Instead, I watch her fingers, trembling slightly, grip another shot, slamming it back too.
Breaking the silence, Faith says, “Okay, then.” She gazes at me shrewdly, and it takes everything in me not to squirm. I didn’t account for someone else being here when I integrated Valentina, especially this viper in a kitten’s body.
But I won’t stop now. I refuse to give up my chance at revenge.
“Valentina, have you ever had a threesome?” I snort water, the liquid burning my nose.
Few people surprise me, but Faith?I’ve been nothing but surprised since I met her.
“Faith, you’ve the dirtiest mind of anyone I’ve ever met. Is it always sex to you?” Valentina asks. I’m inclined to agree, uncomfortable with the questions even if I’m secretly curious of the answers.
Faith’s cheeks pinken at the comment, but she doesn’t back down. “Shot or answer.” She pushes the last tequila shot toward Valentina, expecting her to take it.
But to both of our surprises, Valentina shrugs. “More than three, if that counts.”
My jaw nearly reverberates off the floor before I can snap it shut, teeth clanking together. Instead of acting smug about it, though, shame creeps into her voice, and Valentina shifts uncomfortably in her seat.
I file that away for another time. Asking now feels like a good way to kill the game all together.
“Your turn,” I say, but the words come out far breathier than I intend, and I cough to cover it up. Valentina doesn’t notice, lost to her thoughts, but it doesn’t escape Faith, her green eyes watching me over Valentina’s shoulder.
I get the feeling very little escapes Faith’s notice.
“I don’t want to ask anything,” Valentina whispers before slamming back the tequila shot.
We continue to toss questions around, and Faith and I make an unspoken effort to keep them lighter. Despite our attempts, though, Valentina’s mood only continues to sour, going from quiet to bitter to downright depressed.
And not for the first time tonight, I’m surprised by Valentina Reyes.
This is the woman who ran a multi-million dollar casino in stilettos and has never once been known to say sorry about anything to anyone.
But now, she seems especially sorry—sorry to be here, maybe, but it feels like more than that.Like she’s sorry to be alive.
After several more tequila shots and a trip to the bathroom that left her smelling a lot like weed, Valentina Reyes has become a shell of her normal self.
She’s weak and vulnerable.
I watch her whisper something to Faith, who’s face is soft and kind as she nods back. I don’t bother trying to hear what they’re talking about.
Instead, I focus on the hum filling my own brain, and the buzz of anger and fear I keep pulled tight over my skin like a cloak. I want to destroy her—I need to.
But when she’s like this, it feels a lot more like lighting a sick puppy on fire than taking down a lying, murderous, evil bitch.
Regardless of her shit mood, I remind myself I came here for a reason.
I motion to the girls as the bartender walks over. “I’ll pay for their tab. I think they should head home now.”
“You don’t need to do that,” Valentina snaps, and I wave her off with a wink.
“I want to. I just need to go use the pisser, and then I’ll follow you home. I saw that shiny new truck out front when I got here—wouldn’t want anything to happen to it between here and your house.”
I try to hide the disdain in my voice, and when Valentina’s shoulders slump, I beeline for the back door, only pausing to look over my shoulder for a split second before slipping outside. Faith’s got her arm slung over Valentina’s stiff shoulders, oblivious to how hollow and cold the woman’s become. Faith talks animatedly, her free hand waving wildly.
I slip outside, the night air thick with the scent of rain and salt as the breeze blows from the south. Bugs buzz in the thickair, filling my ears with a loud hum. Without missing a step, I move confidently toward the black Dodge, the new car tag still on the window, and step to the driver door, yanking it open using the keys I lifted out of Valentina’s purse when she was in the restroom.
In the dark, I make quick work of my plan, in and out of the truck in less than five minutes, and walk swiftly back through the back door without so much as a sideways glance from anyone.
When I slide back up to the bar, I catch the tail end of an argument between the girls and pause.
