“I’m just saying. I wouldn’t mind doing the piercing thing, but what if?—”
“We’re going to change the subject,” Julian says as Carson doubles over with laughter, as if this is the funniest thing he’s ever witnessed in his life.
“Someday, you’ll have a girl that hangs out with us, and you might not be laughing,” Violet tells him, and he instantly sobers.
“Nah, fighter, I won’t. But it’s nice of you to think so.”
“We’re meeting at Rome’s compound at noon on Saturday,” Julian tells us. “The girls will get ready there, and we have some business of our own to see to.”
“I can’t believe it’s so close,” Lulu says. “I’m excited.”
“I wish you’d stay home,” Rome says.
“Absolutelynot,” Lulu replies with a scowl. “Everyone is getting dressed up, and I might look like I’m wearing a muumuuin my maternity dress, but I’m going. It’ll be fine, we’ll have a million guards with us.”
“Not as many as I’d like,” I mutter and drag my hand down my face.
“Is it not going to be safe?” Violet asks with a frown. “Why do you look like that? If something’s wrong, you need to tell me now so I don’t get my hopes up, Mateo.”
“Nothing’s wrong,” I assure her as I tug her into my arms and kiss the top of her head. “It’ll be safe. But the heads of every major crime family in North America will be there, and that usually means that something could happen.”
“So yeah,” Rome adds. “We’d rather you all stayed home.”
“Well, we’re not,” Natasha replies. “Because even though this was last minute, it’s now arealcharity, and we’re going to host a gala for it every year. We’ve decided.”
Julian smiles down at his wife. “Were you going to clue the rest of us in?”
“We were waiting until after Saturday,” Lulu says. “Get through this one and then talk to you guys about the rest of it. It’s such an excellent cause, and it needs money.”
“We know rich people,” Natasha finishes. “So there you go.”
“There you go,” Violet agrees. “I’m down for this. But now, I have to go home and start making some calls to get my studio staffed and ready to go.”
“Then let’s get out of here.”
Thirty-Seven
VIOLET
“I’m so freaking nervous.”
I’m pacing the pool area at Lulu’s new house, unable to sit still. Our guys hired a team of at least twenty people to come in and pamper the shit out of us girls today. They’ve set up a makeshift spa out here, complete with a tent to keep us out of the hot Vegas sunshine and lots of fans to keep a breeze blowing through.
It’s remarkably pleasant in here.
There are massage tables, pedicure and manicure stations, and a place for hair and makeup as we get closer to needing to get ready for tonight.
Lulu’s chef has prepared platters of fresh fruit, veggies, meats and cheeses, sandwiches, and all kinds of delicious things to munch on throughout the day.
But I feel like I’m going to throw up.
“Get a facial,” Natasha urges. “The neck massage will help calm you down.”
“I’m not so sure thatanythingwill help me right now. I could be hours away from finding my sister, you guys. I haven’t seen her in seven years. I know that she’s a stranger to me at this point and that I don’t really know her anymore. Jesus, whatif she doesn’t want to be saved? Maybe she’s in love with this Lincoln guy.”
“At the very least,” Lulu says from where she’s getting her nails painted, “you’ll get to talk to her. You canseeher, get a feel for how she is. Even if she doesn’t want to leave this guy, she’ll be excited to see you. So, don’t see that as a negative. If that’s the case, then she’s been well cared for.”
We all exchange a look.
