63. Chapter Sixty-Three
Chapter sixty-three
Adair
Jess sat up with a start and peeled off her sheet facial mask. “Oh! You know what would be fun?”
Lianne opened one eye and glanced at her best friend. “I’m almost afraid to ask.”
She waved off the concern, grinning. “We should play ‘Never have I ever,’ but make it a drinking game.”
Now Quinn leaned forward. “Not to kill your joy, but is a drinking game a smart idea right now, especially with everything going on?”
Lianne looked over and gave her an understanding smile. “You can drink whatever you want, hun. Just because I’m opting for liquor doesn’t mean anyone else has to. It’s been a hell of a couple weeks.”
Avery nodded. “If it helps you feel more comfortable, Quinn, I’m going to be drinking water since I’m here in a more official capacity. You and I can have a hydration contest if you want.” She winked at her, making Quinn laugh.
“I’m down for that. You’re on.”
Jess looked around the room. “Ellen, Adair, what’s your liquid of choice?”
Ellen stared at Jess for a moment before responding. “I’ll at least start with alcohol, though I might join Avery and switch to water if it gets a little too wild for me.”
I nodded. “Same for me.” It was a unique experience being able to drink for a fun reason. There was also the fact I didn’t have to be ‘on’ and paying attention to my security camera feeds. I can actually cut loose. The concept was mind-boggling.
Jess stood up and walked to the bar cart, pulled out three shot glasses, three bottles of water, and a bottle of vodka, and set all of them on the small table in the center of the room.
“Avery and Quinn, you two drink however much water you want each time.” She filled each shot glass a little over half.
“Let’s start with one of my favorites. Never have I ever dressed down Lukas for being a pain in the ass. ”
I chuckled as Lianne and Jess immediately took shots. It didn’t surprise me that either of them had gotten in that man’s face. My eyes went wide as Ellen joined them. “Ellen? Really?”
She grinned and nodded. “Yep. He was bothering Ryan, and I threatened to have Lianne beat him up.”
In shock, I glanced at Lianne and Quinn, who both nodded in confirmation.
“Oh yeah. Ellen was pissed that night and didn’t give a shit about using her nice words, as she calls them.” Lianne chuckled.
Quinn smirked as she looked at Ellen. “That man got a stark reminder of what happens when loved ones get pushed too far.”
During our chat, Jess refilled the glasses. “Considering recent events, I had another one pop into my head. Never have I ever been in a helicopter.”
Everyone looked around, and a general gasp filled the room as I grabbed my glass. Lianne narrowed her eyes at me and leaned forward. “Did this happen after your involuntary disappearing act?”
I took the shot and let out a tense breath as I pushed down a memory of my emergency extraction from the Indiana safe house. “Yep. And for the record, it’s a lot colder than people think it’s going to be.”
Avery nodded as she put the cap back on her bottle. “Right?”
My eyebrows went up as I looked at her. “Work or pleasure?”
She grinned widely. “Pleasure, actually. Aerial tour of an island. Fucking amazing views.”
Jess stood again to refill the glasses. “Ooh! Good to know. Maybe I can convince Connor to do that once we go on our official honeymoon.”
Avery chuckled. “Can I do the next one?” We all nodded. “Never have I ever kissed a mafia boy.”
Everyone but Lianne and Avery drank.
My jaw dropped. “Really, Li? Never?”
She shook her head. “Never. I’ve kept as far away as possible from them. I know the trouble they bring, and most of them are too egotistical to deal with. No offense to the ladies in here.”
Ellen snickered, but then her cheeks went a little pink. “Oh, they bring trouble, but they make it worthwhile.”
Now it was Quinn who snort-laughed. “Facts! We all know it can be a full-time job keeping Lukas’s ego in check.”
Avery refilled the glasses. “I have another one. Never have I ever joined the mile-high club.”
Quinn’s face went beet red as she opened her bottle of water and took a long drink. Jess smacked Lianne’s arm. “I fucking told you!”
Li let out a groan as Quinn nearly spit out her water. “What?”
Jess looked far too pleased with herself. “I knew he was into some kinky shit.”
“I wouldn’t exactly call the mile high club ‘kinky shit,’ but you do you.” Everyone’s attention went to Lianne, who just shrugged. “I said what I said.”
Ellen cleared her throat as she refilled Quinn’s glass. “I have the next one, and maybe this will be less scandalous. Never have I ever shot someone.”
Lianne snorted as she grabbed the shot glass. Quinn, Jess, Avery, and I also drank.
Ellen sighed. “I’m almost sad I can’t join in.”
Avery shook her head. “Don’t be. I love that innocence for you, and I do mean that in the most complimentary way possible.”
I stared at Quinn. “I’m surprised you shot someone. Can I ask about it?”
She nodded. “Short version? Lukas was kidnapped because someone wanted to use him to get to Liam. I found him, took offense to the entire situation, and emptied the gun I was holding into two different people. I can’t say it was my finest moment, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat to save him.”
Lianne reached over and squeezed Quinn’s hand. “You were amazing that day.”
The pride in her eyes brought a smile to my face.
“Okay. Here’s one you’ll all love. Never have I ever slept with a coworker.”
Lianne rolled her eyes and took a shot. “That’s not fair, Avery.”
She shrugged. “Listen, I don’t know who Jess, Ellen, or Adair have hooked up with. It’s a valid statement.”
Ellen hesitantly reached for her shot glass. “So, technically, Ryan worked in our office for a while… Does that count?”
Jess nodded. “Absolutely. Drink up, lady.”
I stared at Lianne in awe. For as careful and cautious as I remembered her being, the admission surprised me. “What coworker did you hook up with?”
A huge smile appeared on her face. “Ben. Now, we met before we were coworkers, but yeah. We worked together.”
“And now he works under you.” Jess elbowed her best friend, smirking and wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
Avery shook her head and refilled the glasses. “Next. Never have I ever had an alter ego that wasn’t for a job.”
I couldn’t help but laugh as I reached for the glass but was intrigued when Lianne did the same. “You haven’t always been Lianne Agosti?”
She shook her head. “For several years I was Lianne Nadler. I wanted nothing to do with my brother and how he was treating me, or how he was trying to get Dad to run things, so I did my best to distance myself from the family name as much as I could.” Lianne shrugged and looked around. “And yet, here we are.”
“Here we are indeed! We have the most amazing Agosti at the helm! Hear, hear!” Jess raised her glass, and all of us followed suit.
Lianne shook her head and looked at Avery, who had just finished taking a drink out of her water bottle. “This is like when the team all declared their loyalty to me all over again.”
“At least we’re all drinking in your honor instead of your demise?”
She let out a sigh. “Fair enough.”
Jess grinned. “Here’s a fun one. Never have I ever pulled a gun in another Don’s house.”
Lianne chuckled as she and Avery drank.
My mouth dropped open. “What? And you two lived to talk about it?”
She and Avery exchanged wry grins before nodding.
“I got permission from Don Dallas, and Avery was part of a team that rescued Mrs. Dallas and Wesley Backnoff from Don Vaux’s house.
” Lianne’s eyes went wide as her attention snapped to me.
“Shit. Did my mom ever fill you in on what happened to your extended family?”
“If they were stupid enough to go after the Don Supreme’s wife and his second, It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out they didn’t live to tell the tale.” I reached over and patted her shoulder. "I’ve been informed.”
Ellen cleared her throat. “How do you feel about it?”
I shrugged. “Until yesterday, I assumed they’d written me off as dead. It’s a little weird finding out I’m nearly the last one standing. And I’m not even sure how to feel about it, considering they looked for me the least after I disappeared.”
Avery chuckled darkly. “Knowing that, I’m really glad I was part of the team that taught them what happens when you fuck around with one of us.”
I took in the glee sparkling in her eyes. “You had all kinds of fun wreaking havoc, didn’t you?”
“According to Dante, she and Maloy thoroughly enjoyed their task.”
My jaw dropped at hearing Lianne’s comment, but then I closed my mouth. If there was anyone who would find the highest level of joy seeking revenge, it would be those two. “You know… That sounds about right.”
The smile on Avery’s face widened. “It was glorious.”
Lianne refilled the glasses and then smirked. “Speaking of glorious things, never have I ever punched Liam.”
I’m pretty sure no one was surprised when she grabbed her glass, but everyone looked at me, eyes wide and mouths agape when I grabbed mine.
“What? When was this?”
I kicked back the shot and looked at Avery. “The day he and Susan tried to kill me.” Without waiting for a response, I immediately poured and took another shot.