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The gown is floor length, slit up one thigh, dips down in the back so low the crack of my ass is barely covered, and also dips in the front to bare a healthy amount of cleavage…

And looks like a wedding gown.

It’s cream in color with beading and lace and so shimmery. I was a little worried it might be itchy against my skin, but the inside is lined with satin and feels amazing. It’s a little heavy, but not so much that it’ll hinder any movement.

The heels are strappy and gold, and one of my guys went shopping for some new jewelry because I don’t remember seeing the diamond and gold chandelier earrings before today.

“You look stunning,” Kat says.

I definitely needed her help getting this thing over my head without messing up my hair or makeup, then needed her help zipping it up the side without pinching my skin.

My hair lays in these old Hollywood waves, my makeup is dramatic but not too dark. Kat gave me cat eyes and painted my lips blood red.

All in all, I feel…well, beautiful.

“Thank you,” I say, searching for a clutch big enough to stash at least a knife and a few essentials but small enough to not clash with the elegance of the dress.

There’s a gold clutch in a drawer of the island in the middle of my walk-in closet, but it’ll barely fit a tube of lipstick and the ID Kato had made for me. Though it’s not actually legal, just enough to get me by if I happen to need one.

Shit. Okay. I don’t have to carry a knife. Kato’s men will be watching over me and the rest of the crowd. They’ll make sure I don’t end up dead.

I hope.

Turning my attention to Kat, I let my eyes roam her body. “What size are you?” I ask.

“What? Why?”

“You got plans tonight? Want to, um…want to come to the party?” Flora will be attending, but she won’t be in the SUV with me, nor will she be waiting in the back with me.

I’ll be by myself with nothing but my nerves to keep me company.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to piss off your fiancé.”

That’s the first time I’ve heard that term in reference to Kato, and it sends an excited thrill through me.

My fiancé. I still wish I could legally marry all three of them, but like we’ve always said, a piece of paper doesn’t change our commitment to each other.

“Absolutely not. If he hired you, he trusts you. So…what do you say? I have plenty of dresses you can borrow. We look about the same size.”

“Except I don’t have your boobs,” she teases as I guide her toward the rack full of dresses.

It only takes a few more minutes to get her in an appropriate gown for the event, and for her to touch up her hair and makeup before we’re climbing into the back of the SUV.

Once she’s situated and has her seatbelt pulled into place, she immediately grabs my hand and holds it as though she knows I need the comfort of touch.

I smile at her, hoping it isn’t wobbly, and whisper, “Thank you.”

Within the next two hours, I’ll finally have the chance to confront my father.

Within the next two hours…I’ll finally be able to restart my life and build the future the four of us planned so long ago.

Chapter 26

Brixton

Everest really went all out with her planning. The tables are covered in white linen tablecloths, there are faux candles flickering on nearly every surface, and the room is perfumed with all the fresh flowers.

There’s a quartet currently playing softly with a DJ on standby for after Everest’s appearance, when the party kicks it up a notch.