Which was why she crossed her legs, pushed the thought of Valerie’s fingers, which were currently tracing the grain of the wooden bench a mere few inches from Adrienne’s leg, out of her mind and instead concentrated on the podium where only two cups rested on the pedestal.
God help her.
“Tonight, we have two pairs in the bottom. Niko and Amy and Sienna and Tamera,” Vivian said, looking as elegant as ever in a terracotta-colored pleated maxi dress with a plunging neckline. If she were worried about her wife possibly going home tonight, she didn’t show it.
The sky was a bleeding bruise of violent purple and burnt orange. This was the first time The Sending had taken place at sunset, and Adrienne appreciated the momentary distraction.Though it did feel a little too fitting for the bloodbath that was about to happen.
“Amy,” Vivian said, getting right into it. “How does it feel to be sitting there knowing that the numbers might be against you tonight?”
Amy, who had been anxiously bouncing her crossed leg, stopped. She sat up a little straighter. “It never feels good to be here,” she said. “But this game moves fast, and alliances can change right up until the votes are made. It’s all about offering a better deal.”
Better deal?Adrienne thought. Had Amy and Niko somehow convinced Isla and Safiya to go against Sienna and Tamera? But even if they had, the votes would be tied. They’d have to go to sticks—the dreaded last-resort tiebreaker, and the last time that had happened was Season Two.
“And what about you, Adrienne?” Vivian said, turning toward her. “Not that long ago you were sitting here in the hot seat. Do you feel a bit more stable in the game?”
“I don’t think anyone can ever feel stable in a game like this,” Adrienne replied, which was the absolute truth. “But that’s the nature of the game. When you’re playing to win the title ofUltimate Outlast Her, and there’s a million dollars at stake.”
Niko coughed the fakest, most theatrical cough in the entire history of coughs.
Vivian immediately turned toward her. “Do you not agree with Adrienne?”
“I agree with the sentiment,” Niko said, a bitter smile touching her lips. “But I don’t think Adrienne cares about the million dollars like the rest of us do.”
“What do you mean by that, Niko?” Vivian asked, taking the bait like a starving shark. But Adrienne didn’t need to wait for the teeth to sink in to know exactly what Niko had meant. Niko was about to expose her. Fuck.
“Last night I remembered something,” Niko said. She wasn’t addressing Vivian anymore, but the whole group. Adrienne’s stomach clenched so tight she felt sick. “I remembered staying at a Vale Hotel in New York. It was a gift from one of my high-end clients after a successful brunette-to-blonde transformation. And honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced decadence like that. They had a pamphlet on the table, and it showed where all their other hotels were. Tokyo, Berlin, London.”
“What are you getting at?” Sienna asked, leaning forward. Her eyes darted between Niko and Adrienne, and then, something clicked in her brain, the pieces snapping together. “Oh.”
“Adrienne Vale is the heiress to the Vale hotel empire,” Niko announced, crossing her arms triumphantly. “Which is something she politely forgot to tell us.”
Adrienne braced herself for the impact. But instead of an explosion, there were only a few mild gasps. The reaction was nothing as severe as Adrienne had expected. It was almost as if everyone already knew. As if Niko’s revelation wasn’t really a revelation at all.
Vivian clasped her hands together and frowned. Was Adrienne imagining it, or did Vivian look amused, like she’d found Niko’s outburst entirely funny? “So, if I understand you correctly, Niko, you think Adrienne is undeserving of the win because she’s wealthy? Is that what you’re saying?”
Niko swallowed hard. A rosy stain spread up her neck. It was the same shade as last night’s Veuve Clicquot Rosé. It appeared she hadn’t gotten the reaction she wanted. “No,” she said, looking more sheepish than ever. “I’m saying she doesn’t deserve to win because she wasn’t honest with us.”
“I think Niko forgot that she’s on the chopping block and not Adrienne,” Isla chimed in. She tossed her dark hair over hershoulder and shook her head. “You’re shooting yourself in the foot, girl. And honestly, bitterness isn’t a good look on you.”
Niko laughed. Although it was obvious that she was trying to mask her mounting panic.
And Adrienne hadn’t heard a sound that grating ever in her life. “Tonight is just one vote,” she said. “And if I go out tonight, then so be it. But I’d rather see anyone else here win this game except for Adrienne.” She clapped her hands as if she were dusting breadcrumbs off her palms and added, “I’m sorry if that makes me sound like an ass.”It most certainly does, thought Adrienne. “But just remember that I’m transparent, and Adrienne was not. She lied to us all from day one. Can you really trust someone who isn’t honest?”
“Isn’t that what makes her a Sinner?” Valerie said. “Doesn’t that mean she’s playing this game perfectly?”
The entire bench turned to look at her, including Adrienne. Something in her chest bloomed so bright and warm that it was as if she’d swallowed the sun. She could kiss Valerie right now.
Ha! Take that, Niko. Adrienne turned slowly and looked at the hairdresser with the smuggest expression she could muster. Was it dignified? No. Was she proud of it? Not at all, but somehow it felt imperative to let Niko know that she’d lost. And badly.
“Well, I think that’s something everyone can think about,” Vivian said, looking thoroughly entertained. She clapped her hands together. “It’s time to vote.”
ADRIENNE WAS SAD TOsee Amy go. The steamy romance writer had grown on her the same way Ted Lasso had stolen her heart and the hearts of millions of viewers. But unfortunately, Amy was just collateral damage in a war against Niko. Besides,now that the advantage had been flushed from the game, Adrienne could breathe easier.
She watched a stray spark rise from the fire and vanish into the inky black sky.
“Where’s Safiya?” she asked, glancing around the pit. The last time she’d seen the blonde-haired Saint was at The Sending, after Isla had stood up and played the advantage. The gasp that had escaped Safiya’s mouth had been so loud it was as if she’d swallowed a bee.
“Sulking by the beach,” Isla said, casually undoing the laces of her Hokas. “She’s still mad at me for the whole advantage thing and apparently, quite good at keeping a grudge.”