ONE
Who doesn't love a good goring?
LILA
Perhaps I’m part bull.Not only because of the way I’m built, but because I’m drawn to red.
More specifically, red flags. The bigger and redder the better.
If only I had the strength of a bull to match. Maybe the other half of my genealogy is a bird. Not a cool one like a falcon or an eagle. I’m probably like a turkey, just shuffling around in the dirt, waiting for the hunter to strike.
And boy did he this time.
I should have known Silas was a weasel the first time he winked at me. He was too sexy andfartoo charming. And the piece of bleepity-bleep made me break my number one rule—never trust a guy with dimples.
Dirty dimples. They’re my downfall every time. When will I learn?
No sense huffing about it now. At this point, the only way out of this mess is to push through.
Icando this.
The nauseating protein, veggie, and fruit smoothie I downed in the car stirs in my stomach, the sensation compounding my mounting dread.
Because if I fail . . .
Well, I’m not going to think about what will happen if I fail. Instead, I’ll do what I normally do and visualize the ending I’m striving for. I’m a manifestation expert. Been training for this my entire life.
Sure, it’s never worked before, as evidenced by my crudtastic life circumstances. However, I’ve never needed to succeed this badly. I’ll manifest my way into manifesting the perfect outcome or die trying.
Oof. Did I really just think the wordsdie trying? Probably not the best phrasing, considering my best and only friend’s life is on the line.
Come on, Lila. It’s manifesting time.
Iwillsave Kenzie.No matter what it takes.
I will.
I’ve flipping got this.
As I approach the building, my feet attempt to prove the ineffectiveness of my thoughts with faltering steps. The tacky silver rings weigh heavily on my thumbs. I wish I could have tossed them out of the car window when I drove over the bridge into Tampa on the way to work. But consequences and all.
Forcing myself to stop thinking about what the gaudy jewelry represents, I scan my badge and enter the casino’s employee door. A solid wave of air conditioning smacks me in the face, causing my eyes to flicker briefly.
Thanks to my guilty conscience, I’m afraid to open my eyes for a solid two seconds. What if someone sees the crimes I haven’t committed yet behind my shame-filled irises?
Sadly, I can’t work my shift with my eyes closed. Nor can I walk another step without falling flat on my face. By sheer force of will, I thrust them open and plaster on an easy smile.
Act naturally, Lila. No one has a reason to suspect that you’re about to help criminals steal thousands of dollars from your employer.
My favorite chatty security guard is working at the metal detector, and he beams as I approach the checkpoint.“Hiya, Lila. Do we have babies yet? I’ve been waiting.”
“Hey, Gus,” I offer casually, forcing a toothy smile.
And bycasually, I mean manically with a cracking voice. I cover it by feigning a cough and eventually manage something passing as a nonchalant reply. “Not yet. Hopefully soon.”
“I want pictures as soon as they hatch.”
“I’ll do you one better and get videos so you can hear their adorable chirping.”
