Page 28 of Ferocious Nightmare

Nine

The weather was warm,the window displays shiny and tantalizing, and I was a little bit tipsy.

I’d just had lunch where I’d met Tatiana, a girl I’d seen around the clubs, mostly as one of the dancers.

With dark hair, a perfect hourglass figure, and red, pouty lips, the woman was stunning.

She wore heels like they were merely an extension of her long, sexy legs, and a dress that accented her every curve—without showing too much. I didn’t know how she walked anywhere without tripping over men.

You’d think a woman like her would be an uber snob, but she was charming and personable, and even paid for both Marie’s and my lunch.

We were at a boutique clothing store, and Marie was smiling for what I felt was probably the first time in a long time. She tilted her head back, finishing off the champagne in her glass. The woman at her side, in dark-framed glasses, and wearing a white, starched, pressed shirt and grey pencil skirt, held out her hand, taking the glass.

"Thank you," Marie gushed, her cheeks rosy, and the lady nodded, walking off. "Now," Marie grabbed my arm, tugging me forward to whisper loudly. "How much money do you think I can spend before the credit card company calls my husband?"

“Your husband?” Tatiana shook her head, causing a wave of perfectly wavy hair to fall over one of her eyes. “That man should be kissing the ground you walk on, with how you help him.”

“Shh,” Marie’s cheeks reddened, lying for the benefit of those who might be listening in, “he fucks me just fine, thank you.”

“Dios, mio,” I exhaled a drunken breath, “we need to leave.” Marie may have had a little too much red wine and too little fish with her meal. I grabbed her arm, leading her away from pencil-skirt lady who was now staring openly at us and into the street beyond. Tatiana strode confidently next to me, walking in her black heels as naturally as if she were wearing slippers.

Dante followed a ways behind us, keeping a close eye on me. When we were in public, he acted more the bodyguard instead of the dick who liked to boss me around.

“Where to next?” Tatiana said. “One of my good friends is the manager at Chanel. She’d close down her store to let us shop in private.”

"As amazing as that sounds, I actually have a better idea." I wiggled my eyebrows playfully.

“Ooo, sounds mysterious,” Marie hiccupped. “What is it?”

I shrugged. Dante was going to hate my next suggestion.

I mean, he would really hate it.

In fact, he’d hate it so much, we’d get into an all-out slapping match in the middle of the street—like they did in the soap operas, and everyone would stop and stare.

Well, that’s what went on in my head anyhow.

Really, he’d probably just do that thing where he’d take me aside to try and bark out orders. Not in the mood to deal with his drama, I zipped my lips and led them from the glitzy store, ignoring the beautiful red dress I was determined to try on later, and made my way down the hot Las Vegas sidewalk.

We were in the swanky part of town, which was only blocks from one of Nero's most popular clubs.

Coulter and I hadn't talked about what I was about to do, but screw Coulter. I was his fiancé and partner in crime, not his little doll, and I was going to do what I wanted.

“Follow me,” was all I answered.

“Mmm, whatever it is, I’m in,” Tatiana hooked an arm around my waist, and they both squeezed me in between the two, making me smile. As entertaining as it was to hang out with cold-hearted men all day, it was nice to have some friends.

“Hey, thanks for hanging out with me." I grinned at them, feeling a warmth inside as they smiled back.

"This was fun," Marie’s teeth nibbled on her lower lip, almost shyly, "even if you are a hooker."

“What?” Tatiana gasped, then grinned. “You’re a hooker?”

I laughed, shoving them both playfully to the side. Marie just shook her head. "All that hookering must've given you enough practice wearing those heels."

I looked down at my white Manolo Blahnik heels. The pink and purple flowers matched perfectly with my sage green dress.

"And god, you two and your boobs." She huffed, blowing her bangs out of the way, "I wish I still had perky tits and didn't have to wear a bra."

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