Page 82 of Blood and Bonbons

I shoved the dagger at her, handle first, and cut myself in the process. A hiss of pain escaped me.

She pointed to the box of boas. “Grab one to stop the bleeding.”

“Sure. Right,” I said sarcastically. “Because throughout history, people used boas to soak up blood.”

“Well, you’re dripping on the floor.”

While Vena turned her attention to the lock, I found a pack of unopened paper towels and pressed a wad to my palm.

“I can’t get the lock open,” Vena said. “We have a few options. We can wait until the house mother shows—”

“No. Next option.”

“Or we can try to force the door open.”

I looked at the steel door and shook my head. “Next.”

“Okay. Then, we create a distraction and jump whoever comes to check on us.”

“I’m not doing the jumping.”

“Nope, you’re the distraction. Give me that bloody paper towel.”

She grabbed it and collapsed onto the floor, doing her best dramatic faint.

“Start pounding on the door and sound frantic,” she said.

That wouldn’t be hard to do.

“Help!” Pound. Pound. Pound. “My friend fainted and hit her head. She’s bleeding.” More pounding. “We need help.”

My hands were starting to get sore, and the cut one was leaving bloody smears on the door.

The door opened suddenly, swinging outward, and I fell forward. The bouncer grabbed me roughly, and the already straining center button on my shirt pinged free.

Keeping with the act, I didn’t even flinch when my left boob toppled from its demi-cup. Nipple out, I grabbed the guy’s shirt.

“She’s bleeding,” I repeated. “She hit her head.”

I released him and turned to point at Vena.

Instead of rushing to her aid, he grabbed my arm and shoved me inside. I landed on top of Vena with an ‘oof.’

“Make noise like that again, and the next time I open this door, you’ll both see the back of my hand.”

The door slammed shut, and I lifted myself off of Vena, already starting to hyperventilate.

“Did you hear what he said?” I asked, my voice high-pitched. “We’re fucked.”

Vena pressed the paper towel into my fist and caught my face between her hands.

“Breathe, Ev. In and out. Keep your cool. We still have our phones, remember? We’re not fucked yet.”

I nodded and scrambled off her, already digging in my cleavage for my phone.

My fingers found nothing but sweat and regret.

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

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