CHAPTER 207 Something Borrowed
*Joy*
The room Liam lent us in the sprawling Cohen Mansion was a relic of grandeur, steeped in the faded elegance of his grandfather’s era. The cavernous space enveloped us, its centerpiece a king-sized bed draped in silken linens that shimmered under the chandelier’s soft glow. A bathroom, indulgent with a claw-footed jacuzzi, beckoned from the corner, whispering promises of luxury. The air carried the faint scent of aged wood and lavender, a nostalgic nod to the mansion’s storied past. My dressing room before the stage—I was preparing for a performance where every detail could mean the difference between triumph and catastrophe.
An hour remained before the wedding, and Kiki and I had already savored a light lunch of cucumber sandwiches and sparkling water, the kind of meal that fueled focus rather than weighed you down. We showered quickly, the steam still lingering faintly in the air as we sat before an ornate vanity, its mirror reflecting our faces as the stylists worked their magic. My hair was swept into an intricate updo, each strand meticulously placed to conceal the tools of my trade. Kiki’s nimble fingers adjusted her own curls, her eyes flicking to mine in the mirror, a silent check-in. We were a team, bound by trust and a shared mission, our movements synchronized like dancers in a deadly ballet.
In the bathroom earlier, I swapped out the audio device hidden in my ear for a fresh one, its battery fully charged to capture every whisper, every footfall. As a precaution, I had embedded a backup in my earrings—delicate, heirloom pearls that doubled as discreet microphones. If someone tampered with one device or it was lost in the chaos, the other would keep me connected to Dina. For location tracking, I’d woven ultra-thin GPS strips into the delicate lace of my wedding gown and the sleek, emerald-green dress I’d slip into for the reception. Every layer of my ensemble was a calculated choice, a blend of beauty and strategy. My weapons, though, would come later. I couldn’t risk Liam feeling the cold press of steel during an embrace. For now, he was an ally, not a threat, his easy smile and warm eyes disarming and unsuspecting.
Dina’s voice crackled through my earpiece, her updates a steady pulse of intel from beyond the mansion’s walls. “Beaufort's on-site,” she reported, her tone clipped and professional. “Lou and Primo's team are in position, eyes on Pete’s last known location. They’ve tapped into traffic cams and a couple of private security feeds in the area. We’ve got coverage.” Her words were a lifeline, grounding me as I adjusted the final folds of my gown. No word on De Luca, though. The last report wasn’t promising—too much blood loss, bullet pierced his lung. My chest tightened at the thought, but I pushed it aside. Sebastian had left his side to attend the wedding, a necessary move to deflect suspicion. We were all playing parts today, and the stage was set for a performance no one would forget.
Lisa burst through the door, a whirlwind of flushed cheeks and breathless apologies, her carry-on rattling behind her. “I’m sorry I’m late!” she rasped, her voice tinged with the kind of panic that comes from a near-miss with disaster.
“Haven’t you heard?” I said, my tone light to ease her nerves. “The wedding’s been pushed to three.” I gestured to the clock, its ornate hands ticking toward the new hour. Kiki stepped forward, taking Lisa’s bag with a reassuring smile.
Lisa let out a laugh, relief flooding her features. “And here I thought I ruined everything.” She grabbed my shoulders, her gaze sweeping over me. “Virtue, you look… radiant. Like a queen.” Her grin was infectious, but then she wrinkled her nose, sniffing her armpit with a grimace. “I, on the other hand, need a shower. Give me ten minutes.” She hauled her carry-on toward the bathroom, the door clicking shut behind her.
While Lisa scrubbed away the journey’s chaos, Kiki dove into her own preparations, her brushes and powders transforming her into a vision of understated elegance. I turned to the mirror, slipping on my accessories with practiced care. My great-great-grandmother’s pearl earrings—genuine Taylor heirlooms, the last remnants of a family legacy my father had fought to preserve—glinted softly, their weight a quiet reminder of duty. My new shoes, sleek ivory heels with a subtle shimmer, clicked softly against the hardwood floor. The sapphire ring on my finger, a gift from Cristos, caught the light, its deep blue a promise of loyalty. But the final touch required something borrowed, and I was still deliberating when Lisa emerged, radiant in a pale yellow gown that made her skin glow like warm honey. A towel was wrapped around her head, a comical contrast to her elegance.
She sat beside Kiki, who was finishing her makeup, and began reciting the old rhyme. “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” Her voice was playful, but her eyes held a glint of purpose. “Your earrings are old, your shoes are new, and that sapphire’s your blue. What’s left?”
“Something borrowed,” I said, adjusting the ring on my finger. Lisa’s hand shot out, offering a delicate necklace—a heart-shaped pendant encrusted with diamonds, no larger than a dime but heavy with intent.
“Wear this,” she insisted, her tone leaving no room for argument. “Don’t take it off until you’re on your honeymoon.”
I hesitated, my brow furrowing. “Lisa, I can’t take this for a week. It’s too much.” I turned to Kiki, hoping for an out. “How about your bracelet instead?”
“No!” Lisa’s voice cracked like a whip, startling us both. Kiki’s eyes widened, and I froze, my hand hovering over the necklace. Lisa’s face softened, a nervous giggle escaping her. “I mean… Virtue, it would mean so much if you wore it. Please.” Before I could protest, she stepped behind me, fastening the clasp around my neck. The pendant settled against my skin, cool and unyielding. “This will keep you safe,” she said, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Especially when you visit New Salem High before you and Liam head to the airport.”
My lips curved into a knowing smile. *New Salem High*. Lisa was a Brent, after all. The necklace was more than a gesture—it was a lifeline, likely embedded with a tracker to ensure my safety during Pete’s planned ambush at the spring dance. She knew. Of course she did. But what she didn’t know was that we were already two steps ahead.
Tonight, Pete’s carefully laid plans would unravel. His audience, expecting a spectacle of his making, would instead witness ours. The necklace, the earrings, the tracking strips—they were all pieces of a larger puzzle, a web of contingencies woven to outmaneuver our enemies. As I smoothed the folds of my gown, I felt the weight of the bladed hair accessory tucked into my bun, its sharp edge a quiet promise of protection. Joy and Virtue were one, a duality of grace and steel, ready to dance through the danger and emerge unscathed.
The mansion hummed with anticipation, the distant murmur of guests filtering through the walls. I caught Kiki’s eye in the mirror, her nod a silent vow: we were ready. Lisa’s necklace gleamed against my collarbone, a beacon in the storm to come. Let Pete think he held the upper hand. Tonight, we’d rewrite the script, and the finale would be ours.
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