Page 74 of Seizing Control: Part One

“I don’t understand.”

“You will.” She leaves me, sitting on the floor. Reaching the door, she pulls it open. “Choose the first dress, Cherub. It’s the one you loved... whether you’re ready to admit it or not.”

As Nadia bounds inside the room, bouncing on her toes, giddy with unconcealed glee, I reluctantly allow Crystal to slip away without challenging her. I scramble back to my feet and blank out the hysteria that has me in its grip as I face my best friend.

“Which dress did you pick?”

I shrug. “Not sure yet.”

“Bullshit!” Nadia exclaims. Her eyes flash with sympathy, but she quickly banks it when I scowl at her. In a more subdued voice, she tells me, “You have to go with the ballgown. It was perfect.”

“Do you really think so, Nads?”

“I know so.”

Out of the battles facing me, the dress feels like the easiest to let go. So, I offer her a second shrug and my verbal capitulation. “Sure thing, then. The first dress it is.”

“Great...” Trailing off, my best friend runs her gaze over me. “Why are you half-naked?”

My body flares with panic.

The urge to run upstairs and lock myself in the bathroom with my razor hits.

“I... don’t...” Voice choked, words failing me, I snake my palm along my chest. My fingers curl around my neck on instinct. The urge to purge every single thing weighing me down is banked as I tighten my grip on my throat until the pressure calms me. “I’m a fuckin’ mess... just cut me some slack today.”

Nadia rolls her bottom lip between her teeth. “I feel ya... that’s why I want to distract us both with a little dress-up sesh.”

“Not sure I’m in the mood.”

“Didn’t ask if you were in the mood, I’m tellin’ you that’s what’s happening.”

“Nads...”

“Don’t Nads me. Just get your arse upstairs... I’ve laid out some clothes on your bed.” She grabs a robe from the hook on the back of the door and tosses it at me. “We’re doin’ hair and makeup, then we’re gonna rock the night away to celebrate Isaiah’s patching-in.”

“That’s been rescheduled already?”

“Yep.” Something flares in her expression, then she scratches her head. “I guess, they want to make him a full patch before goin’ after the Maddisons.”

Since my thoughts about the Maddison clan, especially Bebe and Hugh, are uncharitable to say the least, I choose to leave her supposition unanswered. As women, we’re unlikely to know the game plan until it’s in action. The old “club business” excuse will be trotted out, over and over, while the Shamrocks plot and scheme to nullify the threat hanging over our heads.

It’s part of the reason I was so surprised when Hunter said I was to be part of Crystal’s meeting with her brother this morning.

I’ve been an old lady for five years, so I should be used to being kept in the dark.

Only difference is that it’ll be Slash keeping things from me instead of Zeke.

After threading my arms through the sleeves of the robe, I scoop up my clothes and shoes, then grab the chemise from the floor. I wasn’t lying when I said that I’m not in the mood, but I know that when Nadia gets like this, there’s no point arguing with her. As much as she hides it, she’s emotionally fragile after informing the rest of the club about the murder she committed when she was fourteen. The stabbing that Zeke and Slash helped her cover up. Coupling that long-overdue confession with Sander being hurt, means I need to keep an eye on her.

Nadia Appleton is a ticking time bomb at the best of times.

And these are most definitely not the best of times.

“I’m thinking we could match,” she tells me as we ascend the stairs. “White dresses and gold accessories.”

“For a patching-in ceremony? Black jeans and a leather jacket are more suitable.”

Again, she gets a strange look in her eyes.

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