Page 28 of We The Depraved

“Are you serious?” she clutches at her neck.

“Yes, he loves to come on Thursday nights.”

My grandmother slaps at my arm. “Girl stop spreading gossip and get to those peas.”

The most wicked laugh escapes my lips. The other ladies laugh along with me and we fall into a rhythm with Reese trying to bring up old times here and there. Soon the smell of strawberry short cake is filling the air and the kitchen has gotten so hot, I need to step outside into the chilly Houston air.

Time has flown by and I know I’ll need to head into the club soon. My phone vibrates but I don’t answer it because Reese steps out with a glass of wine for me.

“You hadn’t had any yet,” she offers me the long stemmed glass.

Fuck has she been watching my every move, I think.

A sigh drops from my mouth and I take the wine. The liquid appears deep purple in the glass and I give it a swirl.

“This is like my favorite flavor,” Reese offers.

I tip the glass in her direction and take a sip. Clearly, she’s waiting for me to tell her what I think of the vino.

The wine buzzes on my tongue just a little.

It’s not bourbon but it’s good.

“Not bad,” I tell her.

Visibly, Reese relaxes and leans against the door.

“Why don’t we do this more often, Sage?”

My phone vibrates in my back pocket again but I ignore it.

My cousin has my attention.

“Reese….are you kidding me?”

Her face falls but she recovers. “You never come around, Sage. Nana worries and …”

“You know why I don’t come around. You know why we’re not friends.”

She’s about to say something but one of her kids comes to the door, screaming bloody murder. They’ve been so quiet in the other room watching television, I forgot.

“Sage, I honestly don’t know what I did to make us enemies,” she offers. “I want to fix things with us. Nana…”

I roll my eyes. “Of course, Nana said something. Go take care of your kids. I’ve gotta take this phone call.”

Reese looks between me and her child at the door. She of course chooses her child and I finally I take my phone out of my back pocket. Nikita Safaryan is texting me.

What time will you be at the club?

Fiancé, are you ignoring me?

A chill washes over me like a wave trying to pull me under. Fiancé. I don’t like seeing that word typed out. Somehow, I’ve managed to push thoughts of this man, his ring and his threat out of my mind.

My fingers fly over the phone screen.

We are not engaged,I tell him.I will be there shortly, I’m in the middle of something.

Get here in the next twenty minutes. I’ve called a staff meeting. It’s time for everyone to meet the primary owner.