by Lucy Smoke
“Then why do I feel like you purposefully antagonize him?” I snapped. “He isn’t just threatening you for no reason.”
“He doesn’t trust me.” Well, that much was obvious. Before I could say anything more, he continued. “And he shouldn’t. Harlow, what happened between Marv and me – well, I don’t completely blame him for his hate now.”
“If you really feel that way, why don’t you just apologize?”
“Not everything can be fixed with an I’m sorry, Harlow,” he snapped. “Sometimes things are more complicated than that.”
“So. Uncomplicate. It,” I said through gritted teeth. God, it felt like I was constantly saying that. “You – and the guys, because they do it too – all make it sound like it would be so difficult to set aside your differences and just get over the past. The past is the past, why can’t we leave it there?”
“You don’t even know what that past is,” he argued. “For all you know, I could have killed someone.”
I paused but, no, he was just goading me. “Did you?”
“Did I what?” I could hear him practically panting on the other end.
“Did you kill anyone?” I didn’t think he had. He wouldn’t have been in Iris if they thought he was capable of that. And I just knew he had been part of Iris. It was the only thing that made sense. Grayson had already admitted as much anyway, though he hadn’t said the actual words.
“No!” He huffed out a frustrated breath. I would bet anything he was tugging a hand through his hair right then. “Jesus, I’m just trying to make a point.”
I closed my eyes and thumped my head back on the headboard. Why did things have to be so damn – “If you just let me help,” I said, “if you just told me what it was between the two of you, maybe… maybe I could—”
“Maybe you could what?” Of all things, Grayson sounded tired. “Try and get Marv and I to kiss and make up?” He paused. “Don’t get your hopes up, Baby. Marv’s right about me, now. I have to look out for myself. No one else is gonna do it.”
“Is that all you do?” I countered. “Look out for yourself? Because from where I’m sitting, you seem to do a lot of taking care of your brother.”
The silence stretched so thick and so long between us, I pulled the phone away from my ear to make sure he hadn’t hung up.
“I take care of the people who need me to take care of them,” Grayson finally said.
“Do you take care of me?”
He laughed, the sound low. It was filled with amusement, yes, but also something else. Something darker. Something lonelier. “Yes, Baby,” he answered, “when you let me.”
I decided to let him off the hook – for now. “So, now we’re taking care of your brother,” I said. “Do you think he was already gone that night at the club?"
Grayson sighed. "Yea. I think he might have been.”
Erika had said something. What had she said? I tried to think. "If he was, I don't think Erika knew," I said. "Or if she did know, she didn't tell me. She acted like everything was going well with them. But she was… flirting more. It wasn't like her. She isn't the type to flirt when she's in a relationship and she was drinking. She's the one who wanted to go there to drink. I mean it doesn't excuse what I did, but..."
"No, I get it," Grayson replied. He was quiet for several moments. "I honestly hate to say it, but I think I need to get Iris involved in this," he said finally. "I think I need to talk to your guys.” I stiffened, but at least he hadn't said boyfriends. Something else was on my mind.
"Grayson?" I asked hesitantly.
"Yea?"
“You know I’m going to keep pushing until either you or Marv tell me the truth, right?”
Silence on the other end. I chewed the life out of my lower lip as I waited. Then he grunted. "Sometimes, I’m not sure if you’re the most irritating woman I’ve ever met, or the most attractive."
I rolled my eyes. "If I get a choice, can I choose the latter?”
I could practically hear him smile through the phone. I knew because when he spoke, it sounded like he was talking and trying not to laugh at the same time. "You're one of a kind, Baby,” he said. "I hope you know that." Then he sobered. “I have to go, though, I’ve been idling in my car since you called.”
“Where are you?”
“Nowhere you need to be concerned with.”
I sighed. "I'll ask them," I told him. "I'll ask them to help. If they won't, then I will. Erika's my best friend. I don't want her hurt, but I’ll also do it to help your brother."
"Okay," he said. The strangeness of emotion in his tone – the exhaustion, the sighs and huffs, the quiet, slowness of his words – kept throwing me off again and again. It was not at all like the normal Grayson and I wasn’t sure I liked it.
"It'll be okay," I assured him.
"I hope you're right, Harlow. Be safe, Baby." With that, he hung up and I was left holding the phone as well as a multitude of emotions that I still had no freaking clue what to do with.
"Are you ready?" Delilah asked as she stood outside my gaping bedroom door. The cotillion was starting. Ms. Enders was beside herself as was Mr. Wallace. Though the latter didn't show it, Delilah assured me it was true. "We have to meet the guys in ten minutes."
"Almost," I called back as I adjusted the front of my dress. It was probably one of the most beautiful things I had ever worn; a light lavender that fell perfectly over my stomach and hips and modestly covered my breasts. I turned, and the material flowed with my movements. It would be a dream to dance in – that is, if I could dance. Mr. Giovanni had all but begged me not to dance tonight. I had readily agreed. It was one thing to stand and sway and it was a completely different thing to actually waltz. There would be no waltzing, that was for sure.
"Your cousin sure is a dream," Delilah said with a sigh. "He's so tall."
"Yup." I licked my lips and the matte lipstick stayed perfectly where it was supposed to. I looked like an actual princess. The only thing missing were the glass slippers and tiara.
"Wow." Delilah stopped right outside of my open bathroom door. "You look great."
I turned to her. "You do too," I said. It was true. Her dress was a skin-tight, Hollywood style golden ensemble made for the runway. It looked perfect on her form. She glanced down at the low-cut top and then twirled. The dress didn't so much as move. I was surprised she could walk in that thing, much less twirl.
"Are you ready to go, now?" she asked. I nodded. "Great," she said, snagging my hand and dragging me out of the bedroom into the upper hallway where all of the other girls were gathered with Ms. Enders and Mr. Wallace. Both were dressed professionally, but a bit more spiffed up in a tux and glittering knee length cocktail dress.
Delilah and I caught sight of the twins in matching dresses but opposing colors. Natalia wore a light yellow that went well with her darker skin and Isador wore a dark red that matched the same color painted on her lips. They waved at us as Ms. Enders called everyone's attention.
"Alright, ladies," she said. She couldn't hide the excitement in her voice and I couldn't believe that I had considered for even a moment that she was the real villain behind the girls' suicides and the blackmail. "This is the night. Each of the escorts has arrived and they are waiting downstairs." We will all be arriving together at the venue. You will stand to the side of your escort and make your way down the staircase in a line. We will practice a few times here before we go. Your friends and family are arriving at the venue as we speak. So, no dilly dallying, are we understood?"
"Yes, ma'am," everyone replied dutifully.
With that, she allowed the group of us to ascend the stairs and meet the escorts. I stepped up to the staircase as the girls began to descend and at the very bottom the group of escorts waited. Twin eyes – one pair a thunderous gray and the other an effervescent blue – met mine and my breath caught in my chest. Shivers coursed over my shoulders and down my spine.
"Oh my," Delilah whispered. "I've never had a man look at me like th
at." She nudged me. "If anything, I think you've got someone interested in you for much more than a dance or two as well." She thought Knix was looking at her and that Marv was interested in... well...he was interested in me. But Knix wasn't interested in her. The very thought brought the little green monster back to life and the knowledge that I would soon have to tell the both of them the truth – as well as tell them about what Grayson had said – put a major damper on my feelings.
I quickly descended the stairs and both of them stepped forward as I arrived at the bottom. "You look beautiful," Marv said.
"Yes, Little Bit, you look absolutely lovely," Knix agreed. Then he turned his eyes to Delilah, who blushed under his stare. "And you look just as radiant."
I frowned their way but didn't comment. "Shall we start our practices?" Marv asked, holding out his arm. I smiled and took it.
When Ms. Enders was satisfied that we were all able to descend the staircase in a line without tripping and causing the rest to fall like dominoes, we were finally allowed to get into the limos and head to the venue. The venue – a place called the Bluestone House – was an antique, country mansion several miles away usually reserved for weddings, but Ms. Enders had a standing reservation each season that she held her camp. As we arrived, I watched out of the window, staring at the twinkling lights dressing the tops of the mansion and the outdoor gazebo in the distance.
"It'll be fine," Marv whispered, leaning in towards me. I nodded. "Just act natural. You've done your part and gotten us in." My hands balled into fists. It felt like that was all I was here for, to get them in. To be their prop. That wasn't why I was here. I looked at him and shook my head before glancing around the inside of the limo at the rest of the couples.
"Not here," I whispered back. He tilted his head to the side but sat back in agreement.
When the limo stopped, the guys all exited first and then stood in a line, helping each girl out and then walking her towards the back door. There were already guests inside, mingling, drinking. I could hear the music, the laughter. We were to head up the back staircase and get into formation to be introduced. It was supposed to be like the olden days when young ladies were introduced into society. I didn't really understand it, but for a few of these girls, it was merely a reason to dress up and party.
For the guys and me, it was a chance to figure out who was behind the blackmailing and also to find out who the target was. My heart thudded against my breast, scared, but also hyped. Adrenaline coursed through my veins. I was ready for this. More than ready, I was downright done waiting.
"Let's go," Marv said, holding his arm out. I took it and we strode up the back stairwell together.
The smell of the old mansion was mustier in the upper floors. The carpet was clean but worn from how many people had trod upon it, and the walls were a washed out white. Still, though, there was a uniqueness about the building. An old soul living in its walls that called to me. It was alive, the building, something that had been there for far longer than I had been alive. So many people had been through this place. I wondered about all of the people that had walked its halls and slept in its rooms as we got into formation. Finally, when Ms. Enders gave the signal and we began to move forward, I glanced back over my shoulder one last time. I could have sworn I saw someone standing in one of the darkened doorways of the rooms.
Chapter 16
Everything about the Bluestone House was beautiful. Even though the upstairs seemed more antiqued, it was clear that someone had put time and effort into modernizing the downstairs portion of the mansion as much as possible without losing the antique ambiance. The pillars along each side of the room were adorned with lush greenery. It smelled real as I passed by. It must have been expensive or hard to keep up.
Marv spoke quietly in low tones. Somewhere, Texas and Bellamy were sequestered in one of the cars with a couple of Texas’ laptops and headsets. Both Marv and Knix wore their earpieces tonight. Now, more than ever before, I felt left out, and I was angry. Knix had tried to explain to me that it was because they didn’t want me drawing the attention of whoever we were tracking. We weren’t sure yet if these girls were really being raped, but if they were – I understood where the guys were coming from. Didn’t they see, though, that with a little risk, we could catch this guy and get him before he could hurt anyone else?
I stood off to the side as Marv observed the room and relayed what he was seeing to whoever was on the headset with him. I rolled my eyes. I could have at least done that much. Knix twirled a blushing Delilah across the dance floor, and I could see it in her eyes; Delilah was absolutely taken with him. It made me want to punch her out and that made me feel even worse about my situation with the guys.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as Isador left her date – escort, I reminded myself… Marv was not my date either – and approached me. “Hey,” she said, “what’s up with him?” she motioned towards Marv as he stood by one of the pillars.
I shrugged. “I don’t think he’s feeling very well,” I lied. It kind of amazed me how easily lying was starting to come to me now. I didn’t even have to think about it.
“Oh, that sucks,” she said. “Well, do you want to dance with my escort?” she offered. “My feet are so sore. It was such a bad idea to wear these shoes tonight.” She stuck her foot out and showed me the startlingly beautiful, gem encrusted heels. Despite their beauty I could tell that the back of her heel looked red.
“New?” I guessed.
She nodded. “First time wearing them too,” she admitted. “It was stupid, but they were so pretty.” She sighed. “That’s what I get for falling in love with pretty things.” I could say the same, but I wouldn’t mean shoes.
“So, dancing?” she asked.
I shook my head, but smiled. “No,” I said. “Thanks for the offer, but I think I’m okay right here.”
She looked at me for a moment before flicking a glance over at Marv. “Okay,” she said, though the way she said it made it sound like she thought it was anything but. “If you change your mind, you know where to find me.” She drifted off just as Marv came back around the pillar and put a hand on my waist.
He dipped close to my ear and whispered, "Knix just saw Wallace heading upstairs."
My head jerked up and I looked around. I hadn't realized it, but Knix and Delilah were both missing. "Where–"
"Hold on, let's dance." He grabbed my hand and led me to the dance floor. I wouldn't have minded so much – we had danced together before on Sweratt Island – but just as our feet touched the dance floor the quartet struck up the waltz. I could have freaking died right then and there.
"No," I hissed. "I'm not good at this."
Marv looked down at me like I was crazy as he positioned his hands on my waist and raised my hand in his. "We've danced before," he said. "You'll be fine."
"No, you don't understand, I–" Before I could finish my sentence, Marv had yanked me into the twirling masses of dancing couples on the floor. I whimpered and nearly head-butted him as I tried to stare down at my feet. What had Mr. Giovanni taught us? One. Two. One. Two. Step. Step. One of my heels jabbed Marv's foot and he winced looking down at me.
"What's wrong with you?" he asked.
"I'm counting," I snapped. "I told you. This is the waltz. I can't waltz."
More of that Harlow's crazy look. He rolled his eyes. "You're fine," he assured me. "You're just over thinking it. Here, let me–" Marv wrapped one of his arms fully around my back and his muscles flexed as he lifted me fully onto his feet. The toes of both my heels were pressed firmly to each of his shoes.
"Won't that hurt?" I asked hesitantly.
He shook his head. "No, if there's just a constant pressure, it's much easier to manage than you stabbing me with the point of your heel every time we turn." He grinned as he looked down at me before his face sobered and he looked up and over my shoulder. "Knix took your friend out on the balcony. We're gonna cross the dance floor – make sure we're seen and then we're g
oing to head upstairs."
"Do you really think Mr. Wallace is the one we're after?" I asked.
Thunder gray eyes met mine. "I do," he said. "Why?"
I shook my head and clung to him as we whirled around. My feet stayed firmly planted on his. It really wasn't so bad like this, I realized. In fact, it was quite nice. We weren't really waltzing, but no one was paying attention to our feet.
"Har-ley?" Marv grunted and corrected himself before he finished with my real name. I smirked and looked up at him, meeting his gaze. "Why did you ask that?"
I frowned and then my nails dug into his shoulder as he took several steps that ended with us on the side of the dance floor. "Because I'm not too sure," I admitted.
"About Wallace?" Marv clarified. I nodded. Marv was quiet for several moments as he moved us towards a back door. It looked like it led toward the kitchens. I could smell food and hear the clanking of dishes.
"Come on." Marv had me step off of his feet and then took my hand. Together, we hurried through the doors that had caught my eye before. I was right, it was a kitchen. No one paid us any mind though. Either the workers were too busy to notice, or they just didn't get paid enough to care that two people in formal wear were running through their kitchens in the middle of a big party. Whatever the case, Marv and I managed to get to the hallway without anyone stopping us.
"Okay," Marv said, stopping and pushing me up against the wall. I blinked at him in confusion. "Tell me why you think Mr. Wallace is innocent?" he asked, placing a hand on either side of my head.
"Um..." I gulped. "Well..." Why did he have to stand so close? "Doesn't it seem a little too easy?" I asked.
His eyes lit up. "What do you mean?"
"Well, we originally considered Ms. Enders," I stated. "We were giving in to the rumors. But then we got here and you and Knix interviewed her and I kinda interviewed Delilah I guess. I don't think it is Ms. Enders. She puts too much pride in her work. Then with what we found out about Mr. Wallace's daughter – Kayla..."