"Whatever," I muttered, dropping my towel and pulling on my underwear.
Seph just pouted and glared at my tits as I hooked my bra on. "So not fucking fair," she muttered. "How come you got a rack like that and I'm still stuck padding my bra at age eighteen?"
I snorted a laugh and ignored her question. She was constantly griping to me about how no guys ever wanted to ask her out because she was too flat-chested. Far be it from me to clue her in that they won't ask her out because I'd fucking kill any punk-ass douche who tried to touch my sweet little sister before she graduated. It wouldn't be the first time, anyway.
Before deciding what I was wearing, I figured I should call Zed. He could give me an idea whether I could wear my jeans for a casual Sunday or if I needed something to intimidate and hide blood.
Except before I could dial his number, I spotted two new messages.
Crap.
Unknown: Lucas.
What in the actual fuck? How the hell did he get my number? Why?
My eyes went back to his first message, reading it again. I can't stop thinking about you.
Shit. Shit. Had I just fucked the enemy? Why else would he be messaging me again if not to mess with my head?
Hades: How did you get this number??
Ignoring my sister's intense stare—like she wanted to snatch my phone and read the screen herself—I flicked over to Cass's reply.
Cass: You owe me today.
I frowned.
Hades: For fucking what?
The little bubble popped up to show he was writing something back, but when I had to wait longer than a second, I became annoyed and flipped back to Lucas, who'd just replied.
Unknown: I found it in your desk drawer. He finished his text with a winking tongue-out emoji that made my brain short circuit. Was he flirting? What the fuck was going on?
Cass: For wiping the security footage at Murphy's.
Cass: *video attached*
Oh shit.
Biting my lip and barely breathing, I clicked on the video link. Sure enough, there was a security camera in the supply room at Scruffy Murphy's. Cass had just sent me my very own sex tape with Lucas.
Crap.
"Is that porn?" Seph squealed, sitting up on my bed and snatching for my phone. I dodged out of her reach, hitting the close button on the side of my phone to cut both audio and video, just in case. "Dare! Show me!"
"Hell fucking no," I exclaimed, dancing away from her and pointing at my door. "Now get out of my room; I need to call Zed."
Seph stood up, her fists on her hips in outrage. "Zed was here all night; you could have talked then." Her brow creased, then she gasped. "Oh my god, is that home porn? Did you and Zed—"
"Seph!" I barked. "Quit it. Zed and I are not fucking. Now get the hell out of my room before I lose my shit." I totally ignored the heat in my cheeks at how close to the truth she was and let my eyes flash with anger.
She glared back at me for a moment, then let out a frustrated huff. "Whatever. Don't forget to fix my car today, or you're driving me to school tomorrow."
I just rolled my eyes and ushered her out my door, then slammed it after her. "Fucking brat," I muttered under my breath, crossing over to my bed and flopping down on my back. My phone wasn't leaving me alone, though. It buzzed again in my hand, and I groaned.
"What the fuck now?" I whispered at the universe, then peered at my screen with dread.
Unknown: Don't be mad.
I blinked at the message a couple of times before saving his number and replying.
Hades: You went through my desk? I didn't peg you for suicidal, Lucas.
The invasion of privacy should have made me more irritated, but there was nothing particularly confidential in that desk—aside from my mobile number, apparently, which I'd be having words with Zed about later.
Lucas: I want to see you again.
Huh, okay, he was bolder than I'd thought. Then again, this was the same guy who hadn't hesitated to fuck a girl he'd just met in a bar supply room, so maybe bold was just in his personality. Or maybe it was a trap.
And yet, now that Cass had sent me that unexpected sex tape, it was all so very fresh in my mind... and other places. I let my fingers tap out a reply faster than I could talk myself out of it.
Hades: Did you sign the paperwork?
There was a pause before his reply came.
Lucas: Yes.
My stomach sank. Dammit. Why'd he have to sign the fucking paperwork? He'd be great for business, no question, but fuck if I didn't regret not getting a second round out of him first.
Hades: I don't fuck employees.
His reply came quickly enough that he had to have thought about it in advance.
Lucas: Jo couldn't get me on the schedule until Tuesday. I'm not technically employed by you until that shift starts.
My lips parted in surprise at his forwardness, then curved into a grin. Fuck it straight to hell, I was tempted. So goddamn tempted.
Lucas: Please? You owe me, anyway…
I scoffed a laugh, my thumbs flying over my screen as I wrote my reply.
Hades: You think? I seem to remember getting you a damn good job offer from one of the hottest clubs in town.
Lucas: That’s mutually beneficial; you know I’ll be great for business.
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t disagree on that point. If his moves on the dance floor at Murphy’s were any indication, he was quickly going to become a main attraction on the stage at 7th Circle.
Hades: So, what do I owe you for?
Lucas: You used me to make someone jealous.
My brows shot up. Before I could reply to Lucas, though, another message popped up on my screen, and my stomach clenched.
Cass: Noon. Dogwood Lake, south side.
Anger burned away my anxiety, and I narrowed my eyes at his message. Who the fuck did he think he was talking to?
Hades: My office at 22. Eleven AM.
That barely gave me half an hour to get there myself, but it would be more of a push for Cass to make it in time. If he was at his home—and I was banking on the fact that he was—it was a solid forty-five-minute drive from Club 22. And he knew how much I despised being kept waiting.
Part of me expected him to argue that fact, so I was surprised to see his reply ping through a second later.
Cass: Done.
I groaned. Now I really did need to get dressed and sort out some makeup. I needed my whole game face on to deal with Cassiel fucking Saint so fucking soon after being coldly rejected by the sexy bastard.
Lucas: So? Can I see you today? I keep replaying last night in my mind…
Biting my lip, I shook my head and tossed my phone on my bed without replying. Lucas was a distraction of the worst fucking kind, and I needed to get my head back on straight before dealing with Cass. I still needed to call Zed back and chew him out for that bullshit he’d pulled as well, but he could wait. My ever-loyal second wasn’t going anywhere while I got my shit together.
“Dare!” Seph called out, making me grit my teeth in frustration. “I’m heading out to meet MK for brunch. Don’t forget my car, yeah?” She shoved my door back open and gave me a pointed look with her arms folded under her breasts. Fucking kid had way too much damn sass. It was my own fault for spoiling the crap out of her over the five years since I’d slaughtered almost our entire family. A guilty conscience does crazy things.
I nodded, rubbing moisturizer onto my face at my dressing table. “You already reminded me, Seph,” I muttered as I started my makeup. “Have fun; don’t get into trouble.”