Page 69 of Vicious Little Games

“No. In fact, I have a date tonight so we should hurry up and get this done.” I wave a hand at the corpse, as if it’s no different from taking out trash. Not that I would know how to do that either. Still, I refuse to back down or look queasy. I can handle this.

I will handle it.

Cole insisted on driving the SUV after he grabbed the keys from August. I reluctantly agreed since I don’t have a license, something the jackass thought was hilarious.

But I get the last laugh because before Gavin is in the hole we dug for him in the desert, there’s puking. Thankfully it’s not me this time.

“Fuuuk,” Cole groans as he lifts the bottom of his tee to wipe his mouth on the hem of it, showing off his abs. Not that I think he did it on purpose. He looks too green to be trying to seduce me with a dead man rolled up in the tarp five feet away.

“Yuck,” I remark while leaning against my shovel, catching my breath. Grave digging is not for the weak. I’m already missing my training sessions with Saul. But those will have to wait.

“No kidding.”

“We were almost finished so what made you barf now? All this dirt?”

“No,” Cole says. “There was a turkey vulture flying over us. I was ready to stop digging, but then I thought about what will happen if he resurfaces with the bird and yeah…that’s disgusting.”

“If you say so. Make sure to cover up your pile of DNA too,” I mutter before I slam my shovel into the ground to keep going.

“Now we’re even,” Cole says a few minutes later.

“Even how?” I ask, remembering all the times he’s said those words to me.

“We’ve both puked on or near each other.”

“Right,” I agree, using my foot to push the shovel deeper.

“You’re hot even when you’re digging, you know that?” the bastard smirks.

“Yeah, right.”

“Should I take my shirt off to see if you think I’m hot digging?”

“Shut up and keep shoveling,” I tell him. “I have a date tonight, remember?”

“Couldn’t forget,” it sounds like he murmurs. “But it’s barely past noon.”

“It takes me hours to shower and do my hair and makeup.”

“You would look great if you met him right after we get done.”

Snorting as I dig, I say, “That would certainly make a great first impression when he asks what I did today.”

“If he can’t handle a little murder or body disposal, then it’ll never work,” Cole says as he digs twice as fast as me. He is bigger, more muscular. Not that I’m paying attention to his biceps flexing in his tee sleeves or anything. “How do you imagine it will work being in a relationship with someone…lesser while you rule the city?”

“So, you think I’m going to beat you?” I remark with a smile.

“I didn’t say that. I’m just asking how it would work if you do become Dante’s heir.”

“I have no idea,” I answer honestly. “But I’m ready for a serious relationship, for a husband.”

“No, you’re not, Cassie! You’re just jealous that Sophie got married first and Madison is off having an adventure while you’re stuck here, digging a grave with me.”

“And you just sound jealous that I’m going out and fucking other men,” I tell him while tossing dirt at him.

“I’m not jealous. I just don’t get why you don’t want to fuck me again, but you want to date strangers.”

“Those two things are not even close to being the same. You were a mistake that will be gone in a few weeks while I’m looking for something permanent.”

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