Page 33 of Bad for You

I’m always prepared for battle—another lesson learned.

I make my way down the staircase, head held high regardless of the fact the heels hurt my feet. But in pain comes discipline, so I focus on that because I have a feeling a lot more pain is to be had tonight.

And that’s confirmed when Lenny appears at the bottom of the staircase. He wears a black suit. White shirt. Black bow tie. A red rose is pinned to the silk lapel of his jacket.

When he sees me, something happens that hasn’t happened in a very long time—his poker face slips, and I see something other than hate behind those blue-gray eyes.

It’s soon gone when I ascend the last stair.

He doesn’t speak.

Neither do I.

We simply stand and wait for further command.

Even though we don’t speak, we never have an uncomfortable silence. It doesn’t make sense, but there is comfort in the silence.

I focus on something other than his scent. He always smells good. I often smell him before I see him. It’s a Lenny thing.

But his mouthwatering fragrance can go to hell when he mutters under his breath, “Thereisa girl hidden underneath there after all.”

“Fuck you,” I counter, refusing to look at him.

“Aw, sorry, my bad. I was mistaken.”

“Go fu—”

“Enough,” Gianna says, entering the foyer.

She appears breathtaking in a fitted white gown.

She looks me over and gives nothing away. I wonder if she approves.

She rearranges the necklines to expose more of my ample cleavage. She brushes back my hair. There is no love to her touch, though. She uses me as a pawn in whatever game she soon plays.

When she looks down at my feet, I lift my skirt to reveal my shoes.

Even though they are dressy boots with a bow and zip, she understands why I chose these instead of heels.

“Perhaps you will survive the night after all.”

Her comment isn’t made for shock value—she means it.

I don’t react, though, because unlike the girls my age who respond to normal events with happiness and excitement, thisismy normal. The thought of being in danger ismyhappiness and excitement.

She leads the way, and we follow her out the front door.

It’s a warm summer evening. Magic is in the air.

A large black luxury car awaits us. We step in, and the driver takes us toward the unknown.

Bach plays softly over the speakers. None of us talk.

Lenny peers out the window. I wonder what he sees.

He could leave at any time, yet he returns. I wonder why. He is of legal age to thrive on his own. He has his choice of girls to start a future. But he stays. I once hoped it was because of me. But that whimsical nonsense was forgotten long ago.

The prospect of being in danger excites me. It’s the only time I feel alive.

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