Chapter 31 #2
As I stare at the letter for what feels like hours, the sound of a notification on my phone snaps me out of it.
Blinking out of the haze, I grab my phone and check.
It’s a text message from an unknown number.
Brows furrowing, I open it and read the message.
Unknown
Did you get our letter, Little Rabbit?
That nickname. It’s what Wesley called me. My heart starts to pound wildly in my chest.
It’s him! He’s texting me.
Something none of them have ever done. I never bothered to ask Callie for their numbers because I didn’t know what I’d say to them even if I could. Small talk and I are not good friends.
But Wesley reached out to me. So, I save his number in my phone before responding.
Me
I did.
But I’m confused.
Wesley
About what, Little Rabbit? The instructions were clear.
I want to tell him no, they’re not, but I don’t want to piss him off when this is the first time I’ve heard from any of them in almost two weeks.
Me
There’s no address listed, and there’s a mention of an outfit, but as far as I can see, I only got the letter.
Wesley
Don’t worry about the address. You will be brought where you’re needed when you’re needed. As for the outfit, check your closet.
Brought where I’m needed when I’m needed, what does that mean?
And my closet?
I walk over to my closet and pull the doors open. My lips part in surprise when I see what's hanging there, waiting for me.
With shaking fingers, I pull out one of the most stunning gowns I’ve ever seen.
It’s an emerald green, strapless dress with gold sequins along the tops of the breasts and gold sleeves. There are little gold tassels that hang from the sleeves, adding an elegant feel to its design.
It looks like it’s meant to hug your body, and as I move the fabric around, getting a better look at it, I see that there’s a slit up the side.
I bite my lower lip, grinning as a warm feeling blankets me.
The notification sound on my phone has me looking over at it again. Putting the dress back, I check my messages.
Wesley
Did you find it?
Me
I did.
Wesley
Good. Now, be a good Little Rabbit and do what you’re told. You won’t like us when we’re pissed. All bets are off now. Good luck.
All bets are off?
Does this mean they’re done holding back? That they’re going to finally allow themselves to be their true selves with me.
He’s wishing me luck, but it’s they who need it.
I might have to act like I don’t like every single fucked up thing they do to me, but it’s all a lie. I’ll give them what they want. They want my fear, my tears, my life? It’s theirs.
While on the inside, I’m going to love every moment of it.
I got a taste of what they’re made of, and I’m fucking starving for more.
“Bring it on, boys.” I grin down at my phone, then over to the letter on the bed. “Show me what you got.”
“Girl,” Callie’s voice sounds thick with emotion. “I can’t right now.”
“What?” I ask, spinning around to look at her. She’s fanning her face, looking like she’s holding back tears. “God, is it that bad?” I ask, eyes widening in horror.
“Bad?” she asks. “God no. It’s so fucking stunning. Nola, you look like a goddess.”
“Really?” I ask, a smile curling on my lips. “You think so?”
Turning back to look at myself in the mirror, I can’t help but feel beautiful. This dress is gorgeous. It fits like a glove, hugging me in all the right places.
“I love it.” I run my hands over the fabric that hugs my stomach. “I can’t believe they really picked this out themselves.”
“They have good taste. And seem to know you better than we thought,” Callie comments.
She’s coming to the party, too, and is dressed in a long, form-fitting red gown. Her long black hair is hanging in loose curls, the right side pinned back, showing off her ruby red earrings.
Sitting on her face is a blood red and black masquerade mask.
“Ready?” Callie asks me.
“I think so.” I chew on my lower lip, then curse when I realize I’m rubbing off my lipstick. “Ugh, just a second.” I quickly fix it, making sure nothing is left behind on my teeth. “I’m a mess.”
“You’re nervous, and I think it’s adorable. Slice a girl's neck open without blinking, no problem. Face the men you've been chasing after for months, and that's a whole other ball game.”
“It really is,” I sigh, turning to face her. “I hope tonight goes well. I don’t know what else to do if it doesn’t.”
“It’s going to be fine. If they didn’t want you, they wouldn’t have invited you.”
“That's not true. They could be trying to get me alone so they could punish me for everything I’ve done.”
Callie gives me a coy smile. “Oh, I’m sure they want to punish you.” She wiggles her brows.
“Stop,” I laugh, although the idea sparks a fire in my belly. “You know that's your brother you're talking about.”
She wrinkles her nose. “Never mind. We gotta get going.”
“Okay, but where?” I ask. “We still don’t have an address.”
“Garrett is on his way to pick us up. We’re not allowed to know the address. Brotherhood business and all that jazz.”
“You just called him Garrett,” I point out with a giggle, grinning at her.
Her brows furrow. “Don’t you start.” She points a finger at me.
“Oh, come on!” I laugh. “Just admit it, you like him.”
“I do not.” She gapes like it’s the most offensive thing I could have said.
“Whatever you say, bestie.” I shake my head, heading toward the door.
“Don’t forget this.”
Callie hands me my mask. I smile as I take it. The day I found the dress, I didn’t notice the box on the floor of my closet until after I went back to admire the dress.
In the box was this beautiful gold and green mask with half a butterfly on one side. It was perfect, like an acknowledgment of the work I put into making these men mine.
Like, they’ve seen my dedication to our relationship.
There was also a stunning gold chain with an emerald green butterfly charm.
“Thank you.” I take it from her and let her help me put it on.
We make our way downstairs to find my parents waiting for us.
“Oh my goodness, you two look so beautiful,” my mother gushes, her hand over her heart. “Let me get a photo.”
“Hazel, sweetheart.” Dad shakes his head.
“Oh.” Mom blinks. “Ohhh.”
My mom acts like she doesn’t know anything about the kind of life my father lived before meeting her, as well as a portion of the life he lives now. But she does. She lets him do his own thing as long as she stays far away from it.
At first, my mother didn’t want me involved. She hated it when he took me to the parties, where I would hang out with the guys when we were kids.