Page 29 of The Wicked

I didn’t remember.

I did.

I just couldn’t afford to trigger it.

I pulled down my shirt, covering up as I locked eyes with myself in the mirror. I stood there, staring at my reflection for minutes before allowing a sharp, broad smile to appear on my face. I held it for almost a minute and then abruptly let it fall.

I sighed. “You’ve got this. When all is said and done, you’ll be soaking up the sun on a beach somewhere in Mauritius with your best friends all around you, and they will understand why you did all you did because they’re family,” I said softly to myself. “And family sticks with you, through thick and…” I stopped, dropping my gaze, closing my eyes and drawing in a deep breath, holding for a few seconds before letting it out and opening my eyes. “Fucking hypocrite,” I muttered, turning and leaving the bathroom to find the others.

They were all in the living room. Pizza boxes opened on the table while they strategized.

Milk was sprawled on the floor, reading a magazine about disguise. Dog was also on the floor, checking all the equipment Angelo had provided upon his request. Upper was on his laptop, and Devil was on his phone beside him.

“Wow, who would have thought there would come a day when we’d be all so serious about a mission?” I mused, dropping on the couch, stretching to grab a slice of pizza, and taking a bite from it.

“Wrong, Upper’s on Pornhub,” Dog said without looking up.

“Rot in the burning furnace of hell, Dog,” Upper responded while Devil took a small peek at Upper’s screen before returning his attention to his phone. “I’m checking if my eyes inside Eden are still intact. It’s past one hour, and I’m still not getting live feeds.”

“You think there was a mistake with the wiring?” I asked.

Upper glanced at me. “I never make mistakes.” His concentration went back to the screen.

“Maybe you should take a break. You’ve been glaring at the screen for five hours now,” Devil suggested, his eyes still on his phone.

“I don’t remember asking for your opinion.” Upper didn’t lift his head.

“I don’t remember giving a fuck about you not asking for it,” Devil responded.

“Maybe mind your bloody business.”

“Maybe don’t be a fucking dick.”

Silence.

The pizza was paused halfway to my mouth; Dog’s and Milk’s attention turned slowly towards Upper and Devil, who seemedtoofocused on their task.

Dog looked at me and mouthed,What the fuck?

I don’t know,I mouthed back.

Milk sighed loudly. “I think we all need a break. We’ve been too focused on planning because this is our first job after the last one, which landed us here. We’re on edge.”

“No shit.” Dog stopped his task, stretching his muscles.

“What should we do?” Milk asked.

“Well.” I finished my slice of pizza, grinning and dusting my hands on my naked thighs. “I’m in the mood to cause some trouble.”

Devil scooted away from Upper. “I don’t know if you remember, but we’re sort of… in danger already?” Devil objected.

“We won’t be harmed,” I assured. “We have so much more leverage than you think.”

“What are you talking about?” Devil asked with a frown.

I shrugged. “If Marino wanted us dead, we would be dead. The first mistake he made with us was keeping us alive.”

“That sounds like a fucking blessing to me,” Dog countered.