Page 129 of Scattered Glitter

My hands grip the sink as I lean over it, my breaths coming fast and shallow. The mirror reflects a face that looks like it belongs to someone else, eyes too wide, cheeks flushed with anger and hurt, red already blooming along my cheekbone. My pulse thrums behind my eyes.

Fuck them.

I grit my teeth, gripping the edges of the porcelain until my knuckles go white.

I’m so fucking tired of the shit show called my life.

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but I force them back. I can’t fall apart. Not here. Not now.

But also…fuck going back to my apartment.The thought of that cold, empty place, the silence stretching around me, makes my situation seem even worse.

I close my eyes and try to conjure Tuscany. The warm sun, the scent of lavender. For a heartbeat, it’s there, a fragile, beautiful dream, but the ache in my chest snuffs it out before it can even begin to soothe me.

If I walk away from this, from them, that dream dies with it.

I’d be stuck in that spiral forever, drowning, with nothing left to reach for.

Koen’s words echo in my mind as I debate what to do next, to the promise he dangled in front of me.

“I need you sober for this mission. I’m sorry, but you can have champagne with Levi when it’s all over.”

My lips curl into a bitter smile. He wanted Glitter for this. Fine, they can have her. I straighten, inhaling a slow, shaky breath. My shoulders roll back, my spine straightens, and I tilt up my chin. The ache in my face becomes part ofthe illusion, the glimmer of tears hardening into a sharp sparkle in my eyes.

Glitter is here now, and she’s fucking untouchable.

I swipe at the smudged makeup under my eyes, fixing what I can. My lips pull into a tight smile, glossy and false. It’s enough. It has to be.

With a deep breath, I unlock the door and step back into the hallway. Sylus and Levi are already there, leaning against the wall, their faces tight with worry and guilt. They both straighten when they see me, mouths opening to speak.

I lift my hand, cutting them off and stopping them.

“Levi,” I say, my voice smooth and edged with steel. “That birthday party officially blows. Fix it.”

Sylus exhales slowly, his gaze searching mine. He wants to say something, probablysorryorare you okay, but I don’t want apologies. I want action. I need to numb these fucking feelings.

Levi pushes off the wall and approaches as he says, “You’re right, Little Bird. We owe you big time for all that.” He comes to my side and hooks his arm in mine. “Let’s go celebrate for real.”

I give him a questioning look. “Aren’t we going back toyourparty?”

“No, you’re right. That shit wasn’t a party,” Levi scoffs. “We’re taking you somewhere we can dance, have some drinks, and live a little.”

“Celeste?” Sylus chimes in, glancing at Levi with an arched brow as we walk out of the building, Koen and Ezra having joined again from somewhere, fuck if I know.

Levi’s grin deepens. “You know it.”

Celeste.My pulse quickens at the name. I’ve never been there, but it’s famous even by Vegas standards, a place with a reputation where one drink can cost more than my month’s rent and where you only get in if you know theright people. I’m still pissed at them, but the thrill of finally seeing it in person outweighs any hesitation.

Levi releases my arm as we reach the parking area, and Koen immediately steps up, his hand on my elbow, while Sylus grabs my other hand. There’s an obvious standoff between the two, with Koen tugging me toward his car and Sylus guiding me to his bike.

“She’s riding with me.” Sylus’s smirk says he thinks he’s already won.

Koen narrows his eyes. “She can’t sit on the back of a bike in that dress.”

Honestly, I’d take flashing all of Vegas over stepping into a car again tonight. One panic attack is more than enough,thank you very much.

So, I hand my purse to Koen, then take my time, hiking said dress up and gathering the fabric in my hands until it’s wrapped snugly around my waist, giving everyone a prime view of my legs, ass, and black G-string.

“Is that how a lady acts?” Levi teases.

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