Page 3

“Fine, girlfriend.It’s showtime.Jewels is getting the safety talk from Sloane.”

Chuckling, I picked up my purse and slipped my arm through Jude’s.

I found Jewels sitting on one of the stools around the kitchen island.Sloane had a cell phone in her hand, but the sparkly red case told me it was Jewels’ and not her own.

I groaned.

“What?”Jude asked.

“Right, hand over your cell phones,” Sloane said.Giving Jewels’ back to her, she motioned us to hand over the goods.

“You checked it earlier,” I said.“Like two hours ago.What could possibly go wrong?”

She gave me the look.

Jude chuckled.

We both handed over our cells.

“All working,” she said.“You all know how to use the app?”Her eyes skimmed over each of us.

“Yes, Mummy,” Jude said.“Did you also install the Play Safe app?”

“Me?”Sloane asked like this request baffled her.“I’m not going to need—Fine.”She sighed heavily and grabbed the cell out of an enormous bag.

“Looks like you packed to spend the night,” Jude said, wiggling his eyebrows.

Jewels snickered.

Sloane shot him a glare and went back to tapping on her cell.A few minutes later, she held it out to us so that we could check it like she’d checked ours.

As part of the visa application, they recommended you download the app.You could then ask any alpha you met for his ID and check it in the app.As long as they didn’t have a criminal record, it would come up with a green tick.

I understood why it was recommended.They wouldn’t let us enter the zone at all if there were any real danger, but the app provided a safety net.

“It’s not so different from here,” I said to Sloane.“There’s a strip with bars, restaurants, and clubs.”Mostly bars and clubs, but I was certain people ate there too.

“Inked,” Jewels said.“The best club in Desparion.Dancing and cocktails, and I’ll be happy.”

“Speak for yourself,” Jude said.“I’m going to make a fine alpha sandwich.”

Even Sloane cracked a smile at that.

Time to party.

* * *

Ryder

“Nice collection of victims—I mean, opportunities,” I said as I joined Jace at the gate.

He glared at me, the grumpy bastard, before going back to his clinical inspection of the bug-eyed betas trailing past.The gates had been thrown wide.It was officially open season in Desparion as cute little beta prey, all primped to entice alphas to pounce, hustled down the strip.

Jace didn’t indulge in the groupies often.He had his share of hang-ups, but then again, didn’t we all?

A few eyeballed me openly…and one almost face planted when I offered her my smile.So much fucking fun.

Some were serial offenders, turning up every week on the dot for their fix of alpha cock.The rest were taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip into the wild side.They would store the memory away and never return again.