Page 93 of Foolish Games

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Justin demands. “I told you, this party is for Faulkner’s elite only.”

“None of these Yankee punks have an invite,” Jacob says. “Get ‘em out of here.”

“I got my invite right here,” Tony says, holding up his fists and dancing on his toes like he’s ready to start a boxing match. “Come and check it, pussies.”

“You heard him,” Justin says, cracking his knuckles and stepping forward, followed by all five of his brothers who aren’t already fighting. “It’s time to take out the trash.”

twenty-seven

Vivienne Delacroix

The Dolce boys jump in, and even though they’re all rougher than the Darlings, they’re outnumbered—especially when Howie Beckett joins, followed by a couple other founding sons who came back from college for the holidays. Pretty soon, I’ve lost sight of everyone I care about as the scuffle turns to an all-out brawl.

Theo wraps an arm around me, pulling me in and letting me hide my face in his shoulder. He’s the only one of Sebastian’s crew wearing a tux, and I cling to him, my tears disappearing into the black fabric of his jacket. “Ready for that drink?” he asks into my hair.

I shake my head. “What should we do?”

“Come on,” Lexi says, appearing at our side and grabbing my hand. “They’re kicking us out.”

I lift my head and see the Darlings shoving several of Tony’s brothers back toward the door. They’re hollering and cursing, and they continue making a commotion as they’re wrestled down the stairs.

“Anyone else here without an invite?” JT Darling shouts, cupping his hands around his mouth. “Either you leave now, or we make you leave later. And that won’t be pretty.”

“Let’s bounce,” Lexi whispers. “Before they catch us.”

When I don’t move, she looks at me again, like she’s just realized I’m the reason Sebastian’s here. “Oh, right. You’re one of them.”

“No,” I say. “I’m coming.”

“Get off me,” Sebastian bellows, yanking himself free of the Darlings and standing there glowering at them. Blood drips down his chin, and he sways on his feet drunkenly. “I have an invitation.”

“Bullshit,” Justin snaps, grabbing him roughly and getting ready to hustle him out.

“I do,” Sebastian snaps. “She’s right there!”

Dread knocks a fist through my belly as his finger points in my direction.

“Who?” Justin asks.

“Vivienne,” Sebastian says, a bloody grin creeping onto his face. “What, you didn’t think your perfect little princess would invite the rabble into your castle? You gonna kick her out too? Or does she get a pass when she fucks up because she’s got a trust fund?”

The crowd turns to me, and I feel myself shrinking under their gazes. It was bad enough that Rob outed my fake dating scheme in front of the whole party, but now they think I’m responsible for the brawl.

“Viv?” Justin asks. “You know this guy?”

“Oh, she knows me,” Sebastian says, smirking with his split lips. “All eight and a half inches of me. Now, whether she’ll admit it or not…”

I swallow hard and pull my hand from Lexi’s, glad the mask is hiding my humiliation. “Yes,” I say, squaring my shoulders and lifting my chin. “He was my date. But I didn’t invite the rest of them. And you can throw him out too. He’s drunk.”

“Oh, did I embarrass you in front of your fancy friends?” Sebastian taunts as a handful of founding sons grab him and wrestle him out the door. “Of course it’s my fault. Little Miss Perfect can do no wrong.”

I start after them, glancing over my shoulder at Theo and Lexi. Lexi follows without a word for once. I expect Theo to stay, since he blends in so well in his tux and mask, and he wasn’t involved in the fight. The Darlings gave out invites to enough people that he could be someone’s guest. But when we’re almost to the door, he catches up, following us out. Whatever Lexi says about the guy, he’s definitely loyal to his friends.

Descending the stairs in heels and a floor length dress is dicey, but at last we reach the foyer. I can hear yelling outside the front door, which stands open, the space behind it crowded with people trying to stay out of the rain but see what’s going on in the yard.

“Coming through,” Lexi yells, raising one hand and reaching back with the other to grip mine so we don’t get separated. “Being kicked out here, people. That’s my crazy cousin hollering. Let us out.”

Shoving through, we make it to the front door, where icy, damp air makes me start shaking even harder than the adrenaline coursing through me. We step out, flattening ourselves against the wall and edging out while staying under the roof above the stoop.

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