“I’m not. I’m just … processing some things.” I hesitated, questioning whether any of these women knew what was really going on.
“Right. Processing the syndicate?” Rosy lifted a brow as she pulled her dress on and then sashayed over to me.
I opened my mouth but wasn’t sure what to say, so I shut it and waited. I guess she knew that I knew.
She chuckled. “I got this job because I was born into it … and the syndicate. My mom took care of his mom’s life, and Jameson needed more taking care of than anyone else in his family now. Plus, he’s easy to manage. Jameson’s all rough around the edges, but he means well. He told me you knew. Thank God, because I was over keeping that secret.”
“He’s talking about me to you?”
“To all of us … And only when he’s trying not to.” Oliverolled her eyes. “He’s literally the worst at expressing his emotions.”
“Anyway, I have dinner all ready for them, so we don’t need to be here.” Rosy rearranged the dresses on the bed. “What do you want to wear?”
All three of them stood there looking at me expectantly, as if waiting for my response to that rather than the freaking ginormous elephant in the room. “So you all know he’s a part of the syndicate? That it’s completely dangerous? And you’re okay with it? Was he—”
Rosy held her hand up. “Let’s get this over with. No, we don’t care. Why? Because we’re all a part of it too. Sure, it’s a bit dangerous. Yes, we’re willing to take our chances. Most people are. And to get in, well, you’re either born in, work your way in, or marry in.” Rosy shrugged, not really explaining herself as she straightened a fuchsia dress on my bed. Pink and Olive held up shoes.
Or you stay out of it.“But why try to be a part of that?” I asked instead, shaking my head as I stood there, frowning at the heels Pink threw on the bed.
Rosy pointed to the dresses. “You realize that most people are a part ofsomething. Why not be part of a protected society that has maintained an elite status for centuries?”
“Might be a little weird for you, but I’m just happy he told you about it. Would have been awkward if I’d been the one to have to tell you while out drinking,” Pink said as she turned, presenting her friend with the back of the dress she’d wiggled into. “Zip me, Olive.”
For some reason, this was more surprising than anything else they’d said. “You allreallywould have told me?” I asked as I walked over to my favorite color dress. Fuchsia would have to work even though I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to squeeze into the one they’d brought.
“Of course. I let you into my kitchen every day. We’re friends,” Rosy answered simply.
My heart twisted at her words.Friends. Did she really find it so easy to put her trust into someone? Like people didn’t put themselves first and sweep others’ emotions under the rug.
Maybe I was still raw after the conversation with my sister, after thinking of my mother’s response to Felix coming on to me. My throat tightened looking at these women. They’d come purposely to get me ready for a night out instead of stuffing me into a corner when I didn’t even belong in their society.
Pink cleared her throat. “And by the end of the night, you’re going to be friends with Olive and me too. Probably best friends if you drink tequila straight.”
When I turned to smile at that comment of hers, my mouth dropped. The black leather bodycon zipped up was lethal. Her pink hair and pink shoes popped perfectly, and I immediately realized: “I don’t think I can go out with you guys. I’ll look like a doormat.”
“Please.” Pink waved me off and pointed to the dress I was running my hand over. “Wear that dress with those heels and you’ll outdo us all. Plus, I want to see Jameson’s face when we tell him we’re going out.”
“He won’t care. It’s Friday, which means …” I glanced at the stupid vent and then stopped myself. “It’s the weekend. I can do whatever since Franny is going to her grandmother’s.”
“Right. He won’t care,” Olive mimicked as she looked at her lip gloss in the mirror over the dresser and fluffed her perfect curls.
“Dimitri will be mad too,” Rosy informed Olive as if she were unaware, but the girl was smiling like she knew exactly what was about to happen. “And, honestly, Bane’s not letting you go out with that dress on, Pink.”
Pink did a little shimmy in the mirror. “My husband can getfucked if he thinks he’s stopping me from shaking my ass in this dress. It’s too perfect to not.”
I chuckled and chewed on my cheek, considering my options. I could stay in and let my mind wander about the syndicate, or go out and learn about it with new friends.
And bonus: I didn’t have to listen to whatever Valerie and Jameson might end up doing later. I sighed as I grabbed my dress and walked toward the bathroom, but before I did, voices were heard from the vent.
It couldn’t be.
Jameson didn’t go into his office ever before dinner. It was a time he spent with Franny and his mother.
But I heard deep voices, ones belonging to men that must have been the husbands. I hurried over to the vent, but it was too late.
Pink stepped in the way, and her smile was wicked as the murmur coming through the vents grew louder and each of the women’s eyes shifted fast directly to where my nightstand had been moved.
“Oh shit,” Pink whispered. “Yeah, I think you just got promoted to best friend status without the tequila.”
