He’s not wrong.
“Until then…little Ninja.” He uncoils my hair. The ringlet falls against my cheek. His hand drops from my waist. Relaxing his lustful gaze, he frees me from his mesmerizing hold. It seems like hours have passed as if I were transported to another time and dimension.
In a daze, I make my way back to the dressing room. Luca doesn’t say a word as he slides the drape closed after me. Taking a minute to regain my composure, I sit on the round, pink, cushioned seat in the corner. Each time Edge touches me, the pull drawing me to him intensifies. It’s electric and captivating as fuck. I’m drowning in the intoxicating ocean of Ledger Hunt.
I change out of the dress and hand it to Luca through the open seam of the curtain. After the few moments it takes for my breath to return to normal and for me to change back into my shorts, I join Luca at the counter.
The sales lady arranges the dress on the hanger, places it in a garment bag, and then hands me a bag containing the shoes.
“How much is the total?” I ask.
“You’re all set, dear.”
I look at Luca, then back at her. “But I haven’t?—”
“The handsome gentleman who was in here a few minutes ago paid for your purchase. He took care of it while you were changing.” She hands me a small piece of paper. “He also asked me to give you this.”
I unfold the note. Written in neat handwriting is a phone number.
The second we leave the store, I look up and down the mall for Edge. He’s already gone. I’m not sure if I’m relieved or disappointed.
Luca spins me toward him. “Girl, you listen here. You are buying me a big, fat, dripping mozzarella meatball sub and telling me everything there is to know about Prince Charming.”
Absentmindedly, I nod. The first thing Luca needs to know about Edge is that he’s neither Prince Charming nor a knight in shining armor.
He’s a poisonous viper, prepared to strike at any moment, and he doesn’t pretend to be anything else.
24
KINSLEY
After my conversation with Kade,I decided to go to the Halloween party with Josh. If he does try something, I’ll be ready. As I did last time, I tell Josh I’ll meet him at the party. Needing to stay in control of the situation, I don’t want him to pick me up.
Luca is on his way to do my makeup when I get a text from Adam. It’s short and sweet:
1127.10p269sw10s
I’ve been to enough UG fights to decode the string of letters and numbers: November 27th at 10:00 p.m., at 269 SW 10th Street.
He’s done his first part by getting me the fight’s time and location. Now, he needs to get me in so I can do my part. Even though I’m still trying to figure out what that is. I know Venom will be there. The venue might change, but the gamblers and murderers are guaranteed to come out and play. After all, the UG is their game.
I take the dress out of the garment bag. It’s more stunning than I remember. The images Edge planted in my head at the dress shop have haunted me all week. When I got home from the mall, I texted a simple thank-you to the number on the piece of paper the woman at the dress shop gave to me. I had to assume it was Edge’s number. When the response came back, I had all the confirmation I needed…One day soon.
As usual, Luca doesn’t knock when he arrives. He waltzes right into my bedroom and sets down his makeup bag on my desk. “Kins, you are going to have the hottest costume there.” He kisses both of my cheeks. Luca is never flamboyant until he starts talking or shopping for clothes or makeup—the two things I suck at.“I’m going to assume you’re clean because of the towel on your head.”
I smell my armpit. “Don’t I smell clean?”
He waves me off, ignoring my question, and takes the towel off my head. “I’m going to do your hair, then makeup, then put you in that beautiful gown.”
“Most guys try to get girls out of their dresses,” I tease.
“Girl, I’ve already seen you naked more times than I care to count. And as perfect as your little body is, it does nothing for me, babe. Sorry. Besides, you already have a taker in that department. And if he’s not the one, that come-fuck-me dress is a calling card for any guy you have your eye on tonight.” He taps the tip of my nose. “And don’t try to hide it. You know as well as I do that is what every straight guy is going to be thinking when they see you tonight.”
“Luca!” I spin in the chair to look at him. “You know that’s not the goal here.”
“Whatever.” He brushes my comment away with the flick of his wrist.
Over meatball subs, I told him about Edge. At least the trivial details: he drives a Jeep, is popular, and is in a couple of myclasses. I wanted to say to him more, but it wasn’t time yet. Luca’s only advice was to wear a condom. So, I especially didn’t tell him that Edge said he wanted to fuck me with the dress on, but that was obvious enough in the dress shop.
