Page 48 of Perfect Sin

“Done,” I promise her.

“Me too,” Jen says.

“Yeah, I could use some practice. Maybe then I wouldn’t have to turn to knives to protect myself.”

Shane exits their apartment carrying his bag and Teddy’s. I push the button on the key fob and the hatch opens. Shane starts loading the bags in the back of the vehicle.

“Where’s Sin?” Shane asks.

“He and Ford are checking the complex for sensors and cameras. My father knew too much, and we’ve got to figure out where he’s getting his information from before we can continue gathering our own information.”

Sin and Ford come around the side of the building. “There’s nothing we could find around the apartment.”

“That’s good, right?” I ask.

Sin shakes his head. “If there aren’t any bugs, then that means he’s getting his info from someone we know.”

“Well, this is a problem we can figure out later,” Ford says. “Right now, we’ve got a party to survive.”

Lucien and Teddy pull up in Teddy’s sedan. “Ready to catch a flight?”

A tight ball forms in my stomach. Weeks ago, Lucien, Sin, and I ran from my father and his plans, now we were speeding toward him.

* * *

“How much moneydoes our father have?” I ask Lucien. First we rode in a private plane, then we were picked up by a limo at the small airport and were driven straight to an opulent five-star hotel.

“You know that saying, ‘crime doesn’t pay’?” he asks.

I nod.

“Well, it’s a lie. It pays. A lot. I’m not sure how much he has, but my guess would be millions.”

“Right this way,” the concierge steps forward to greet us, halting our conversation. “I’ll have your bags brought up. There are stylists waiting for you in your rooms to help you get ready for this evening.”

We all enter the elevator and are led up to two suites, each with two bedrooms. “These are our penthouse suites. Gentlemen, you have a team waiting there, and ladies,” he gestures to the other door, “your stylists are in there.”

Amber, Jen, and I split from the guys to get ready. Racks of dresses fill the living room. Jen and Amber rush to them and start gushing over the selection.

Amber looks over her shoulder. “Okay, now I’m glad I came. We get to wear one of these?”

Jen pulls out a pale pink dress that will look great with her golden hair and peaches and cream complexion.

“Excellent choice. Why don’t you go try it on,” the stylist encourages.

Amber finds an emerald green dress that sets off her dark strawberry blonde hair. She joins Jen to try on her dress. I’m shorter than both of them, which makes it harder for me to choose. The floor-length dresses will require the skyscraper heels that I loathe, so I bypass all of those.

The assistant starts digging through the racks and pulls out a black cocktail dress with royal blue tulle underneath and matching blue ruching at the top around the bust.

“What about this one?” she asks.

“It’s perfect.” And it is. Unlike the others, this one won’t drag across the floor. It will hit below my knees, and I don’t have to wear shoes that will threaten to break my neck.

When I’m in the dress the three of us sit and another team comes in and fusses over our hair and makeup. This is another mask, armor to go into a different kind of battle.

A knock on the door signals the guys’ arrival. The main stylist puts her hand on my shoulder as I begin to rise. “Every girl should get to enjoy revealing her transformation at least once.”

She signals her team to follow her and opens the door. One by one the four of them file through the door. Sin is the last one through, looking more dangerous than I’ve ever seen him. The tailored tux he’s wearing exudes power, along with the threat of barely contained violence.

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