Page 28 of Rising Queen (Blood Empire 1)

Axel

“YOU HAVE GOT TO BEfucking kidding me,” I growl, my voice echoing around the changing room. Right in front of us, hanging on the rack, are four maids outfits. “There'sno wayin hell I'm wearing that. That woman is delusional!”

“She’s doing it to fuck with us, and we do deserve it,” Cass says, taking one off the rack. I just keep staring at them in disbelief.

“Like fuck we do. We sent her away to protect her. We didn't do it to be evil!” I say.

“And look what ended up happening to her,” Cass counters.

“How the fuck were we to know that would happen?!” I'm getting worked up now.

“We have to wear them; Queenie said so,” Neo taunts in a sing-song voice, waving around a piece of paper. I snatch the note from his hand, and he chuckles, grabbing an outfit of his own.

He’s right. She’s left a note demanding we wear them, calling themour new work uniforms. There's no way I will let this become a regular thing. Hell no.

“I think it’s sexy,” Neo says, wiggling his eyebrows, then starts stripping off his clothes and getting dressed in the maid outfit. Once it's on, he does a twirl. “Perfect fit.” He starts shifting his hips side to side. “Lets my nuts breathe and everything,” he says, and then he shifts the wrong way and flashes us a clear view of his junk.

“Neo, dude, get your boxers back on. No one wants to see that. And Harlow would kill you if you flash her girls your dick,” Cass laughs and tosses Neo his discarded boxers.

Neo pouts for a moment before giving Cass a wicked grin. “Ibet Harlow would looove it,” he winks excitedly.

The fucker has been bragging from the moment he got into the car about how he’s now Harlow’s new source of sex. I may not know this new version of Harlow because clearly this isn't the girl I fell in love with, and I’m not sure if I even like this new version of her all that much right now, but I'm not blind. She is a stunning woman in every way. Men would start wars for a chance with her, even if it’s just for one night, so I get why he’s so excited by this opportunity.

Cass changes into his outfit next, and the sight of my brother in that has me wanting to wash my eyes out with bleach. He looks like the bearded lady in a maid outfit.

“Damn, Cass.” Neo whistles as he checks out my brother. “If it wasn't for the beard, and the fact that you're my cousin and a dude, I'd hit that.” Neo then takes a feather duster and tickles Cass in the crook of his neck with it. Cass tells him to fuck off, and they both start laughing and messing around.Where the fuck did he get that?

I look over and see a box of props on the floor under the clothes. No fucking way. I'm done with this shit.

Ripping the outfit off the rack, I head for the door and out to the club floor. Harlow, Evie, and some other women are at the bar talking. When I stop in the middle of the room, they all turn to look at me.

“I’m not fucking wearing this!” I growl.

“Oh, poor Axel. Are you toomanlyto wear it? Are you too much of a man to wear women's clothes? My guys have all worn them, and they rocked the hell out of that outfit,” Harlow smirks.

“Why are you making us wear these?” I ask, honestly needing the answer.

She hops off her stool and skips over to me. “Because, Silly, I can,” she says with a sweet grin. Then she pulls a dagger from the holster strapped to her leg and runs the tip of the blade against my t-shirt. She doesn't cut me, but she does cut the shirt, leaving a big gash over my chest. “Now, go change, Pretty Boy.” She flutters her long lashes at me and bites her lip.

“I won't do it,” Dean says from behind me.

Harlow looks around me to Dean. Her face goes from sweet to dangerous in a second. “I’ve had just about enough from the lot of you.Youcame to me, askingmefor help, not the other way around. Then you disrespect me in my own homeanddisobey my orders after we made an agreement. I gave you enough chances; I willnotbe ignored again. Most people would be beaten to death for talking to me the way you have been. Don’t be mistaken. You won't get another chance. Now, do it, or get the fuck out of here, rendering your deal null and void,” Harlow growls.

The bartender pretends to be busy behind the bar, but I can see her checking out the situation like she's ready to see Harlow bleed us dry right here and now. The girl with red hair sitting at the bar has her eyes locked on Harlow with a look of pure admiration.

Dean's jaw ticks for a few beats, and he gives her one last glare before turning around and heading back to the changing room. She looks back at me.

“Now. What's it gonna be?” She raises her brows and weaves her dagger between her fingers. My mind goes to Rosie. We desperatelyneedthis money, not just for our company but to keep her in our lives. Fuck... I gotta put the stupid, frilly dress on.

“You're just making us wear these for your own entertainment, aren't you?” I ask.

“Yup.” She pops the P and smiles brightly, obviously enjoying holding this power over all of us.

Sighing heavily, I turn around and follow Dean. Just as I'm about to leave Harlow's line of sight, Neo and Cass walk past.

“So, ladies, what do you think?” Neo asks and twirls for them. They start whistling and clapping. Cass stands there with a smirk, looking like an idiot.

Turning around to go back and change, I'm stopped at the door by Lucas, Max, and Tommy. They have their arms crossed and look pissed. “We know what you did. And because of that, Harlow was in absolute hell for five years. Then you come here asking for help, and she is nice enough to do it. If she asks you to cover yourself in honey and let a bear maul you, you do it. Because you deserve anything that woman throws at you and more. It's the least you can do.” Lucas takes off in the direction of the bar. Max and Tommy glare at me until I close the dressing room door.

Unfortunately, they are right. I may not like this new Harlow, but wearethe reason she is the way she is now. Our Harlow is long gone, we did that to her, and the least we can do in respect for the girl we loved is to do as Queenie asks, even if it’s beyond stupid and makes us look like freaks.

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