AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It’s disgusting.
“I have to use the restroom,” I announce loudly to my four bodyguards and none of them make a move.
I attempt to step away from them, but they only follow, silent and expressionless behind dark glasses as if they’re the secret service and I’m the president of the United States.
“I need to change my tampon,” I lie and one at least has the good sense to grimace slightly at the connotation. “Do you really need to follow?”
“We go where you go, Miss Gaines.”
Of course. Who am I to demand privacy while using the restroom?
“Fine,” I grumble under my breath, “but you aren’t coming in with me.”
Somehow, I manage to break myself free from my throngs of man-muscle and slip quietly into the bathroom. Alone.
I let out a sigh of relief, sinking back against the door and closing my eyes.
“Tough crowd?”
I nearly jump out of my skin at the sound of the voice. I hadn’t expected anyone else to be in here. Stupid, I know.
Bailey Carpenter, oldest sister of the Carpenter bunch stands at the sink in front of me, fixing what looks to be black mascara streaks under her eyes. She smiles humorlessly at the grim expression on my face.
“We really are all alike, aren’t we?”
I don’t know what she means by that, but I did hear about her fiancé and the atrocities he committed against her recently. Of course, some of those had to be rumors, but just how deep was the truth buried under that fake smile?
“Come here,” she beckons, pulling concealer out of the small Versace clutch lying on the counter. When I don’t move, she cocks a delicate brow. “You missed a spot.”
Slowly, I approach her and she pushes me back against the counter and raises my chin to the light. She’s taller than I am. Older, by only a couple years. Being in this proximity to her, my sister’s vengeful hate for the three sisters comes back to me. I always thought it was because of Marcus, but maybe it’s something else.
Bailey carries herself in a way that the outside world wouldn’t understand. The constant need to be “on”, lest the world catch you having a normal human emotion. It’s what’s expected of women in our position and something Missy never mastered.
“Sisters can be such bitches, can’t they?” Bailey asks softly, carefully applying concealer to the scratches on my face.
At this proximity, I can see the massive resemblance between her and Mason. The light eyes, the high cheekbones. The sort of parental authority both seem to carry in themselves.
“Mine seems to have lost her mind,” I whisper. I don’t even know why I tell her. Bailey owes me nothing. In fact, our families couldn’t be more at odds than the Hatfields and McCoys now that my sister’s affair has reached the surface.
“Did you tell your mother?” I can tell by the glimmer of displeasure in her eyes, she knows as well as I do, it would do nothing.
“I can’t run off to my mother every time my sister and I get into a fight.”
“Perhaps,” Bailey says, patting the concealer into my face with a towel from the sink. “Though, do you really think she’ll stop here?”
“We have security—”
“Security that will stop her from shoving you down the stairs? Or throwing a toaster in your bubble bath? Perhaps she’ll just poison your food.”
Fuck. My lip wobbles and I’m disgusted with myself. Momhatesit when we cry. You would think raising two daughters, she would be used to it by now, but as a kid, the more tears you shed the worse the punishment was.
“A word of advice,” Bailey murmurs, sealing her concealer back up and sliding it back in her clutch. “You sister’s a loose cannon. And violent. Get out while you still can. Before Parker sinks his claws into you, too.”
“He’s a creep,” I grumble, shuddering at the thought of a very sweaty Marcus Parker thrusting over me.
Bailey shrugs, heading toward the door. “This is LA. They all are.”
“Bailey,” I call and she stops, hand on the door handle. “Are you okay?”
