“Everything okay?” Mazz asked, a touch of concern clouding her flawless features.
Vesper ran a hand through her hair, blowing out a laugh. “Not really, no.”
Wisp stood awkwardly at the door, eyes darting between the two of them, clearly unsure what to do. Mazz looked at Wisp then tipped her head toward Vesper, a silent demand that Wisp followed without argument. She slowly approached the chair before neatly perching on the armrest.
“I can give you a discount on Wisp. She’s still learning, but I’m sure you won’t mind teaching.” Mazz looked between them and smiled. Addressing Wisp and winking, she said, “V’s one of our favorites. But if she’s with her girl, don’t approach. If her girl comes up, leave.”
Vesper chuckled. “Still upset with her, then?” She rubbed her thumb over her palm and lingered on the raised ridge of the scar she had from the time Bellamy decided to interrupt them by attempting to kill Mazz. Vesper’s reflexes were faster, and she took the magic to the hand instead of Mazz taking it to the throat. That had been years ago, but evidently, Mazz could hold a grudge. Vesper couldn’t blame her.
Mazz glared at her in response. “She tried to kill me. I should have had her banned.”
Vesper shrugged. “She was just a bit jealous, and she didn’t even touch you.”
Mazz huffed, unimpressed. She no doubt wanted to know why Vesper was suddenly defending Bellamy, but Vesper wasn’t here to waste time chatting. She waved away further argument.
“I’m not here for that anyway. I don’t have time. I need a really big favor.”
“Bigger than your last one?” Mazz asked, watching while Vesper dug the notes out of her pocket and tossed them onto thedesk. Mazz’s eyes widened as she looked between Vesper and the stack.
“I need an exchange. Was hoping you could give me an even rate, and maybe not let these leave the building for a few days?”
“Shit. This goodbye then?”
“Can you do it for me?” Vesper pressed instead of answering. She knew there was an undercurrent of urgency in her tone, but she didn’t want to force anything. Slowly, Mazz nodded. Opening a drawer and pulling out her glasses, she started counting.
Vesper sighed in relief and leaned back in her chair. The weight of another body on the arm reminded her that Wisp was still perched next to her, unsure what to do. She looked up to see the woman watching her, but Vesper couldn’t read her expression.
“Sorry,” she murmured softly, trailing her gaze down Wisp’s body. “Nothing personal. I’m sure I’d have loved you."
Wisp giggled indulgently and leaned further into Vesper’s shoulder, putting an arm around her and giving a perfect view of her incredibly pushed-up tits. Vesper looked resolutely forward, keeping her hands in her lap while the new girl clearly tried to prove to Mazz that she could snag fares.
“No touching,” Mazz snapped without looking up from the money.
“I know the rules, Mazz,” Vesper answered, holding out her hands in a useless show of innocence. Mazz peeked up, an eyebrow raised when she saw Wisp draped over Vesper. She chuckled to herself.
“She’s not here as a client today, Wisp. You don’t have to try so hard.” Then, laughing a bit more to herself, she said, “Actually, even if she was, you still wouldn’t have to try.” Vesper rolled her eyes. She couldn’t argue; Mazz wasn’t wrong.
The door to the back room flew open while Mazz was digging through her safe to get new notes to exchange. They all froze when Bellamy stormed inside.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Bellamy
Unsurprisingly, they hadn’t been paid for the failed assignment. Bellamy hadn’t really known what to expect when checking the box. She had a feeling Vesper didn’t think there would be anything and just wanted to break the news about their upcoming disappearance to her precious Mazz without Bellamy there to interrupt.
Well, she wasn’t going to give them any extra time to be alone if she could help it. She’d been tempted to ignore Vesper’s instructions and follow her inside instead but their relationship was so fragile right now, she had to trust Ves. She didn’t have a choice.
What she hadn’t been expecting was for a note to actually be in the box. Another assignment for them. It had to be a set up. There were a few yin attached to the paper but nowhere near enough to be considered a payment for the last job. She’d show Vesper regardless, they’d figure out their next moves together.
The girls lingering in the foyer openly stared at her when she threw the doors open to the Downstairs. They all knew she should be banned, they all knew why. Bellamy herself didn’t know how she wasn’t. Not that she’d bothered to step foot inside thatplace since trying to kill Mazz, not until now. And now, the girls looked at her with fear, discomfort, no one said anything to her.
That was fine. She had an idea of where she needed to go. She peered into each room as she passed. Not that she didn’t trust Vesper, just to make sure she was behaving. She didn’t even bother to knock when she found the back office. Just threw the doors open.
“I told you ten minutes or I’d—” Bellamy froze as she stared into the face of the very last person she’d ever expected to see here. Or really to ever see again. Confusion welled up inside her, warring with the anger building at seeing her fucking sister all over Vesper.
“And that’ll be V’s girl. Get up, Wisp. Now,” Mazz ordered, her voice full of urgency. Bellamy couldn’t be bothered to tear her gaze away.
“Ari?” Bellamy finally broke the uncomfortable silence. Her sister had ignored Mazz entirely. “What the fuck are you doing here?” Bellamy’s words were enough to break through the shared shock as her bitch sister smirked and slid onto Vesper’s lap.
