by Jenna Moreci
neverheardofyou.Itrynottopollutemybrainwiththatsciencegarbage.”
“Clearly.”
“Sohowdoyouknow Eve?”
“Eve?”Percychuckled.“Funny,Ithoughtweweretalkingaboutme.How
soontheconversationchanged…”
“Itjustdoesn’tseemlikeyoutwowouldruninthesamecircles.Yourcircle
beingboringsciencemoney,andhercirclebeingthecesspoolofhumanity.”
“Whatanartfullycruelandspecificmetaphor.”
“I’vehadpractice.”
PercyhoppedatoponeoftheglasscasesandtookaseatfacingMadison.
“Meetingherwasbychance,really.”Heshrugged.“JasonandIaregood
friends.”
“Oh.”Sheglowered.“SoyoumetherthroughJason.”
“Yes.”
Theroombecamequiet.Madisonglaredatthefloor,herthoughtssuddenly
preoccupied.
“AndhereIwasworriedthisdatewouldbeawkward,”Percymuttered.
“Howarethey?”
“Excuseme?”
“Howarethey…youknow, together.”Sheforcedalaughandliftedhernose intheair.“Imean,notthatIcareabouttheirrelation shit.”
“Ofcourseyoudon’t.Whyelsewouldyoupry?”
“Aretheytogetheralot?”
“Ithinkyoualreadyknowtheanswertothat.”
“Andwhenthey’renottogether,”shebegan,herlipscurledwithrepulsion,
“doesJasonsayanythingabouther?”
“Well,helikesherlegs.”Hesmirked.“Thatguyhasalwaysbeenalegs
man.”
“I don’t care about her stupid legs, God,” Madison growled. “Does he say anythingelse?AnythingaboutEve?Anythingspecific,anything…personal?”
“Wow, Eve’s really gotten under your skin.” He stopped for a moment and mumbledunderhisbreath,“Orperhapsyoursecondskin.”
“What?”
“Let’schangethesubjecttosomethingalittlemorelighthearted.Like,I
don’tknow,diamonds?”Hehoppeddownfromthedisplaycaseandcockedhis headatitscontents.“Thosesparklysuckersreallyrevmyengine,ifyouknow
whatImean.”
“God,youandIhave somuchincommon,”Madisonsighed.
PercyapproachedMadison,hopinghisdebonairrefinementmaskedhistrue
distaste for the girl. “You know, I’ve always been so impressed with your company.”
“It’smydaddy’scompany,”shecorrected.
“But yournameisonthebox,”heanswered,pointingatthetwinkling Madison signagehangingfromtheceiling.“Soreally,isn’titallabout you?”
Madisonfalteredforamoment.“Well,Iguessyoucouldsaythat.”
“Imean,lookatthisjewel.”Heclutchedhershouldersandsteeredher
towardalargediamondinalitdisplaycase.“Thecutisremarkable,asifit
weremoldedwithadelicate,gentletouch.”Hestoodbehindher,hisvoiceairy
ashelightlyslidhisfingersdownherarms.“Butinactuality,ittakesastrong, firmtooltoshapethisdiamond—ittakesunrelenting control.”Hesqueezedher wrists,leaninghischinoverhershoulderuntilhislipshoveredbesideherear.
“Thisdiamondisanimageof intensepowerandperfection,andyournameis writtenalloverit.”
Sheletoutalong,waveringbreath.“Youare sospeakingmylanguage.”
MadisonspunaroundandshovedPercyagainstthewall.Withaflirtatious
grin,sheranhermanicuredfingersuphislegsandgrabbedathisupperthighs.
“Isthataguninyourpocket,orareyoujusthappytoseeme?”
Sheslippedherhandintohispocketandsuddenlystoppedshort;reluctantly, shepulledasleek,blackfirearmfromhispantsanddangleditintheair.
“Oh…it isagun.”Hereyeswidened.“Youbroughta gun?”
Percystuttered,“It—it’snothing,really.”
“It’sa gun.”
“Yes,we’veestablishedthatalready.”Hesnatchedtheweaponfromher
handsandshoveditbackintohispocket.“ButIbringitwithmeeverywhere.
So,really,whocares,right?”
“Icare.”
“Youshouldn’t.Infact,youshouldforgetthiseverhappened—”
“No,”sheinterrupted,forcinghimagainstthewallyetagainwithan
unexpectedsurgeofaggression.“Ithinkit’s sexy.”
Hehesitated.“Sexy?”
“Yeah,almostlikeyou’re,Idon’tknow,”shebroughtherlipsclosetohis,
“dangerous.”
“Oh,”hemumbled,hisbodystiff.“So,youlikedanger.Caretoelaborate?”
“Areyoutryingtotalk dirtywithme?”
“Moreorless.”Hepaused.“Maybeless.”Hefidgeted,attemptingtoshake
herhandsfromhisbody.“So,thisdangeryoumentioned…Arewetalkin’
brooding-guy-from-the-wrong-side-of-the-tracksdanger,or,say,cutting-
people-open-and-digging-through-their-gutsdanger?”
“Excuseme?”
“Sorry,myex’sideaofdirtytalkwasprettygraphic.Guessit’shardtoshake.”
“Look,something’sgoingonhere.”Shebackedawayandfoldedherarms.
“AndIthinkIknowwhatitis.”
“Beforeyoujumptoanyconclusions—”
“You’renervous.”
Percywrinkledhisbrow.“Comeagain?”
“I totally get it.” She took another step back, giving Percy the opportunity to admireher.“Imean,lookatme:I’mphysicallyflawless.Everythingyoucould
everwantinapartner,I’vegotit.”
Percysmiled.“Youknowmesowell.”
“Andontopofmyimpeccablebeauty,Ihavethiswinningpersonality.”
“Don’tforgetaboutyourhumilityandfirmgraspofreality.”
“Whocouldblameyouforbeingnervous?You’reprobablyshakinginyour
Italianleatherboots.”Sheletoutacondescendinggiggle.“It’sadorable.”
“Adorable?”Hecringed.“God…”
“Firstyou’restylishandsophisticated.Thenyou’rewealthy,likeme—
althoughyourassociationwiththisobscurepowercompanyiskindof
disappointing, but I guess I can live with that.” She slid her hands along the lapelsofhisblazer.“Thenyou’resomemysteriousgunslinger.Andnow…”
She stopped, gazing into his eyes. “Well, now you’re shy. You’re like every dreamguyrolledintoone.It’s intoxicating.”
“Funnyyoushouldmentionthat,becauseIhavetheoverwhelmingdesireto beintoxicatedrightaboutnow—”
Beforehecouldfinish,Madisonwrappedherhandsaroundhisneck,yanked
him forward, and kissed him firmly on the lips. Instinctively, he grabbed her armsandpushedherawayfromhisbody.
“What?What’swrong?”sheasked.
“Nothing,”hestammered,hisfacewhitewithshock.“JustfeelslikeI’m
kissingagirlfortheveryfirsttime.”
Shesighed.“Andnowyou’reboyishlyinnocent.”Herwholesomesmile
quicklymorphedintoaseductivestare.“Iam so intoyourightnow.”
AlumpformedinPercy’sthroat.HestaredbackatMadison,atherpiercing
eyes,flushedskin,andtremblinglips,anddespitehowmuchthethought
sickened him, he knew what he had to do. With a grumble in his stomach, he pulledtheheiressclosetohimandkissedher,dippingherslightlyasherbody
becameweakinhisarms.Hesuckedandnibbledonherbottomlip,tryingto
imaginethefeelingo
fapricklychinagainsthisownandthetasteofwhiskey
onherbreath,buthersmoothskinandglossedlipslefthimboredandevena
littledisgusted.Withanarduousbreath,hetuggedathersoft,lusciouslocks—
astarkcontrastfromtheshort,roughhairhewasaccustomedto—andgave
heronelast,forcefulkiss.
Madisontotteredawayfromhim,herlipsstunnedtosilence.Shehastily
adjustedherdressandfluffedherhair,andaftersheregainedwhatwasleftof
hercomposure,shelookedbackatPercyandsmiled.
“Iwanttogiveyousomething.”
“Agift?Well,gosh,Iwasn’texpectinganything.”
Shescurriedbehindtheshowroomdesk,fiddledwiththecabinets,and
finallyreturnedwithapalm-sizedbucklecoveredinsparklingwhitediamonds.
“It’s a Feverish Heat Diamond belt buckle,” she explained, placing it in his hand.“Oneofthebestcutswehaveinstock,andIhavethesneakingsuspicion
thatit’llreallyaccentyour”—sheclearedherthroatandcockedherhead
towardhisgroin—“youknow.”
Hestareddownatthebuckle,hiseyesheavywithdisappointment.“Oh.”
“Oh?” she hissed. “I give you an unbelievably expensive, limited-edition fashionaccessory,andallyouhavetosayis‘ Oh’?”
“It’sbeautiful,truly,”hemuttered,tossingthebuckleontothecounter,“andI
do appreciate the nod to my penis. But I’m not interested in one of the best. I want thebest.I’monadatewith you,afterall:surelythatprovesmystandard forexcellence.”
Madisoncrossedherarms.“Keeptalking.”
“Iheardarumoraboutaveryspecial,syntheticjewel.”Heleanedintoher.
“Isittrue,whattheysay?Doyoureallyhaveashatterproofdiamondinstock?”
“It’strue,”sheanswered,melodramatically.“TheEverlastingDiamond—it’s
ourgreatesttreasure.”
“Iwantone,”Percycommanded,squeezingherhandstightly.“No.I needone.”
Madison’seyesdartedbackandforthacrosstheshowroomasagiddysmile
spreadacrossherlips.“Youknow,I’mnotsupposedtodothis…”
“Doit,”Percyblurted.“FortheloveofGod, doit.”
“You’resosexywhenyou’redemanding.”Shebitherlipbeforescuttling
across the room, disappearing out of sight into the back corner. “This is the onlyshowroominthecountrythatcarriesthese,youknow.”
“Really?Ihadn’ttheslightestidea.”
Madisonreturned,thistimewithasmallboxinherhand,adornedwitha
bluevelvet“M”.SheopenedtheboxandrevealedasingleEverlasting
Diamond.
“Foryou.”Shebeamed.“Themostimmaculatejewelyouwilleverlayyour
eyeson.It’sallyours.”
Percystaredatthetwinklinggemandfeltaswellofdismayinhischest.He
wasnowtheownerofanEverlastingDiamond— oneEverlastingDiamond.
Hardlyenoughtomakeasinglebullet.Buthewasn’tyetreadytoadmitdefeat.
HelookedupatMadisonandofferedheraplayfulwink.
“God,Iloveitwhenyoutalkdiamonds.”
Sheflippedherhairacrosshershoulderandraisedhernoseintheair.“My
daddysaysI’mkindofamarketinggenius.”
“You’reanatural.”Heslidthediamondintohisblazerpocketandcasually
tookaseatatoparowofcabinets.“Infact,Idon’tthinkIcanbesatisfiedwith just oneofthesebadboys.”
“Really?JustbecauseofwhatIsaid?”
“Ofcourse.Canyouthinkofanyotherreason?”Hefishedhiswalletfrom
his pants and began fanning through his credit cards. “Honestly, I’ve never beenmoreconvincedofapurchaseinmylife!”
“Oh,Daddysaysthey’renotforsale.”
“Daddysays?”Hehoppeddownfromtheshowroomdeskandpulled
Madison close to him. “But this is your company. You can do whatever you want.”
Madisonhesitated.“WhateverIwant?”
“Whatever.You.Want.”
Madisonwaveredforjustamomentbeforedashingbehindtheshowroom
cabinets.“Thereisonething,”shesaid,unlockingasmallblacksafebeneath
theregister.“Wehaveaclub—asuper-exclusiveclientlist,completely
unknown to the public. It’s called the Crystalline Society. All members get priority access to our finest jewels.” She delicately removed a leather box fromthesafeandhurriedbacktoPercy’sside.“Normallymembershipis
reservedforonlythemostimportantpeople:foreignroyals,A-listcelebrities,
the mafia,” she rolled her eyes, “but since this is my company, I can make a specialexceptionforyou.”
Sheopenedtheleatherboxandremovedasleekblackcardwithasilver
emblemintheshapeofanold,European-cutdiamond.ShegrabbedPercy’s
hand, separated his index finger from the rest, and pressed it against the diamondemblem.Suddenlythecard’sblackpigmentbecametranslucent,and
allthatcouldbeseenwasaredfingerprintinthecenteroftheclearplastic.
Thenthecolorandpatternofthecardslowlyreturnedtonormal.
“WelcometotheCrystallineSociety—membernumbernine.”
Percyheldthecarduptothelight,examiningitssurface.“So,howdoesthis
work?”
“Flashthiscardatanylocation,andthediamondworldisyouroyster.Nowait,
nolimitations.”
“DoesthisworkforEverlastingDiamonds,too?”
“Anything.”MadisonsashayedclosertoPercyandsqueezedhisshoulders.
“Youcanhavewhateveryouwant, wheneveryouwantit.”
Percyignoredthegirl;hewastransfixedbythecard,admiringtheemblem
andtheglossytexture.Hisfeelingsofdisgustfadedaway,replacedbyasurge
ofpride:thetediousnessandhumiliationofthisnighthadallbeenworthit.He
staredatthecardforasecondlonger,hardlynoticingMadisonnuzzling
against him, and for the first time since the night began, an authentic smile gracedhislips.
“CanIorderinbulk?”
CHAPTER14:THEALIBI
“Areyouready?”
“Ofcoursewe’reready,Sancho.We’reallhere,aren’twe?”
Eveimpatientlytappedherfootasshestaredatthediningtable,whichwas
convenientlycoveredbyasilksheet,mostlikelyfordramaticeffect.Jason,JJ,
andPercywereatherside—Jason’sbrowwasfurrowed,JJfeignedanairof
indifference,andPercycasuallysippedhisbourbonwhileamusedlywatching hisfriend’swide-eyedelation.
SanchohadcalledthisimpromptumeetinginPercy’sdormroommuch
quickerthananyonehadexpected.Injustacoupledaysshyofaweek,hehad
managedtoturnahastilyderivedconjectureintoreality.
“I’vetestedthemoutand,Ihavetosay,they’reevenbetterthanI
anticipated.” Sancho gripped the edge of the sheet, his fingers quivering with excitement. “Under this blanket is the future of weaponry—the ace up our sleeve. A development so powerful, the patrolmen could only dream of it. A toolsodynamic,Fursthimselfwouldbowdowntoourauthority—”
“Sancho,”Jasonmoaned,“justshowusalready.”
Sanchocowered.“There’sonethingyoushouldknow…”
“OhGod,”Percygrumbled,“don’ttellusyouscrewedsomething
up.”
“Ididn’t,Ipromise,it’sjust—”Sanchopausedandforcedanapologetic
smile.“Therewasanunforeseendrawback—aminorimperfection.”
JJsighed.“Andthatis?”
Sanchoyankedtheblanketfromthetable,exposingaclusterofbright,
reflectinglight.Eveshieldedhereyesasshelookeddownatthetable;shewas
staring at a pile of Everlasting Diamonds, perfectly sculpted into bullets, and despitetheirveryseriousapplication,theyglimmeredandshinedinthemost
beautiful,unintimidatingway.
Sanchoshrugged.“They’rereallysparkly.”
“Goddammit,”Percygroused.“Guessweshould’veseenthatonecoming.”
Evepluckedasinglebulletfromthepile,studyingitsformanditspointed tip. “These bullets could be covered in glitter for all I care, so long as they work.”
“Trustme,they’llwork,”Sanchosaid.“Withthissortoftechnology,the
Interloperswon’tevenknowwhathit’em,andIdomeanthatliterally.”
SanchoandEveglancedatJason,whohadremainedsilentduringthereveal.
His eyes were fixed on another weapon resting beside the pile—an axe, long andforbidding,andwhilethecrystalclearbladeshimmeredslightly,itlooked
farmoresinisterthanthebulletsthemselves.
“Goahead,touchit,”Sanchoencouragedhim.“It’syours,afterall.”
Jasonliftedtheaxefromthetable.Itfeltheavyinhishand,weigheddownby
thegiantdiamondbladeandthesleek,blackmaterialthatmadeupthehandle.
Heturnedtohisroommateandpointedattheglossygrip.
“Whatisthis?”
“Interloperbone.”Sanchogrinned,pleasedwithhiscreation.“Igotitfrom
ourlastfight.Figureditwouldcomeinhandy.Nopunintended.”
Jasoneyedtheweaponforasecondlonger,swingingitinfrontofhimasif
togetafeelforit.Withanapprovingnod,hesqueezedhisfriend’sshoulder.
“Goodwork,Sancho.Youmaybecrazy,butyou’realsokindofagenius.”
“Wecan’tforgetaboutPercy,”Eveadded,elbowingtheheirintheribs.
“Noneofthiswould’vebeenpossiblewithouthissmooth,charmingways.”
Percyrolledhiseyes.“That’sme,”hemuttered,“theteamgigolo.”
“I’dliketothinkofyouasmoreofasupplier,”Eveteased.