Page 148 of The Masks She Wore

?Just another reason for Jack and Zo to lose their trust in him.

?I wasn’t sure it would ever completely disappear though. My parents, Malachi, they all lied for good reasons, but I think it was different with The Family. I think it hurt more than they would ever admit out loud.

?I walked up to her door and knocked twice before the door swung open, causing a smile to break across my face as I fell into yet another role.

?Viv’s eyes were wide, her smile even bigger. She looked club-ready in her leather dress that could easily pass as a shirt, and her hair pinned back, her makeup caked on so it could be seen in the strobing lights of the new club. “Ready?” she asked, taking me in.

?I held up my hands to either side, showing her my outfit. “Ready.”

?She released a squeal and shut her door, flipping the lock with ease. “Let’s go. And,” she went on as we headed for her car, “I got some Molly. Don’t worry, they are from a trusted source this time, I promise.”

?I’d pretend to take it just to play the part, but I was swearing off drugs from here on out. I never took them before this last year, and I certainly wouldn’t continue after.

?She handed me a Molly as soon as I buckled my seat. I pretended to slide it under my tongue, only to drop it in the door compartment when she wasn’t looking.

?We pulled away from the curb and headed downtown.

?It wasn’t long before she started apologizing for the night at the cathedral.

?“It’s not big deal,” I assured her. “Everything ended up fine.”

?She looked over, studying me carefully. “You sure? I swear he said it was pure Molly, nothing added.”

?I gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s all good, come on, don’t worry about the past. What have you heard about this club? It’s called Lighter? Kind of a lame name, huh?”

?She laughed, turning back to the road. “It’s in reference to their motto. Something about lighting up the night with their aura.”

?I snorted. “Aura? Oh my God, Viv, what have you gotten us into?”

?“Hey, it’ll be fun, I promise. Everyone in the city is talking about it. We’re going to have lots of fun, okay?”

?I nodded, tightening my ponytail. We would have fun. Just two girls, dancing at the club, me trying to find a good opening to feel out exactly what her role in all of this was.

?Maybe I would just wait until a few drinks in. it seemed like the best option. Wait until her lips were a little looser and then ask her just a few main questions, nothing more. I couldn’t have her remembering the conversation just in case she had turned against me.

?So, I sat back in my seat and watched the lights go by until we parked the car and headed for the entrance of Lighter.

?It was just like any other club. Velvet rope, line around the corner, bouncer letting in those who had passes.

?Viv showed her ours on her phone, and the guy let us in.

?“Don’t let me forget to pay you back,” I told her. “Please.”

?She nodded, sliding her phone into her purse. “Not a problem,” she smiled.

?She would never let me pay her back. I glanced around as she led me in, wondering if Jack had already come in. He didn’t seem like the clubbing type, but I was interested in seeing him play the part, just like he had played his part at the mayor’s party.

?“Come on, let’s get some shots,” Viv said, grabbing my hand.

?I let her pull me through the tightly packed small club. It certainly was smaller than some of the other clubs I had been too. It felt more like a house party than a city club, but fine. So long as they didn’t let it get overpacked, I’d be okay.

?We hit the counter, and she ordered two shots before turning to the club, the music blaring around us.

?It was too loud for me to tell the bartender discreetly that I didn’t want alcohol. I’d have to figure out another way to drink tonight without getting drunk.

?“Hey.”

?I looked over at the familiar voice, my shoulders relaxing when I found a pair of beautiful blue eyes.

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