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"Well, Destiny," I quip, shoving my ID into the little black clutch Jenni made me bring. "Let's get our dance on." I insert false bravado and happiness into my tone, making her squeal again.
I like Jenni. I really do. She's been the kindest person I've met so far in my spying adventures. Over the past week, I swear she's taken me under her wing in appreciation for helping her bring her grades up in almost every subject she needed help in. Especially with math. She's been a quick study, though. Proving to me that she's a very smart girl, but rarely shows it.
"Elias is out of town tonight." Jenni pouts for the hundredth time when we get to the back of the long line, stretching past the corner of the brick building. "I just wanted a nice Saturday with him. He's been so busy lately. It makes me sad." A gloss forms over her eyes, and she sighs heavily.
Right. Elias. My original job and her boyfriend. A man she seems to love very much. And from what she’s told me, he loves her, too. I haven’t had the chance to meet him just yet. But I know in time I will.
"You love him, don't you?" I question, staring at her slumped shoulders.
She offers me a sad smile and nods. "From the first time I saw him, I knew he was it for me. Which sounds crazy for some teenager to say. But it’s like fate or destiny,” she giggles at the last word.
I bump my shoulder against hers as the line advances a few steps, and we come to a halt. "I think it's romantic. You're like Romeo and Juliet. Minus the suicide at the end." I grin when she perks up a little.
"I like that," she says, offering me a genuine smile. "Two lovers on the opposite side of things. Ah, yes. That’s us. He’s my handsome Romeo.” She pauses for a brief second as grief flashes across her face. And then, it’s gone when she smiles, wiping everything away. “But that's why we're here. I just want to dance the night away and forget that he's out there doing something dangerous."
"What's he up to tonight? Does he ever tell you?"
Please say no. Please don't tell me it's something sinister against my monster. Please don't make me go back to that evil man and make me tell him everything.
A smirk pulls at her lips when we move again. "Girl, you have no idea," she murmurs, leaning in really close. "He trusts me with his best kept secrets. Can you believe that? Tonight they're meeting with their big boss. He's some mysterious man living in the shadows or something. He has an island fifty minutes off the coast. Elias told me all about it. It's tropical. People are everywhere. It's wild."
My heart sinks. "Holy hell! An island? And I thought Elias worked for himself?" I question, leaning in further.
"He does and doesn't. He's teaming up with more people around here." Her eyes widen, and she looks at me with worry. "But I didn't say that, Journey. You have to promise me that you won't tell anyone, okay?"
"I won't. Cross my heart and hope to die," I say, offering her a soft smile and squeezing her hand in mine.
Should I cross my fingers behind my back? Probably. Because I'm a big fat liar. Hell, maybe I shouldn't make these promises at all. One day, Jenni will wake up and see my fangs, seeing me for who I truly am—a goddamn snake in the grass, ready to turn her and her boyfriend over to my boss.
We fall into a quiet calm, advancing through the line quickly. Several people walk by us with frowns on their faces, bitching about the uppity security guard not letting them go in because their clothes weren't up to par. One woman cried because her shoes were so last season, and they wouldn't let her gain entry.
What the hell am I walking into? A nightmare, that's what. Give me knives and blood any day over this hellhole. On second thought, I don’t want that either.
"What kind of place is this?" I frantically whisper, eyeing the big guards at the front of the line.
"Very elite. But don't worry. I have the proper coin to gain entry," she murmurs, digging into her boobs once again. She grins when she pulls out a coin with a large R stamped into it with an intricate design all around. "R for Rave. Those people being turned away? They have to have this to get in. It's only given to the best of the best. You can thank my daddy for that." She squares her shoulders with pride as we take another step forward. Only two more people to go, and then we'll be at the head of the line. "He's the head of Thomas Plastics. That's how we got this." She grins at me like I don't know her father is one of the bosses in the Viotto Crime Family.
Whatever.
I'll pretend not to know a lot of things for her sake and mine. The faster I can gather information, the quicker I can hopefully get out of this stupid town. My fingers brush the exposed tattoo in the middle of my chest, following the sharp scar between my breasts. The skin tingles under my touch, reminding me of the night I finally graduated from my torture room and became the woman I am today.
Peering down, I shiver, pulling an arm across my body and lean into Jenni for support. A bone-deep vulnerability at how exposed I feel standing on the sidewalk in a barely there dress and heels, hits me in the chest. My breaths turn shallow, and heat rushes up my spine.
I want my hoodie, sweatpants, and my bed to sink into. Anything to soothe my skin crawling at the prospect of rubbing necks with so many damn people. But I'm here for a reason, and that reason is standing beside me. No matter my discomfort, Jenni comes first.
My mission trumps all.
"By the way, I love your tattoo," Jenni beams, gesturing toward my fingers running the length of my scar underneath. Thankfully with the key and vine design I picked out, It's barely noticeable sometimes. Although I usually protect it with an under-boob corset, I couldn't tonight.
“Thanks. I got it when I turned eighteen.”
"Next!" the security guard hollers, beckoning us forward.
"We're good," Jenni says with a grin, showing the man the coin.
"And your IDs?" he asks, raising a brow when Jenni plucks her from her cleavage, and I grab mine.
He inspects them for a split second with a scoff. "Okay, Destiny and Cherry, you're in," he says, nodding toward the loud club, basically vibrating from the inside out.
