Chapter Twenty-Three #2
Okay, this is it. This is my time to shine and act the part.
I have seen too many TV shows, too many movies, too many celebrities interviews, to not know how to put on a show.
I swallow the bile that comes up my throat, tapping my finger on my chin, and looking him up and down.
I still have to pretend to be me, if this is going to work.
“And what does this ‘making it up to me’ insist of?”
“Well, there is a yacht part—”
“Deal. Text me the time and date.” I turn around and move up in line to place my order. If I'm going to be kidnapped or fake proposed to, it might as well be on a yacht.
“Great, well, enjoy your food."
When I turn back around, he is gone. Stupid fucker was following me. He didn't come in here for food, he came in here for me. And he just proved it. How could I have been so naive about him for so long?
? "Bad Influence" - P!nk" ?
Murder Mateo: 6 p.m. tonight.
I stare at the text, sweat sliding down my spine. I exit the message and pull up Jace’s contact.
“álainn, you can’t call me anymore.”
“I’m going to a yacht party. What do I do? What if it happens tonight? I didn’t get my toes done,” I whisper into the phone, pacing around my room.
“It won’t.”
“How do you know?”
Jace sighs but stays silent on the other line.
“Jace?”
“I will be there,” is all he says before he hangs up.
I throw my phone on the bed, looking at the outfit I picked out. I can do this.
I'm standing at the door, and just like clockwork, my doorbell rings at 6 p.m. I open it to see Mateo in a suit.
“Uh...” I look down at my tiny bikini underneath my see-through dress, leaving nothing to the imagination. “I thought you said we were going on a yacht?”
“You look perfect.” He holds out his hand for me to grab. Of course I look perfect. I’m sure his nasty, murderous, kidnapping friends are going to love me. I take his hand and close my door behind me.
We drive all the way to Rhode Island in silence. For three fucking hours. With only classical music warping through the car speakers, making my ears bleed. When we reach the docks, I pull my phone out of my clutch to see a message from Jace.
Sexy Irishman: Get drunk. Have fun.
I put my phone back and step onto the large white boat. The salty breeze hits my skin as the sun sets on the horizon. The boat is full, music is already playing, and girls who are wearing less than me are dancing.
“I have some work to do at the bottom of the boat,” Mateo says. “Have fun, and um... If you need me, I'll just be right down there.” He points to some stairs.
I give him a smile and nod as I watch him walk down to the stairs. I turn to a waiter who has drinks on his tray and grab three glasses, downing my first one.
I hear the boat engine start and waves splash against the side of the watercraft. I take a seat on a sofa and watch as we leave the dock. If Mateo and Jace both say I should have fun, then maybe I am safe tonight. I start drinking my second glass, feeling the burn go down my throat.
Two girls start swaying toward me and plop their bodies down next to me.
“Hi,” the redhead says. “Hello.”
“Why you sit by yourself?” the other girl beside me asks, stumbling over her words. She's cross-eyed as she tries to look in my direction.
“Let's take shots!” the redhead screams.
A waiter comes out of nowhere with shot glasses and tequila on a tray.
The redhead grabs the whole bottle and shoos away the waiter with her hand.
“I’m Mary and that’s Scarlett.” She points to her friend, who is now passed out next to me.
Her legs are spread open, and her head hangs off the side of the couch.
“I’m Lily.”
“Hi Lily, now open your mouth!” She holds up the tequila bottle, grabbing my jaw, and waterfalls it into my mouth until my cheeks fill.
I swallow all the liquor, shaking my head and slamming my eyes shut.
“Woo!” Mary screams, jumping up to stand on the couch. “I’m going to like you! Let me introduce you to everyone else.”
I follow her deeper into the yacht, and she points to every girl, telling me their names. I grab the bottle from her hand and take another sip.
Hours later, we are anchored in the middle of the ocean.
The sun has fully set, and the only light surrounding us is from the stars and the string lights hanging from the boat.
I stand on top of a table, swaying my hips to “1 Thing” by Amerie.
I haven’t seen Mateo, and I don’t care. Jace said he would be here, but I don’t see him either.
Marry and I have been taking shots back-to-back.
Everyone else is surrounding us as we show off our moves.
Mary turns to me, wrapping her hands around my throat, and brings her lips to mine. I open my mouth when I taste vodka dripping from hers, and she spits it down my throat. The song ends and “Funhouse” by P!nk starts playing.
“This is my song!” I scream, jumping off the table and kicking my legs out, dancing. I can hear hoots and hollers around me as I sing along. I start strip teasing with my dress until I’m only standing in my tiny bikini. I wave my dress over my head as the beat drops and the mood changes.
Everyone joins me for the countdown in the song until the whole boat starts rocking from all of us jumping up and down.
The string lights are suddenly not the only thing illuminating us as red and blue lights begin flashing.
The music stops and all the girls start screaming, running around like roaches and picking up clothes.
I quickly throw my dress on and start running to where I remember Mateo was going to be.
As I’m running, I see one of the girls throw white bricks off the side of the boat but is tackled to the floor by a large man.
I start trying to run faster, holding on to everything around me as the boat shakes from men boarding, tackling, and yelling at everyone to get down. Just as I am about to reach the stairs, I’m knocked to the floor on my ass.
“Hello, love.”
I look up to see a large man in a uniform with a badge on his chest. He’s wearing a combat helmet, a large gun wrapped around his shoulder, and a balaclava mask, only showing his eyes—his bright, piercing blue eyes.
“Jace?” I whisper.
He holds out his hand to help me off the floor. When my hand touches his, my body is jerked up into his chest. His other hand roams down my back, landing on my ass, squeezing it.
“Did you have fun?” he whispers on the side of my face.
My breathing picks up as his hand continues to roam all over my body. My knees are ready to give out when a rumble comes from his chest.