Julian's Torment (Mafia Heirs 3)

“Someone enjoying a quiet evening with her friend?” I mouth off. “Like a normal person?”

“More like a fucking boring person.” She rolls her eyes. “Ugh, I can already tell we’re going to be late.

It’s going to take me ages to make you look presentable.”

“Why are you so worried about this date, anyway?” I narrow my eyes at her. “You could have any guy at this school.”

“What is this, twenty fucking questions?” she hisses. “Why don’t you just keep that mouth shut and be fucking grateful while we make you look good.”

I don’t dare say another word as she and the other two girls still there get to work.

One does my makeup the way I never would, while the other painfully attacks my hair. The way she brushes it tears at my scalp, but I hold my whimpers back. I’m not going to let these bitches see they’re hurting me. Fuck them.

Adrianna brings over some clothes from her own wardrobe, trying them against me in the mirror. She shakes her head and disappears again while my heart fucking hurts. It’s actually nice, being a part of something girly like this again. I’ve been ostracized so much I nearly forgot how fun a good makeover can be.

I quickly change my mind once the girls finish with my hair and makeup and Adrianna uncuffs me before forcing me into an impossibly tight bandage dress in an obscene neon pink color.

“I hate this,” I tell her.

“Fucking good, since you have no taste,” she bites back, shoving a pair of black stilettos at me. “Put these on, too. I hope you can walk in heels.”

I don’t respond. She really must think I’m some useless fallen girl. But the irony is, before this devastating shame happened to my family, I wasn’t unlike Adrianna myself. I know how to be a mean girl; I’ve been in that role too many times to count.

Painfully, I remember the night I met Julian. I treated him so badly. Perhaps everything that’s happened since then is just life’s way of giving me a giant fuck you for how I acted around him when he was just a servant.

While Julian climbed the ranks, I’ve done nothing but fall down them. And now I’ve hit rock bottom.

“We’re late,” Adrianna snaps the moment I’m done putting my shoes on. “Come on, we have to go quickly, so those boys won’t be pissed at us.” She grabs my wrists and snaps the cuffs back on.

I still don’t know who we’re meeting, but something tells me I won’t be getting those answers out of the mean girl. I let her drag me out of the dorms and onto campus. Quickly, I realize we’re heading for the bar, and I dig my heels into the grass, refusing to move.

“What now?” Adrianna demands, glaring at me over her shoulder. “Getting cold feet or something?”

I take a good look at her. I really don’t understand why she’s so mean – she doesn’t have to be. She’s beautiful enough that her looks would open any door for her. Couple that with a mafia daddy that’s eager to open his wallet for her, and she’s the queen bee around here. Tonight, she looks stunning in a mini black dress that makes my outfit look cheap as hell. My lips tighten as I realize that was probably the whole point of her little makeover. She wanted me to look like a cheap slut compared to her classy outfit.

I flush furiously as I come to that realization, my insides burning up with hatred for Adrianna. She doesn’t seem to notice though, just flicks her sheet-straight blonde locks over her shoulder and grabs me by the handcuffs.

“Don’t make me hurt you,” she hisses. “Or better yet, your little friend. Luciana, is it?”

Her voice is innocent but I can tell that’s only for show. She wouldn’t hesitate hurting Luciana just to get back at me, and I can’t let that happen to my only friend here. Reluctantly, I keep following her to the bar, muttering under my breath as we move along.

“They’re not going to let us drink there. We’re not even twenty-one.”

She just laughs, as if I’ve told a joke.

Finally, we reach the doors of the bar, and a guard opens them for us. Security’s all over this campus. I suppose that’s a necessity when you’re tasked with guarding the children of the corrupted elite.

Adrianna shoves me inside the bar. It’s dimly lit, and the floor is sticky with spilled booze. I make a grimace of disgust as she walks in beside me, striking a pose. Everyone’s fucking looking at us. Adrianna, because she looks as stunning as ever, and me, because I probably look like a whore paid for by the hour next to her.

“There they are,” she says with some relief. The element of surprise in her voice doesn’t escape me.