“I’m here to let you in on a secret. We’re approaching an inflection point in history.” Luca’s voice rang out with preternatural clarity. “The extreme hoarding of wealth has become a moral problem. It’s affecting our democracy and our environment. Reshaping our rights. If you aren’t a millionaire or billionaire, you’re a second-class citizen in a country where that isn’t supposed to exist.”
Beside her, Cybele cocked an eyebrow—and for the first time, it occurred to Juliet that Cybele might be a millionaire. She’d had that recent run of successful campaigns, hadn’t she? Juliet thought of her own father’s stroke, her mother’s frantic attempts to keep her younger brothers fed, her weekly deposits into her parents’ bank account. Maybe she and Cybele were less alike than she’d thought.
Luca began to pace on stage. “Since we’re here in LA, let’s also talk about the city’s most famous industry. Not only do they have money, but celebrities are rich withsocialcapital. And what do they use it for? Starting podcasts. Getting front-row seats at fashion shows. Brand sponsorships.”
“Okay, lady,” Cybele said loudly. Heads turned.
Cheeks hot with the attention, Juliet looked down the line of her friends. They were uniformly beautiful. Sample-size thin. Dressed in serious-girl cosplay, an Ulla Johnson midi-dress and prescription-less glasses on Cara, Loewe slacks on Miranda, a Veronica Beard tweed set on Reiko. All of it so expensive. Like actors playing a role.
With a sinking feeling, Juliet turned to the crowd surrounding them, noting the sea of distressed jeans and T-shirts. No makeup or platform heels or car-payment handbags in sight.
Her friends might as well haveWE’RE THE PROBLEMtattooed on their foreheads. Gently, she dropped Miranda’s hand.
“Think about the age we’re entering,” Luca continued, her sweeping gait across the stage as mesmerizing as a swinging pendulum, a ticking clock. “Rage between men and women has reached a fever pitch. Men dehumanize women, women make monsters out of men—most of them deserving,” she said, to rowdy cheers. “Not to mention failing health care systems, skyrocketing debt, broken immigration. On and on. It’s almost too much to hold in your head.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Juliet saw Miranda nodding. Even Cybele watched with begrudging interest.
“In the midst of all this paralyzing uncertainty,” Luca said, “it’s important to focus on concrete goals.” Her voice—it was the voice of a leader, confident and reassuring. Juliet had the sudden strange longing to sit at her feet. “Which brings me to the real reason we’re here tonight. The only goal that matters from now until November. We must stop Gabriel Knox from getting elected to the highest office in the land.”
The entire venue erupted into cheers and shouts, forcing Luca silent for a moment. “He represents an existential threat to women,” she shouted, meeting the crowd’s volume, the air in the Bowl charged. “And to anyone who isn’t a one percenter, the poor and downtrodden and huddled masses. That’s why we needyouand everyone you know to join us in a demonstration of our voice. Let’s show the world that Knox’s home state says no to tyrants.” She raised her fist. “That even after all these years, and all the hits we’ve taken, we still have some goddamn fight left in us!”
Miranda gripped Juliet’s shoulder, her fingers digging in.
The rally exploded with noise.
Juliet wiped herhands on her jeans as the door opened and two stoic women with earpieces swept inside the room. Her palms were sweating worse than they did during go-sees.
The security guards propped the door open, and suddenly Luca Clearwater was inside the room. Up close, she was even more striking, raven hair stick-straight, features so symmetrical they looked like they’d been drawn with a ruler. She was an average height, only reaching Juliet’s shoulders, but somehow she managed to look down at all of them as she held their eyes. Luca stuck out her hand. “My new friend Juliet Stone. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Juliet was struck by the urge to confess that her real name was Snodgrass and she’d abandoned it out of sheer vanity. There was something about Luca’s piercing gaze that demanded honesty. But she squelched the compulsion and simply shook Luca’s hand, hoping Luca couldn’t feel her sweat. “You were amazing out there.”
She smiled. “Thank you. I was excited to get your email.” She turned to the other women. “You’re all members of Our Ladies of the Dark?”
Cybele snorted. Juliet’s face flushed. “Oh, we’re not—I just used that name in my message because I knew you’d recognize it. We don’t actually call ourselves that.”
“We’re adults.” Cara adjusted the thick black frames of her eyeglasses. “Not a high school club.”
Luca gave them a small smile. “We find having a name pretty unifying in the Green Lions.”
Juliet’s blush flamed higher.
“But that’s neither here nor there.” Luca stuck her hands in the pockets of her trousers, winningly casual. “What matters is you’re doing good work.”
“Your opinion of the work celebrities do sounds pretty low,” Cybele said.
“It is,” Luca admitted. Her security guards stood behind her with their hands folded in front of them, wearing neutral expressions. “But I’m thinking you’re not like most.”
“Was it theNew York Timesarticle that tipped you off?” Miranda joked, her peacemaking instincts out in full force. “If so, our lawyers advise us to deny everything.”
Luca’s smile widened. “Listen. These days, I might spend most of my time in DC, but I grew up in LA. It will always be my home. And one hears things. Especially about potential allies.”
Juliet’s heart lifted.
“Which is why I’m glad to meet you.” Luca’s voice was earnest. “I’ll lay my cards out. My organization is desperate for a wider audience. If we had the kind of platforms you do—especially Scout, with her Instagram following blowing up—it would be a game changer. One arrest, and you’re already dominating the news—”
“Not arrest,” Miranda corrected. “Scout hasn’t been charged.”
“My mistake. But it proves my point: You’re already reaching young women the Green Lions have been trying to form a relationship with for years. You’ve got young people so fired up they’re starting to look for ways to act. Do you know how rare that is? How hard? I do this for a living, so trust me when I say: You could do so much good if you were willing to come out of the shadows.” Luca’s teeth were straight and white. “And get your hands dirty with us.”
