Page 109 of Silk and Sirens

Firestarter:

Where are you?

Me:

Vivienne Blackwater’s.

Firestarter:

As in her place?

Holy shit.

This is a plot twist.

You swapping sides, Cade?

I took a deep breath as I entered Vivienne’s

Me:

Stop being a prick and get Bas to call Hendrix.

Firestarter:

Impossible, I was born a prick.

Me:

Tell him time’s up.

Firestarter:

FUCK YES!

LETS GO BOY!

V:

It’s unlocked

Vivienne’s text came through just as I got to the top floor. Without knocking I opened her door, finding her seated in an armchair with her legs crossed in nothing but dark-purple lingerie and a pair of heels.

“You came,” she said with a slow grin.

“Your mother didn’t give me much choice,” I replied dryly.

Vivienne chuckled, the sound like nails on a chalkboard. “So, what do you think?”

Standing slowly, she gave a little turn, her long nails tugging at the suspender belt. Her face was too made up, the makeup around her eyes making them appear smaller while her lips were painted a bright red.

“You try too hard.”

Her smile strained a fraction, but then she was crossing the room, reaching forward as if to touch me before I grabbed her wrist.

“I’m your gift. Happy birthday,” she all but purred, and I twisted her wrist painfully.

“Touch me again, and I’ll break it,” I said with an acerbic edge, releasing her. Up close I could tell she was high, her pupils swelling and her movements exaggerated.