Page 143 of Brutal Prince

I’ll bethe first to admit, I’m probably a bit too sparkly, even for a black-tie event. But fuck it, I haven’t felt this pretty in years, and I used to make a point of dressing up whenever I went out back in the day. Mom’s cocktail dress drapes me like spun platinum. It hugs my body in all the right places, emphasizing tits and ass as if it was designed by the only heterosexual designer in high fashion.

Maybe it’s the makeup. Addy’s got a real fine touch — my eyes are big and green but not whorish at all. My lips dark, and full, but nothing resembling those of a prostitute’s. My cheekbones glimmer, and this is the first time ever that I’ve noticed my décolletage.

Addy’s shoes seal the deal. Black, understated, two inches high. I manage to walk in them, but only just.

But it’s worth all the moments between steps when I’m not sure if I’ll ever find the ground again. Because, fuck it, shit looks fantastic two inches up from my usual eye level.

“So you’re moving?” I ask, twisting in front of Addy’s mirror. I’m perversely fixated on how good this dress makes me look. And also slightly distressed how much I look like my mother, but I’m doing my good darn best to ignore that.

Maybe it’s the hair. I don’t know what the hell Addy has in her shampoo, but my hair has a life of its own. It tumbles down my back in a raven cascade of bouncy curls I’ve never seen before.

“Yeah,” Addy says quietly. She’s behind me, toying with my hair as she sticks a few glittering pins in it and hoists it up into a messy bun. “There’s been some shit at my parent’s company. We’re moving south for a while until it blows over.”

“Shit, Addy, that sucks.”

She shrugs at me in the mirror and bends down until our heads are level. “Doesn’t matter. You know what does matter?” She grips my shoulders and grins at my reflection.

I nod. “Getting even.”

“Getting even,” she repeats softly. She steps back and claps her hand. “You’re ready.”

I stand and take one last twirl in front of the mirror.

Fuck, I didn’t think it would be possible, but I look amazing.

I hold up a hand. “Shit, hang on. I almost forgot something.” I rummage around in my backpack until I find my mother’s necklace.

“What’s…?” But Addy’s voice trails away as she comes to my side. “Fuck, Indi, that’s...”

“It was my mother’s.” I hold it up and try to clasp it at the back of my neck, but Addy bats away my hands.

She secures the clasp and stares at my reflection with wide eyes. “You look gorgeous,” she murmurs.

I drop my gaze and grab hold of the sapphire around my neck. The light catches on Briar’s bracelet, and I stare at them with wide eyes.

It’s as if they were made for each other.

“Let’s get going,” Addy says, snapping me out of the thought. “Else everyone’s gonna be too trashed to notice when we arrive.”

* * *

Briar

After the fifth pool game,I’m ready to leave. It’s fucking obvious Indi isn’t coming, so there’s no point in me hanging around here. Not unless my only motive tonight is getting fucked up.

I head for the main kitchen in search of water and a clear head, and find Marcus cutting up lines of coke on Dylan’s granite countertop. A few girls stand nearby, waiting patiently for their turn with the rolled-up dollar bill he’s holding. I grab a water and chug down half of it before he realizes I’m nearby.

“Better get some before it’s all gone,” he says, swiping the back of his hand over his nose as he sniffs.

I shake my head. “Not in the mood for that shit tonight.”

“Sure?” Marcus straightens, and one of the girls waiting for her turn at the lines of coke steps up. He grabs her around the waist, spins her around, and starts nuzzling her neck.

I roll my eyes, and I’m about to leave when he calls out, “Dude, she’s not coming. No reason you shouldn’t enjoy yourself.”

I wave at him, shaking my head as I make my way to the front door. Fuck this — I’ve got a shit-ton of studying to do anyway. If I get a good night’s sleep, then I can crack open my textbooks nice and early tomorrow, and get done by latest Sunday afternoon.

I’m trotting downstairs to the main floor when something catches my eye.

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