Page 18 of The Last Ones Standing, Part Two

She lifts her head with a smile on her lips. It hits me hard as I first see it. I miss her sister so much. I crack my knuckles. It’s almost time to call her back home, so I swallow it down and push the thought back.

“My two mill is already in my account. Tell HR whatever you want,” she says with that cheeky smile.

I wink at her. “Worth every penny.”

She snorts. “We both know that’s a lie. What can I do for you, my friend?”

“You’re coming to the company Halloween party.”

She groans and rolls her eyes. “Do I have to?” she whines.

“Oh, come on. What else do you have to do? If you say read, I’m burning that box of books I just bought you.”

“A box of books, where?” She stands and peeks over the desk, her eyes wide. “And don’t think I won’t cut you for threatening those poor pages with flames.”

“Jace has them in my office.” I lower my voice. “I’ve seen the glares you’re getting when I bring you gifts. He’ll walk them to your car later.”

“Yay, you’re the best.”

“Now, about the party. What are you coming as?”

“I’m not coming,” she murmurs.

“But I need you there and you need to look sexy.”

“Ugh, what for?”

“Because when I met you at twenty-four, this was cute. I liked that you preferred books over humans. You’re twenty-nine, Lizzy. I want you to start living, be open to dating and falling in love.”

“Pfft.” She pulls a face. “You’re serious?”

“Yes, baby girl. I am. Besides, the party is mandatory. You have to be there.”

She pouts and it looks so much like Ny. “Okay, fine. I’ll come up with something.”

“Don’t try to hide all that beauty.” I wink.

She sticks her tongue out at me. Dante walks over and looks between the two of us before he turns his attention to Lizzy. I don’t miss the dreamy way she looks at my little brother. My job here is almost done.

I just need Dante to open his eyes to what’s in front of him. I look down at my phone as I listen to Dante ask about some things on his schedule. Meanwhile, my attention is really on Peter Hall, Frances’s nephew.

He’s watching Lizzy intently. As he does most of the time. He applied for an internship not long after Lizzy was promoted the last time.

After digging into him some more, Jace learned he’s a huge Izzy Gunz fan. The dude is big-time obsessed. I keep him right where I can see him for a reason.

I have plans for him. Everything has a time and reason. Everything.

* * *

Nyla

“S&M” the Rihanna and Britney Spears version, plays through the speakers in my training gym while I sit in my throne chair puffing on a cigar. A grin comes to my lips as I watch my girls train.

They’re it. This is what he wanted. I’ve found perfect soldiers.

Six hard-core beauties. My grin widens as I watch them take Holly and Kamiko to task. This is the first class of trainees to ever make Kamiko break a sweat. Heck, not many have been able to give Holly a run for her money.

Philly, Smoke, and Blu are making Holly work for every hit she gets in. I sit up and drape my forearms over my thighs.

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