Page 17 of The Duplicity of Thieves

“Besides Vivian making me drink water and criminals disguised as affluent members of society?” She gives us both a pointed look. “I’m alright. This place is a little ostentatious don’t you think? But if it makes Vivian happy…” She pulls at her collar, trying to loosen it. We order her a whiskey neat and sneak it across the bar. She takes it appreciatively.

Stafford gives her a mischievous grin. “Don’t worry. We’ll ruin it in no time.” Alarm flashes across her face.

I jam my elbow into his ribs. “He’s kidding.”

Vivian makes her way toward us from across the room. She looks like the sun in her silky golden floor length dress. Her brown and gold curls float around her head like a halo and her caramel skin glows.

“What trouble are you three getting into?” Her hazel eyes lock onto Bella’s drink and she shakes her head.

“It’s called celebratin’, lass.”

“I know what your celebrations look like, and it includes my sister dancing on a bar and going home with you,” she says cooly.

“A man’s gotta eat,” he grins. I drag my hands over my face.

Vivian features fill with disgust. “Ugh.”

“Come on now, sweetheart, she’s much more tolerable when she’s getting laid.” Bella wraps her arm around Viv’s waist, pulling her in.

“I’m right here,” I interject, exacerbated.

“I’m sorry. I’m stressed. I just wish…” Vivian’s voice trails off. We’re all silent. We know exactly what she means. She wishes Killian, Kate, and her mother were here. Bella rubs her back in circles.

“A toast,” Staff suggests. “To those we’ve loved and lost. That they may be here in spirit.” We all murmur in agreement.

“We’d better get back to it,” Vivian sighs. “Did you both get a card?”

She was set on forcing us all to play a game where there is a fact about each person at the party. We’re supposed to mingle and find out who each one belongs to.

“Yup.” We hold up our cards and she smiles brightly. “Don’t take off without saying goodbye?”

“O’ course,” Stafford promises, giving her a hug. She drags Bella to greet some people who just came through the door.

“Isn’t a party enough? Why do we have to play a game?” I groan.

“Oh, come on now, lass. Get into the spirit.” He squints, reading something on the card. “Which one o’ these sheep do ya think is really into cats?”

“Is that what it says?”

“Says she’s got four o’ them.”

I cringe. “It’s not a woman.”

“Can’t say I’m shocked with this lot.” He chuckles deep in his chest.

“Guess which one is mine?” The liquor is starting to warm my face. He scans through the statements, settling his finger about halfway down.

“Likes to read,” he decides.

“How did you know?”

“Everyone likes to read. Ya like to blend in. It’s what makes ya so valuable.”

Despite what everyone thinks, we’ve never had sex. We both work all of the time and neither of us like commitment, but we do like to flirt and take jabs at each other. We’re good friends who just need company sometimes.

We spend the rest of the night making guesses about who the statements belong to, but we make no move to speak to anyone. By the time the party is nearing its end, I’m drunk enough that it’s time to bow out. Staff tucks me into his side and we bid Viv and Bella goodbye.

“We’ve gotta take care o’ some business. Mind if we stop by the pub?”

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