Page 48 of Savage Empire

Chapter Fifteen

Rayna

Ineed panties.

I was so focused on ignoring Apollo’s instruction to order clothes, and putting off the task onto Armani that I forgot the true dilemma involved. I have two pairs of underwear, both of which have been worn. Could I do a load of laundry just to wash two tiny bits of fabric? Sure. But that sounds like not only a waste of water, but like an entirely unsustainable routine.

While it seems like Armani did a great job of picking out an assorted wardrobe for me, casual, comfy, and more classy clothes alike…I have to have more than one bra, and two pairs of underwear to exist like a normal human being. Meaning my plans to spend the day reconnecting with my baking side have officially gone out the window. As it is, it took me two hours to sort through the mountains of clothes that were delivered to me.

And I refuse to order app-to-door delivery for my delicate bits. Not only would I be mortified to have another person—astranger—handling my underwear, Ineedto be able to feel thefabric I’m going to wear on the most sensitive parts of my body before I buy it.

Throwing my hair up into a long ponytail, I place a dark pair of sunglasses over my eyes and sigh at my reflection. I don’t particularly want to be recognized in public if there are any Casa Nostra spies lurking around, let alone in a lingerie store. Sporting a baby pink sweater, and a basic pair of black leggings, I feel incredibly vulnerable going commando.

The size of my sweater does a good enough job of hiding my lack of bra, so before I can second guess myself, I step into the new pair of white trainers Armani picked out and grab my keys.

After locking up, I take the elevator to the garage level and grimace when I see several rows of cars.

“Nice going, Rayna,” I mutter to myself. “You never asked for a description of the car.” The key fob is free from any company logo too. It looks like a custom black rectangle, the only color being silver coming from the standard three buttons.

Like hell if I’m going to call and ask.

Double clicking the lock icon, I almost jump out of my skin when the dark car closest to the elevator honks loudly in response.

“Oh fucking hell,” I breathe out, taking it in.

The sleek black four-door has tinted windows and a fucking Mercedes emblem on the back. It doesn’t look like an extra car Apollo just had on hand, either. It looks brand fucking new.

“They didn’t have any Subarus laying around?” I huff, biting my lip before making my way over to the car. “I have got to stop talking to myself.”

Ignoring the luxurious nature of this “loaner” car, I let myself in and breathe out. Of course it’s as pristine on the inside as it was on the out. Rich leather seats, fresh scent, and clean monitors.

Quickly hooking my phone up to the bluetooth and the GPS, I type in my destination while waiting for the engine to warm up a bit. The closest store that sells women’s underwear that isn’t a superstore looks like a bit of a pricey boutique, but I have Apollo’s credit card and the intense desire to feel clean and soft panties between my legs.

Nothing makes me more uneasy than dirty or rough undergarments. If I spend too much, maybe Apollo will scold me, but at least I’ll have a comfortable vagina.

Once I hit the road, it only takes seven minutes to pull into the small shop’s side-street parking. It only takes two minutes after that to discover this place is exactly as fancy as I feared. The women shopping here are sporting Chanel handbags and Louboutin heels. The place is dripping in designer scent too, probably sprayed daily with pricy perfume.

The nameAmour de la Soieshould have given that away. Everything with a French name is meant to be opulent. At least, anywhere outside of France.

“Can I help you?” a falsely bright voice asks.

The sleek dressed woman appears out of thin air, looking down at me with an expectant glance. Her silky blonde hair is pin straight, with not a single fly away out of place. I’m startled by her lack of welcoming tone, but don’t assume the worst. She could be having a long day, or perhaps she’s just a blunt person.

“I’m just going to shop around,” I answer politely. “I’ve never been here before, so I’m not sure what I’m looking for specifically yet.”

“Sure.” Her lips twist, looking down at my little wallet and phone like she’s disgruntled that I’m not carrying a whole purse.

So weird…

Awkwardly walking past her, I start to scan the shelves and displays, eyes bugging when I notice some of the pricing. Fifty dollar thongs should actually be illegal. They’re not evenfull panties, they’re triangles with strings. There’s no shame in wearing whatever kind of underwear you want, but goddamn, a hundred dollars for two pairs of butt floss is insanity.

Still, there’s some cute things and some silky soft fabrics drawing my attention. I decide that I’ll grab a few things here and look elsewhere another time, unless I really like what I buy. I mean, Apollo said to spend his money. Might as well test him to see if that’s actually the case.

He said he wasn’t fazed by Armani’s haul, after all. And his brother has expensive taste. I guess I’ll find out if he was okay with it because it was Armani doing the shopping or because he truly doesn’t care how much Yordan and I spend.

“Those ones are comfortable,” a soft voice sounds from my side.

My eyes swing from the pink high-cut panties in my hand to a new face. The woman looks about my age, her long black hair styled with perfectly laid knotless braids, little curly pieces wrapping around them. She has dark umber skin, shiny brown eyes, and plump painted lips. She also looks like a million bucks, wearing a navy blue sweater dress that fits her frame like a glove.