Page 110 of Hateful Games

“She what?” He chuckles hard on the other end. “Priceless.”

“Just get your fucking ass up here.” I hang up and pace in the bathroom.

After almost another fifteen minutes, two sets of footsteps stop outside the door and unlock it. I yank it open and am immediately greeted with twin sets of amused expressions. It’s Malcolm who speaks up.

“How the hell do you always end up locked or cuffed when left alone with her?”

Shoving past them, I stroll into the closet to get a new pair of shoes. Unperturbed by my livid expression, they follow in and Nathan leans against the door before beginning to count with his fingers.

“So far, Rosalie has set your car on fire and almost killed you, cuffed you so you almost missed your graduation, and tonight, locked you in the bathroom.” With a grin, he snickers, “Your days are numbered, my friend.”

“Or he secretly loves her crazy side,” muses Malcolm.

“Did you borrow my shoes?” I ask Nathan, ignoring his observation.

“No.”

I search every shelf and nook again, finding no footwear. As if they vanished into thin air. Understanding dawns on me and I shake my head, grinning. Meeting Nathan’s quizzical gaze, I ask, “Did either Bianca or Iris follow us?”

“They went to the restroom immediately after you and Rosalie left.”

“Why are you barefoot?” Malcolm questions with a frown.

“Because my bride and her little army stole my shoes.” They took every single pair, including the slippers provided by the hotel.

“Why?”

“Oh fuck,” curses Nathan impressively.

“This wedding is becoming weirder by the minute,” grumbles Malcolm in a flat tone.

“Just one of the entertaining games of the wedding,” Nathan explains, slapping him on the back. “One that is likely to leave our Nova bankrupt.”

“Stupid tradition.”

Nathan grins. “You better have brought a lot of cash. I’m guessing you’ll be paying interest for all the trouble you’ve caused Rosalie.”

“What exactly is about to happen?” asks Malcolm.

“The bridesmaid and the sister of the bride steal the groom’s shoes in exchange for money or whatever their greedy hearts desire. The groom has to pay, no matter what. Though he can negotiate.”

“You were supposed to be watching out, you idiot.”

“I had a more pressing priority. Like making sure you make it to the altar alive.”

“You’re doing a piss-poor job at that too.”

“Fuck off.”

Raising my middle finger, I huff, “Let’s get this over with.”

It doesn’t take us more than a few minutes to find our thieves because the lot of them stand outside the ballroom’s entrance, wearing proud grins. Iris gives a small smirk to Nathan, making me question he might secretly be in on it with them, playing a double agent.

Stopping before them, I shove my hands in my pockets. Rosalie wisely keeps her eyes averted from Malcolm’s direction while not meeting my gaze either. I pull my eyes away from her, which takes herculean effort, and focus on Jasmine, who steps forward.

“Name your price, girls.”

“A million dollars.”

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