26. Sienna
Chapter 26
Sienna
They were gorgeous. I couldn’t imagine Bria and Tessa being killers just by their looks—so warm and welcoming.
The three of us stood around the same height, maybe an inch difference, if at all, and they were both toned and trimmed bombshells. I had the sudden urge to ask if they were dancers, too, but I didn’t want it to look as though I was observing them with such close attention to detail.
Bria had long fire engine red hair. With a peek at her roots, I could tell her natural color was closer to mine: a dark, warm brunette. Her dress matched her hair, bright red with layers of tulle that flowed from her hips to the floor. She looked like a fire, ready to burn this mansion to the ground if anyone so much as looked at her wrong.
Tessa reminded me of a short Victoria’s Secret model with blown-out, voluminous light brown hair, and deep teal eyes that rivaled the Caribbean sea. She stood with such a commanding presence that she owned every room she entered. Her black dress, with white outlining details, hugged every single curve of her body as if it were custom-made just for her figure.
I had never been intimidated by a woman and never saw them as some form of competition, but these two—intimidated was an understatement for how I felt around them.
The small women’s lounge was filled with wives just like them, and suddenly, I felt so small in comparison.
“Hey,” Bria’s soft voice caught my attention as she touched my shoulder and handed me a glass of champagne. “I know you are overwhelmed right now, but please, don’t be. We’ve all been where you are.” I assumed her husband had already informed her of my current situation—my test.
I sipped from my glass, unable to find the words for how I was feeling.
“Bria’s a literal badass; most of the women here are scared of her, so don’t feel bad.” Tessa laughed with her valley girl accent, guiding me to an open sofa, and the three of us took a seat, with me in the middle. “If anyone here is going to help you get through your test, it’s her.” She added before taking a long sip of her champagne.
“As far as Levi had told me, you passed yours with flying colors, too, Tess.” Bria giggled, bringing her glass to her bright red lips and pausing briefly. “Ignore her, Sienna. She thinks she’s the cock of the walk because she has the twins wrapped around her finger.”
Tessa poked her tongue out at Bria.
“You’re just jealous I got the two-for-one special.” She leaned towards me and whispered, “They are the only twins in any of the revues.”
Bria rolled her eyes, downing her glass in one long pull.
“Right, well, talking about our husbands—” She glared daggers at Tessa. “Is not what we are here for, Sienna. What can we do to help you pass your test?” Her eyes glanced around the room, searching for another glass of champagne.
“I—I don’t even know what my test is. How can I prepare for something I don’t know?” I stammered, my voice slightly shaky. I didn’t want to come off soft and meek in a room full of predators, but how could I not? I was out of my element here.
“Oh honey, the tests are all the same… The scenarios are always different, but the objective is the same.” Tessa chimed in, and Bria cleared her throat, a silent threat to shut the fuck up .
“What Tessa means to say is that all of the tests involve spilling blood. Are you sensitive to blood by chance?” She asked with a hint of concern.
I thought back to the night behind Fallout. The man being stabbed in the throat, his blood spraying both my husband and myself, and then the sight of him dragging his bloody hand through his hair.
I could feel myself growing hotter, subconsciously pressing my thighs together as I finished off my champagne.
The memory of that night constantly turns me on, the unhinged sight of Colby and how he looked at me with his bright blue eyes full of rage and desire—my protector.
At my silence from reminiscing, Bria continued, “It’s alright if you are, we can find a way to—”
“No—” I rushed to cut her off, choking on my last sip. “No, I’m not sensitive to blood.”
“Oh, thank god,” Tessa held a hand to her chest, rambling on, “Because one of the wives had a problem with blood, and let me tell you the end result of her test and what her husban—”
“Tessa!” Bria whisper-shouted as her eyes shifted between mine and hers. “Shut… the fuck… up.”
“I don’t understand…” I raised my brows in curiosity. “What happened to her husband?”
“Not to her husband—” Tessa arched her brow as she spoke into her glass.
“Ignore her; she’s being over dramatic—” The death glare that shot from her eyes into Tessa’s was forbidding. “All you need to focus on is yourself and your husband, and know that he can assist you—and he should. But you need to be capable of making the… kill. Do you think you could handle that?” Her bright green eyes searched mine. “Do you trust your husband?” Did I trust my husband? The real question being asked here was, did I love my husband?
“Yes,” I answered without hesitation. Yes, I love Colby.
“Then you have nothing to worry about. You’ll do just fine, Sienna.” Bria patted my thigh. “Here, give me your phone. I’m going to give you my number. You can call or text me at any time. Us wives need to stick together.” She winked as I reached into my purse and handed her my phone.
“Add mine too,” Tessa added, waving down a waiter carrying a tray of champagne flutes.
When Bria finished, she returned my phone to me, beaming from ear to ear. Once I had tucked it back into my purse, Tessa gave me an overflowing glass of champagne with the same warm and sweet smile.
“To the sisterhood,” Tessa winked, clinking her glass against mine.
“To the sisterhood. Welcome to the club, Sienna.” Bria added, copying the motion and repeating Tessa’s words, giving my thigh a firm squeeze before pulling her hand away.
We sat there for what felt like hours, telling stories of how we met our husbands, our childhoods… everything.
These two strong, beautiful, and brave women were slowly becoming exactly what I needed in close friendship. Perhaps this wouldn’t be as bad as I had initially thought. Maybe this was everything I needed in my life—along with my husband.
Four glasses of champagne later, Bria pulled out her phone to check the time, “Right, now let’s go find our husbands and give them hell. Their meeting should be done by now.”
Tessa laughed as she got up from the couch, barely able to stand.
“Oh, Tess, you are going to be an absolute handful tonight, girl.” Bria chuckled, covering her mouth.
“Well, it’s a good thing I have two husbands then, right?” She quipped before swaggering back to the main foyer, picking up a fresh glass of champagne as she passed the waiter.
Bria just shook her head with a bright smile as she stood and sighed, holding her hand out to me.
“Come on, before she takes all our husbands.” She added with a sarcastic eye roll.
After leaving the ladies ' lounge, we found our husbands waiting for us back in the grand foyer. Tessa was already wrapped around both of hers like a horny fucking pretzel. That woman was something else, but I admired her just as much as Bria, nonetheless.
“This is where I leave you, Sienna. Remember, you have my number. Text or call anytime, and that is not a suggestion.” Bria spoke before releasing my arm and taking her husband’s as he approached us.
“Ready to go, sweetheart?” Dallas leaned down, cupping her cheek.
“Mhm…” She hummed, resting her head against his shoulder and shutting her eyes as he escorted her out the double doors of the mansion. I could feel their love for one another as it radiated off of them.
I couldn’t help the longing sigh that fell from my lips as I watched them leave the mansion together.
“Love.”
I turned my attention from Dallas and Bria’s exit to find my husband standing behind me. I didn’t know what had shifted between us from when we arrived until now, but I couldn’t stop myself from running into his arms and capturing his mouth with mine as I locked my arms around the back of his neck.
Colby groaned into my mouth as his hands gripped my hips, pulling me in closer before breaking our heated kiss and looking deep into my eyes—the same look he always gave me when he asked me what I wanted.
“Something wrong?” He panted, breathless from the spontaneous kiss.
“No,” I rushed out, biting my bottom lip as my eyes flicked down to his. “Everything is right—so right.” I breathed, trailing a hand up the back of his head to feel his soft hair between my fingers. “Take me home.”
When my gaze met his once again, he grinned and quickly picked me up, cradling me in his arms as he carried me out of the mansion and back to our vehicle.
I giggled, relaxing in his arms and resting my head against his shoulder. His warm scent wrapped around me like a blanket.
So, this is what it feels like…
To finally surrender and let go…
To admit that I was in love.
Cloud Nine had nothing on this.