Page 80 of Wild Thing

“She’s good at bullying people she doesn’t like.”

Axavier laughs loudly. “I doubt that guy can be bullied. If anything, he cantakeher. Hard.”

“Yeah, but she’s a cunt—who wants that?”

And right away, there’s a loud gasp, “Ohhh,” as Margot purposefully dumps her drink on Bishop.

I watch, shocked. “Holy shit, does she not have a sense of decency? At least tonight?”

I turn to Axavier, but he doesn’t notice what just happened. He’s swaying, already drunk—how the hell did he get wasted so quickly?—and bluntly stares across the room at Milan.

The party is getting rowdy too quickly.

I walk up to Bishop. “Hey, Chase, let me get you cleaned up.”

I pull him away and toward one of the bathrooms.

“Don’t mind Margot,” I tell him as I wipe his shirt with a handful of paper towels. “The girl feels entitled like she’s the queen of the world.”

“Yeah. She needs an attitude adjustment, to lay off Archer, and probably get laid.”

I snort out a laugh, liking this guy even more. “I barely know you, Chase, but you might be a psychic. What did you say to earn Medusa’s wrath?”

“She asked me what I preferred to drink. Cheap local beer or moonshine.”

I snort, rolling my eyes. “Typical Margot.”

“I said, I could tell her what I want my mouth on, but we’d have to be in a more private setting.”

I laugh harder, finishing cleaning his shirt. Yeah, I like him.

“They’re good people,” I say, tossing the tissues in a trashcan. “Well, most of them. I think they’re just too wary who they let in their circle.”

“I’m not trying to be in their circle, sweetheart. The only reason I’m here is to see Archer finally happy.”

“I know. But they”—I nod in the direction of the party—“are just like us, but with a golden shell around them. Once you crack it, they’re more humble than you think.”

Bishop fans his t-shirt, his muscles bulging through the fabric. “I can see that you already cracked Archer’s shell.”

“Right.” I grin. “Margot though—hers is steel-reinforced like a bank vault. She’s curated her personality ever since she reached puberty. But trust me, she’s not the hot shit she thinks she is.”

Bishop opens the door for me, and the loud music thuds into our chests. Leaning over, he says. “Do you know what I used to do for a living?”

I know.

“Cracking others’ shells.” He winks at me again, and for a moment, I think that Margot doesn’t deserve the attention of a guy like this, but hope that he teaches her a lesson anyway.

33

ARCHER

Holy shit,the whole world is here, and surprisingly, it makes me feel loved.

Droga and I step out onto the pool terrace, grabbing some fresh air.

“Heard you went to town the other day,” I tell him.

“Yeah, visited some friends. Candy at Venus Den.”

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