Page 169 of I’m The Worst

I fucking hate this.

David’s estate sprawls across twenty acres outside the city—massive stone house, perfectly manicured lawns, endless fucking trees.

I park in the gravel driveway and kill the engine. The suit jacket feels too tight around my shoulders, the tie strangling me.

Inside, the mansion is packed with high-ranking Sovereign. Sluts in expensive dresses, men in tailored suits. Champagne flows. Conversations are loud, the laughter fake. I grab the first bottle of whiskey I see and head straight for the balcony, needing air.

I lean against the railing, staring out into the darkness. The music bleeds through the glass doors behind me, laughter rising and falling in waves.

I knock back the rest of the whiskey and try not to think about AJ. About the fact that she’s somewhere in this fucking house. The burn down my throat isn’t nearly enough to drown her out.

The balcony door swings open. Graves steps out with a cigarette burning between his teeth, dragging Devin behind him. Her tits are falling out of a tight dark green dress, the hem barely covering her ass.

She spots me and smiles, pressing herself tighter against Graves, sliding a hand up his chest.

“You know, boys…” Devin runs her tongue over her bottom lip. “We could have some fun together. I’d look really good between the two of you.”

Graves slaps her ass hard. “She loves being a messy little cumdump.”

I toss the empty whiskey bottle over the railing. It shatters somewhere in the grass below. “Pass.”

Graves rolls his eyes. “Jesus, you’re boring tonight.”

Devin reaches over to a passing waiter’s tray and grabs two glasses of champagne, handing one to me.

“To the new General,” she purrs.

Graves clinks his glass against mine with a shit-eating grin. I drain mine in one swallow.

My head jerks toward a sharp whistle that cuts through the open window behind us.

“Game time,” Graves laughs. “I laced that stuck-up motherfucker Harlan’s drink. Gotta be there when it kicks in and he starts begging to get gang-banged in front of the whole fucking room.”

Devin slides closer to me as Graves disappears back inside.

Too fucking close.

Ihate this dress.

The red silk clings to my skin all wrong. David picked it out. Along with the heels, the jewelry, the fucking smile I’m supposed to wear all night. The thought makes me want to set the whole fucking outfit on fire.

I hover near the bar, champagne glass in hand. Every time someone talks to me, I feel like screaming. But I just smile until my face hurts, nodding and pretending to give a shit about who’s getting promoted or what new merger is being announced.

Every time I think I’ve escaped, another Sovereign appears. And the entire time, I feel Gage’s eyes finding me across the ballroom. Making sure I haven’t embarrassed myself yet. David isn’t much better.

He’s currently speaking with a group of Commanders near the center of the room, but every time I glance over, I catch him looking my way too.

By the time I finish my second glass of champagne, I feel like I’m suffocating.

I need air.

Slipping away from the crowd, I make my way toward one of the balconies overlooking the estate grounds. Relief immediately loosens something in my chest the second I push through the doors.

Then I hear Devin’s voice.

She stands near the railing in a dark green silk dress, next to a man. Her blonde hair falls in perfect waves down her back, every inch of her stunning. She lives for these events, the attention, the spotlights. If she’s not on stage performing as a Siren, she’s working every room in her favor.

Her eyes light up when she spots me.