Page 25 of Until Death or Defeat

I laugh and shake my head, shrugging my shoulders. “I want it to be a surprise for everyone, at least something no one else gets to have but me. But trust me, it’s beautiful. Obviously,this was such short notice so the poor seamstress is probably stressed to hell.

Well, I guess I won’t say poor seamstress, since I told her to run whatever number she wanted on Artem’s account to have it ready.”

We both erupt into laughter, and the attendant at the dress shop comes to help her undo the dress as we continue talking.

“Make his pockets hurt?” Reina’s comment only deepens our laughter, as she walks back behind the curtain with the associate.

When she comes back out, she’s back in her comfortable yoga gear. “So have you talked to Caesar?”

I roll my eyes, nodding. “Yeah, I told him I was being a little bitchy and that I know he wasn’t trying to be an asshole and take Dad’s side. But still, I just wish he’d grow a pair and just tell my dad off in my honor or something. Or at least talk bad about him when we’re alone. He has way too much respect for my dad to even dothat. He told me there’s just things I don’t know or understand about him.”

“Well, that’s kind of bullshit. What wouldn’t you know and why wouldn’t you know it?”

I shrug again, sighing. “And the weirdest part is how he’s suddenly a huge fan of Artem overnight. I really don’t understand it. I can’t even talk shit about him because he tries to say something good about him.”

I can see the shock in her face, as she widens her mouth.

“Yeah, I have no fucking clue. Artem is not returning the gesture, so it isn’t like they’ve made up and become besties or something.”

“Do you think it’s just him doing that annoyingly friendly thing? Like he’s trying to kill Artem with kindness to trick him into liking him?”

I purse my lips as I consider her words. That is possible, hedoes hate having bad relationships with people. They’ve hated each other since childhood, so I really can’t imagine him wanting to mend it that badly, but Artem wouldn’t ever fall for it.

“Anyway, the other issue is that Caesar told me my father is still not saying anything about me. How is he going to walk down the aisle with me when we both suddenly can’t stand each other?”

Reina clicks her tongue, bumping my elbow with hers. “He’s still your dad, Gigi. Don’t let this separate you two for life. He’s your only parent left.”

I feel a jolt in my heart at her comment. Of course I know that, and I never dreamed that we’d have drifted this far from each other over the years.

He changed a lot when my mom died, and I have no idea what happened to him. He was always the strong and strict type, but he was never so cruel and unfazed as he’s become. I know how hard it is to lose someone you love, but I didn’t become a shell like he did. It breaks my heart to have this weighing on my shoulders with him, but I don’t know if I can ever get past his words. I don’t think I can ever trust him again.

And now, I’m not even sure if I can trust Caesar anymore.

Reina doesn’t really understand because she’s gotten to have a normal life. I met her in college, and she and I instantly clicked. We’ve been inseparable since, and she’s the first friend I’ve ever made outside of the Families.

My only other girl friend has always been my cousin Alcina, and she’s great, but everyone involved in the Families is so jaded.

It’s refreshing having someone as positive and unaffected by negative experiences as Reina. She’s always here to ground me and give me a fresh perspective that I could never have thought of on my own.

Of course, it was weird for her when she learned about my life, but she never judged me or freaked out, and she’s never told a soul the things I told her in confidence. I’m sure she was also pleased to suddenly have a crazy rich friend to take her on shopping sprees, but I know she’d love me the same either way, which is why I love her.

“Alcina is meeting us at dinner, right? Or is it just us?”

“Oh yeah, she’ll be there for sure. She’s excited.”

Wait, I wonder if I should invite Lyra? This is going to be a pretty sad bachelorette with just three girls.

“Actually, I think I’m gonna call that girl I told you I met last week at my engagement announcement.”

“Really? Artem’s uh . . . what is she again?”

I chuckle at her comment, “Family friend. I guess she and her sister grew up with them. She’s a little...what’s the word...”

I’d love to find a nicer way to put it but I can’t.

“Sheltered? Innocent? She might even faint if we get crazy tonight, who knows. She’s drop-dead, model-level gorgeous though. But I get the impression she’s never been the type to have a girl friend before.”

I see the face Reina makes, scrunching her nose almost in protest of me inviting her, and I shove her playfully. “She’s really nice though, I’d like to show her a good time. I might end up seeing her more often anyway, so it would be nice to have another person on my side before I get tossed into Artem’s stupid life.” I give her the puppy eyes and pouty lip combo, and she concedes.