Page 11 of Underground Prince

It seemed as though if I was ever going to make it through the rest of my life, I was really going to have to work on my smile.

5

GIMME DANGER

“Yowza.” Verily lounged on the couch in black suit pants and a striped button-down shirt that was mostly unbuttoned, with her red hair pulled into a slick bun.

I’d chosen a navy pencil skirt and a pale blue blouse, also unbuttoned, my bleached blonde hair in a tousled updo and donning my glasses I used when not wearing contacts.

With these getups, we were the sexiest teachers around and every educational system’s nightmare.

“You look spanking hot,” Verily added.

“Why, thank you, Miss Collings.” I pointed to our shoes lined up at the doorway. “Can we finish off the hot outfits with flip-flops?”

“You know the answer to that, Miss Rhodes,” she said, brushing by me to slip on her black patent heels.

“I’m not sure I do. I’m still unclear on why we have to dress so absurdly.”

“It’s just a thing. You know, poker, beer, cigars and costumes. Nothing more caveman than that.” Verily smoothed her hair one last time in front of the hall mirror. “Not every parlor does it. Unfortunately, we have to stick with this one until we’re told to move up.”

I pulled on my heels, wincing as my toes, still swollen from two nights ago, went back to their prison cell. “You’ve been doing this for a year. Why are you still at the bottom?”

She laughed. “Don’t be thinking I suck. I’m sticking by you. I’m not going anywhere until you’re comfortable.”

Warmth spread into my chest, a mix of gratitude and guilt. “You don’t have to do that.”

“After what hap—well, I want to make sure you’re okay.”

She crafted a careful smile before resuming her primping. No one really knew what to do with me this past year, my best friend included.

“Just because we’re on the low end of things doesn’t mean we’re not safe,” she said. “Sax and the beefed-up bouncers will keep them in line. They’re terrifying—all of them—but they have to be, I guess.”

“You think Theo’s dangerous?” I clamped my mouth shut as soon as the high-pitched ridiculousness that was my tone formed that name.

“Yes, Sax,” Verily replied, opening the front door. “Since when do you refer to him as Theo? Dare I detect a shiver of nerves with his namesake?”

“Your hearing’s off,” I said, and buttoned my coat.

“You may be right.” She let me out first. “God forbid you actually like a guy that you associate with.”

“I like them,” I said on the way to the first floor. “I’m just not consumed by them.”

“Uh huh,” she said.

Sure, Theo sent prickles along my skin, and smelled really good, and was super appealing with his shifty butter eyes, carved shoulders and sexy, tousled hair…

Damn it. I was thinking of going after him.

I took the stairs faster and made it outside. My first experience with these men proved the charged environment, but Theo was at a separate voltage, merging with the illicit, belonging, yet exuding an energy all his own. Conducting those who dared discover the city’s hidden entrails, silent as a wraith with the presence of a beast. Impenetrable. Untouchable.

Verily said behind me, “I can hear your thoughts sifting, you know.”

I focused on hailing us a taxi. “I wasn’t. I have zero interest in him.”

She followed me to the street. “Now I can smell your bullshit.” After I didn’t respond, she sighed. “Have it your way.”

“Always do,” I said, grinning over my shoulder.

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