Page 92 of Lush

“You need to tell Erik then.”

My stomach twisted at the thought. “No. Absolutely not.”

Erik would go crazy. He’d instantly switch to protective mode without hesitation, and that anger, that strong urge to defend me, was exactly what I was worried about. It could get him hurt.

“Laurie—”

“I said no.”

She shook her head, disbelief flickering across her face. “Laurene, do you hear yourself? If they’re planting bugs? Assaulting you? What’s next, bombs? You need protection.”

I winced at the word.Protection. I wouldn’t let it get that far. Reese wouldn’t either.

Noelle sighed, her voice soft but firm. “I hate to say it, but you need someone with power—someone like your mom. Someone who can actually handle this quietly and won’t run their mouth.”

I opened my mouth to answer, but the words didn’t come. No one came to mind, not at first. But then, it hit me.

I’d seen him with Blair. And shit, he’d wanted to meet when I came home. Reese told me he asked about me. All signs were pointing toward him.

“You thought of someone, didn’t you?”

“I don’t know if it’s a good idea.”

“You don’t have a choice.”

I inhaled. “Mayor Castillo.”

“Dante? Are you sure about that?” Noelle’s lips parted, her eyes widening in recognition.

Was I? Not entirely. But I didn’t need certainty to make itwork. Mama had let him keep his seat for a reason, and if he was tangled up with Blair somehow, that gave me leverage—leverage I could twist in my favor. Whether he liked it or not.

“We saw him with Blair. He already wants to ‘talk business’ with me. If she’s mixed up in this, keeping him close makes sense. And the enemy of my enemy…”

Noelle arched a brow. “Is a friend?”

“Exactly,” I said, a cold smile curling my lips.

“You’d really use that? Blackmail the mayor? Laurene, that’s”—Noelle hesitated, searching my face—“bold.”

“If I have to, I will.” My voice was flat, matter-of-fact.

Noelle stared at me like she didn’t recognize the person sitting across from her.

“You’ve changed,” she murmured. “You could be makinganotherenemy.”

“I’ll make sure I’m not wrong, and Blair gets put down.”

The door swung open.

“I need thiseveryday…” Gigi strolled in with a small entourage of staff behind her draped in a plush robe.

“I’m glad someone is enjoying this day,” I said, watching as she tossed her new red hair over her shoulder and plopped into the chair across from us. Cucumber slices were immediately placed on her eyes, and within moments, one person was massaging her feet, another working her shoulders.

Gigi leaned forward, the cucumbers slipping slightly. “What’s wrong, boo? Reese? Is he acting up? Don’t tell me I gotta choke up my new best friend already.”

I didn’t even wanna know what was going on there. “Yeah, it’s just the wedding stress. You know how it is.”

“Speaking of stress, have you talked to Serena? I thought she’d join us. Or are y’all still fighting?” Noelle said.

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