"And I'm the lioness?" I guessed. Was I badass enough to carry that off?
Lions were the epitome of badassery, weren't they? No one would ever poke fun at a lion.
"You can be a lioness if you want to, Cupcake," Leif said. "Strong, fierce and sweet. That's you." He stepped over to place a hand on my bicep and swipe his lips over mine.
"Don't ruin her makeup," Forrest warned. "Until we're finished with this. Then we can ruin it all we like."
His nose almost touching mine, Leif grinned. "I look forward to ruining all of it. Especially your lipstick and mascara."
My pulse raced, pumping between my thighs.
Could we stay here and do that instead of leaving my apartment to hunt predators? No, we couldn't. Savannah was relying on us.
We're coming for you, I told her silently.We'll get to you before anyone can hurt you.
I hoped like hell that was true. I didn't like breaking my promises to my friends.
"She's not a lioness, she's a butterfly," Woody said, looking at us from under his dipped eyebrows. "She looks fragile but she's not."
"Are you sure about that?" I asked, looking at him past the stubble on Leif's cheek.
"Absolutely certain." Woody was unmoved. "You're like me. We've been through shit, but we came out the other side better than ever."
His expression softened for a moment before he pushed his bad-guy facade back into place. That's all it was, though, a mask. Underneath, he was a regular guy, with regular feelings and vulnerabilities. If I sliced a knife across his chest, he'd bleed as much as anyone.
Forrest cleared his throat. "We should get out of here."
No one moved for half a minute, then we all did. Picking up bags, pushing feet into shoes, checking phones and keys. All of us acutely aware we were vulnerable. All hoping like hell we made it through this tonight.
We had to. We may never get another chance.
CHAPTER 10
SABLE
I half expected an abandoned warehouse. Maybe a seedy basement somewhere.
It wasn't, ofcourse. That would be an insult to their status as important, elite assholes. Holding a prestigious event like this, in anything less than luxury, would be an admission they were doing something wrong.
No, this was done out in the open on a pleasant Thursday evening, a handful of weeks from Christmas. An early present to themselves.
Small and tucked away near the river, the Halloran hotel was exclusive, expensive. A place which didn't need to toot its own proverbial horn to be noticed. It succeeded on its reputation alone.
I knew of the place, but I'd never been here personally.
"Are they going to let us in?" I asked.
Forrest looked delicious in a dark suit and dark tie, expensive leather shoes and silver cufflinks. He looked like he belonged here. He could walk through the door and no one would think twice. They'd welcome him in with hors d'oeuvres, expensivewine and even more expensive women, catering to his every need so he'd stay and spend his money.
He took my hand and helped me out of the car.
"Of course they will. They won't question either of us. Remember the expression, 'fake it till you make it?'" When I nodded, he added, "Neither of us need to fake it "
I hated the fact that was true, but I couldn't argue. I was born into money and privilege. Whether I liked it or not, this world was my birthright.
Mine to burn down.
"We can do this," I said more to myself than to him.