Another night off? The women wouldn’t be happy having to clean their own rooms.
“Okay, but I can go to the motel now and…”
“No.” Ace’s tone was firm and left no room for negotiation. He took a drag from his cigarette and smashed it in the ashtray. “Another better option, right?”
It was. The last thing she wanted to do was argue with him. He’d given her an order and she’d follow it.
Cleo turned toward the hallway and rammed into Joker, who was walking in the room. Unfortunately, he was holding a large bouquet of flowers, and the collision caused the vase to tip, pouring water all over his pants.
“Fuck,” he snapped.
Cleo reached out to help steady the vase, but his sharp glare had her retreating quickly.
“What the fuck is that?” Cross asked.
Joker twisted his lips. “Flowers.”
They were beautiful. It was a spring mix with daisies, lilies, and two sunflowers. They’d been in the room for less than a minute, but the aroma was drowning out the scent of stale cigarettes.
“Yeah, I can fucking see that, dipshit. Who are they for?”
Joker gestured to her. “Cleo.”
She blinked incessantly, staring at the vase. She’d never gotten flowers before.
“Who are they from?”
Wraith’s voice was enough to break her out of her daze. She glanced over the bouquet and saw the small card poking out from the top. She grabbed it, sliding her finger and opening the envelope.
May this next year be your best year. Happy Birthday, friend.
Her eyes welled, and she read it again. And again. And one more time.
“Cleo.”
She spun around to face the table.
Wraith arched his brow and lifted his chin. “Who are they from?”
Cleo knew exactly who sent the flowers. There were only a few people who knew it was her birthday. But she wasn’t about to expose her only friend. Defiance had never been in her nature, neither had lying. But…
“It doesn’t say.”
Wraith’s eyes darkened. It probably came off suspicious. The tension in the room elevated as the silence continued. Cleo licked her lips, holding tight to the small square of paper.
“Cue and Oak are leaving soon. Go get what you need before you go.” Ace gestured to the second floor.
Cleo nodded, feeling her chest ease. She reached for the vase.
“Leave them on the table,” Ace said.
Joker walked passed her placing them on the small table near the kitchen.
She darted her gaze between the president and the flowers. “I can bring them to my room.”
Gent snorted. “But then we all can’t enjoy them.”
“But…”
