashley asked as she took the garment bag from my hands.
I reached for it, but she held it behind her back. Irritated, I started to pace. “It’s not over. Luca’s not coming home unless I do something.”
She slid the zipper down and took out the classic Playboy Bunny costume inside. “This was your backup costume for the opening?”
“No. It was for later. For Luca.”
We’d planned a celebratory video chat, but now there was nothing to celebrate unless I made a move.
“So, why are you putting it on?”
Hands on my hips, I stared my friends down. “Leave now if you don’t want to be dragged into some shit.”
No one left. In fact, all four women settled on the edge of the bed, waiting for me to continue.
“Fine. I need to change costumes and slip out of here without being noticed to take care of a problem the men have failed to eliminate.” I looked at the alarm clock on the bedside table and frowned. “I have probably a two-hour window before anyone misses me. So, either you’re helping me get out of here, or you can go back to the casino and enjoy the rest of your night.”
Ashley laid my costume on the bed and stood. “Let me help you out of your witchy dress.”
“And I’ll get the makeup out,” Jazz said as she went into the bathroom and raided my makeup.
“I’ll go arrange a car service for you.” Adriana already had her phone in hand. “Where are you going?”
“Get me a block from The Velvet Lounge.”
