I roll my eyes. “You know how to use a gun. You know how to hack into any computer. You’ve most likely killed before. I don’t think driving without a license even registers on the list of bad things you’ve done.”
He frowns.
“Are you scared? Think you can’t drive without wrecking us? I could always—”
“No, I’m driving. We’ll take the Porsche.”
I smile—my favorite of all Mr. Black’s cars.
We head inside Enzo’s house. Luckily, Enzo and his father are at the club working, so we don’t have to ask permission to use the car. We just take it.
Enzo wouldn’t care.
And if Mr. Black knew that we were killing Langston’s father tonight, he’d probably approve. The only bigger monster than Langston’s father is Enzo’s father.
We both climb into the Porsche. Langston doesn’t hesitate. He puts the car in reverse and backs out of the garage.
I flip on a pop song.
Langston growls and switches it to rap.
“Passenger gets to pick the music,” I say, flipping it back.
“You’re ridiculous.”
He steps on the gas too hard, and we lurch forward.
“Easy, tiger. We don’t want to get us killed before we even arrive.”
He lightly taps the gas, and then we are driving like the grown-ups we were forced into being far too young.
Annoyed with my music choice, he turns off the radio. Then his eyes grace the hem of my mid-thigh angelic dress. It’s covered in pretty white lace—the only part of it that hints that I’m still part girl. The rest of me is all woman. I developed early, already with plenty of curves at my hip and enough cleavage to draw in the most saintly of men.
“Why did you start wearing dresses, Liesel?”
There he goes calling me Liesel again.
I stare out the window. I started wearing dresses and acting girly when Enzo offered to pay for a new wardrobe for me, when I started a new school filled with rich snobs. The truth is I started wearing a dress because I liked the attention it gives me. I’m tired of blending in. Dresses make me feel like I’m more powerful than I really am.
“To drive you wild.”
He grunts.
“Is it working?”
“What do you think?” he snaps.
Yes.
No.
I honestly can’t read him well any more.
The conversation ends, though, as we pull up into the ridiculous circular drive in front of Langston’s stepmom’s house. Each of our doors is opened by a valet, and I take an offered hand helping me out of the car like we are about to attend a grand ball instead of a house party in Miami’s richest area.
As soon as I get out of the car, I feel Langston brushing the valet’s hand away from mine. He takes my arm carefully, like he’s afraid that touching me is going to cause his hand to fall off.
I grab his arm more forcibly. “Holding my hand isn’t going to kill you.”
“Pretending that you’re my girlfriend might.”
I narrow my eyes. “If you don’t want my help, then you can do this yourself.”
“Fine, I’m sorry. Let’s just get this over with.”
I smile. “Follow my lead.”
I spot our target and walk over to the stepmonster, who is talking excitedly with a group of chatty women. This will do perfectly to make our introduction.
“Introduce me to your stepmom with your charming smile,” I say.
He frowns.
“Just trust me. Introduce me, I’ll do the rest.”
Langston leads me over and clears his throat as he approaches. “Ladies,” he smiles at the women, laying on the charm. Then he looks to his stepmom. This part will be the hardest. “Mother, I’d like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Liesel Dunn.”
He calls his stepmom ‘mother’ like she likes as he puts his hand on the small of my back with a bright, charming smile.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Pearce. I’ve heard so much about you.”
Mrs. Pearce looks at me, hesitantly. She likes that Langston is here, that he called her mother, and that I look like a high-class girlfriend in my expensive dress. I just need to sell that I have money just like her, and then she’ll approve of her stepson’s choice in women.
“I’m sorry we were late. Langston had to pick me up on Fisher Island,” I say, giving Enzo’s house address. She doesn’t have to know that the only reason my address is the same is because I live in the guest house while my mother works in the main house as a maid.
“Oh, it’s a pleasure to meet you, my dear.” Her eyes light up as she looks from Langston to me.
I gently lean into Langston’s side, selling the appearance that we are boyfriend and girlfriend.
We pretend to be interested in what the women are saying for a while, before excusing ourselves.
“How did that help anything?” Langston asks.
I grab his tie and pull him into the nearest bedroom before I kick the door shut behind me.
“Your stepmom is happy. She’ll think I’m good for you and start to trust you a little more. She’ll tell your dad, who won’t believe her and will come to us.”
I sit on the edge of the bed. “And now, we are going to work on our alibi.”
Langston raises an eyebrow. “I’m not fucking you, huntress.”
I smile; he used my nickname.
“I’m not asking you to fuck me. Just pretend that having sex loud enough that other guests in the hallway will notice. Mess up our clothes enough so when we leave, everyone will know that we are just horny teenagers. Our entire focus was on each other, not on killing your father.”
“I hate you.” Langston’s teeth grind together with each word.
“Make love to me, killer.”
He walks over to me, stopping inches from me.
What is he doing? Is he going to kiss me? The only kiss we’ve had was the one when we were kids. That doesn’t count. He’s much more grown-up now. More experienced. This kiss could…
He puts his hands down on the bed on either side of me.
He’s going to kiss me.
And then, his hands start bouncing up and down, making me and the bed shake.
I laugh.
“You aren’t supposed to laugh when I fake fuck you.”
I bite my lip, stifling another chuckle.
“Ooh, yea, just like that,” I moan, my eyelashes fluttering as I gaze at Langston, who hasn’t moved from his position.
“Louder, baby, I want the whole house to know you are mine.”
“Baby? Really?” I whisper. “That’s so cheesy.”
He stops shaking the bed and gives me a stern look.
“Yes, Langston!” I yell a little too loudly.
He groans loudly.
Damn, it’s sexier than I imagined.
And then he slams the bed hard, the headboard creaks, splitting one of the posts.
We both moan together, calling out each other’s names.
Then I collapse back on the bed, exhausted like we really did fuck.
That was intense—too intense. I need to stay focused.
When I sit back up, Langston is leaning against the opposite wall, watching me.
I catch my breath and clear my throat. “Mess up your clothes a little.”