Page 53 of Iris
“We have an escort,” I say.
“Scandal,” Rue breathes. “I love it.”
Dahlia hurries down. “You need to get in there. He’s in a mood and Mom’s trying to calm him.”
“I need to get the fuck out of here,” I correct. Then I look down at my bare feet. “But I need shoes.” I smile at my youngest sister. “How do you feel about creating a diversion?
“Born a diversion.” She strikes a pose.
I somehow stop myself rolling my eyes. Penrith’s got accounts and I heard her talking to Mom the other night on a vidcall, telling her to use them for me. It’s all the greenlight I need, plus, I’m not going to get anything expensive. Shoes are shoes when it comes to boring, Season-type shit.
“We need to get you shoes, and then we can have Rue say you’re getting fab shoes for the next ball.” Mari gets to her feet and smooths her dress, turning to me.
“If I tell him you’re being escorted, getting new shoes, what’s in it for me?” Rue asks. “After I create the diversion?”
I think about it. “Fifty bucks.”
“One hundred. That’s two jobs.”
I frown. “Rue, I don’t have a hundred.”
“You don’t have fifty.” She sniffs.
“I have that.” I was going to buy some books with it, but… “Cut me some slack here. It’s yours if you help.”
She holds up her pinkie. “Swear?”
“Pinkie swear,” I say.
Dahlia whips around and takes off again, followed by Rue.
Mari glances at me once more as we fold the blanket. “You have to get past him to get out of here.”
“I know. But Rue’s a great diversion.”
When we reach the house, we leave the blanket in the large laundry room and tiptoe through the kitchen and up to the first floor. I deliberately tune the raised voices out.
“I’ll get our escort, you get you shoes,” Mari says, disappearing down the hall and out the front door.
Shoes sit in a small room that houses coats, umbrellas and various shoes. I slip on my nearest pair, black trainers, and turn.
Smack bang into Heath.
“You’re going to tell me why Quinn’s running around with Killian Black.”
CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
Iris
Everything wavers and my chest crushes down on itself. “W-hat?”
“The Black Briar. The bar in the Lower Side.” He advances on me and I stumble back. Admittedly the room isn’t big, and I feel just how small it is as he crowds me, backing me into the wall.
“I didn’t realize you were sweet on Quinn?”
He frowns. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m seeing someone.”
