56. Lilah
56
LILAH
The safe house was more like a small mansion, an old two-story building set back from the road on a sprawling private property. I didn’t ask where Rafe had found it on such short notice or how he knew it was safe — I was learning not to get involved in the details — but getting ready for the party, it felt safe, something that was probably less about the house and more about the three men who’d be going with me to the Imperium Fratrum party.
It was after ten p.m., the sky dark, and Rafe was downstairs with Nolan and Jude setting up the drone and preparing to fly it over the estate where the party would be held. There hadn’t been a start time on the hard drive that had mentioned the event, and Ghost hadn’t known either, but we guessed it was probably late since kinky sex parties didn’t seem like they’d be very sexy in the daylight.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror, taking in the green dress the Bastards had bought for me to wear to the party. I’d never owned anything like it, the neckline plunging so far I couldn’t wear a bra, the back dipping almost to my ass. The skirt was drapey and sensuous, yards of emerald silk, and the whole thing was held up by straps so delicate I’d half expected them to snap when I’d slipped the dress over my head and let it fall around my body.
It was almost erotic, the silk brushing against my tits, my nipples, my ass, bare thanks to my new black thong underwear I’d chosen to wear under the dress.
I’d pulled my hair up for once. I hated the brand on the back of my neck — had avoided looking at it in the weeks since we’d come home from Greece, had gotten used to the small bandage that covered it — but it made sense that it should be on display if I was basically the Bastards’ ticket to the party.
I picked up my Mini Osborne, looked down at the dress, and realized there wasn’t a single place I could hide it. For all I knew I was going to end up stark naked in the showcase with the Bastards.
The knife was a bad idea.
I set it down reluctantly and picked up the feathered mask Rafe had given me. I had no idea where he’d found it on such short notice, but it was gorgeous, long green-and-black feathers extending from the upturned eyes of the mask, which was beaded with green and gold sequins.
I held it to my face and marveled at my reflection in the mirror. I’d applied my makeup heavier than usual, wanting my eyes to stand out under the mask, and I’d chosen red lipstick, a shade I’d never worn, because it seemed bold, and I kind of needed bold right now.
I didn’t recognize the woman in the mirror. Where was the girl who worked at the Dive and lived on canned soup? The girl who kept her head down and tried not to be noticed?
The woman in the mirror was beautiful and powerful, and I couldn’t help wondering if I’d been those things all along.
I took a deep breath and lowered the mask, carrying it in my hand as I left the room on the second floor of the safe house where the Bastards had left me to get ready.
I felt like a princess descending the staircase, although there probably weren’t any famous princesses who’d had to put themselves up for sale at a party run by sex traffickers.
The Bastards were in the foyer of the house, looking at the footage from the drone. They looked up as I came down the stairs and froze, their eyes riveted on me as I stepped carefully in the strappy black heels I wore with the dress.
And they weren’t the only ones staring. I’d seen the Bastards in all kinds of attire: tactical gear on their way out to work, sports gear on their way to climb, wetsuits to surf, sweats and shorts and jeans and the nicer clothes they’d worn to dinner in Greece before everything went wrong.
But I wasn’t sure anything compared to the sight of the three of them standing side by side in tailored tuxedos.
“That’s not a dress, it’s an homage to an old movie,” Nolan said.
I laughed. “I think I agree.”
“Jesus, boss.” Jude’s eyes were glued to my body. “I’m not sure I’ve ever worked a mission with a hard-on before, but I guess tonight’s the night.”
Rafe held my gaze as I stepped off the last step, but he didn’t say a word. The look in his eyes said everything I needed to know, about the dress and what had begun to happen between us.
“Did you find out about the masks?” I asked.
“Looks like dealer’s choice,” Jude said. “We’re good to go.”
“And the exit car?” The questions were beginning to come naturally, and I realized I was getting used to the way they lived, to the rules and the preparation and the potential pitfalls.
“Parked a half mile away from the estate and hidden in the trees,” Nolan said.
I hoped it wouldn’t come to a frenzied escape from the party, hoped we’d be able to find the proof we needed without creating a scene, but the Bastards had taught me that it was always wise to have a backup plan or three.
“And the limo’s out front,” Rafe said.
The limo had been a guess. What kinds of cars would rich people drive to an illegal party with trafficked women? Probably the tinted-windows-with-driver kind.
“So we’re ready to go,” I said.
“We’re ready to go,” Nolan said.
They picked up their masks: black skulls with ornate gold detailing around the eyes, nose, and jaw. Unlike my half mask, theirs would cover their full faces, all the better to hide identifying features like facial hair.
I shivered thinking about the Bastards in the masks, all of us entering enemy territory. Would we find Rain Adakai? Would we make it out alive?
I had no idea, but whatever happened now, we were in it together.