The Seven Deadly Sinners

33

"A dinner?" Colby asked. We were far away from the salon now, out of sight from it but not quite to the car yet. I reached over and took his hand in mine.

"Yeah. At Kian and JC's house. It's probably just to like, officiate their new position or something. Everyone important will be there, which includes Axel and Trixie. If all of our biggest threats are in one spot, then I should take advantage of the opportunity. If I can get Axel alone, there's no huge risk that someone with a lot of power will see and come at me for it," I said. I looked over at Colby and saw him clench his jaw, the sharp line of it exaggerated in the shadows projected by the dim yellow streetlights.

"You're not going alone," he said. I knew that was coming. I also knew that it would be stupid to bring someone with me that none of those people had ever met. And the only person that I could think of was Colby. Axel knew who he was and Trixie had met him briefly when we'd gone in to tell them that I was going to be stepping down.

"I know," I said.

"I don't care who you bring, I just won't let you go alone," he replied.

"You don't get to—,"

"Tell you what you are and aren't allowed to do? I know. But I'm going to anyway for this. We both know this is a dangerous thing to be doing and you're still new to all of this. You're not going alone," he repeated.

"Yes, I said I know. You're coming with me," I said. I could feel him relax. "But we're not going as a couple. You're just a friend. Like Axel and Trixie already know you as, okay?"

"Okay," he agreed.

"Seriously as a friend, Colby. If anyone there looks at me in a way you don't like or tries to flirt with me, you either walk away or bite your tongue, got it?" I said.

"Fine," he said shortly.

"And if I do any of those things, you also can't say or do anything about it."

"What! Why the fuck would you do any of those things?" he asked.

"Because I have to play the system, no matter what that entails. You might have to do it, too. People cannot know we're together like that. If something happens, it's better that one of us gets dragged into it than both of us, and you know that's true," I said.

"Yeah, I know," he said quietly.

"You're not used to this kind of thing and I know that. You just have to go in and be chill with everything and treat me like your friend. I know you can do it," I said. He gave my hand a squeeze.

"Yes I can," he replied as we approached my car. "So where's their place at?"

"I don't know. Trixie said she'd get the info to me," I said as we got into the car. We drove back to the house in silence, which was almost painful for me. I couldn't not listen in on Colby's thoughts.

Kian. JC. What douchebag sounding names. If they flirt with her, I swear to god. And if she fucking flirts back? I'll—

I decided to stop listening.

We made our way inside when we got home and gathered everyone in the kitchen to fill them in. Everyone would be somewhere nearby in case we needed their help. I was a little disappointed that none of them had ever heard of Kian or JC, but that meant they were probably newer to the area which gave us a bit of an advantage.

We all watched a movie together later on. Colby didn't sit next to me. I think he was sort of mad about me suggesting that I might have to hit on someone else tomorrow night, but that was his problem. I knew how this business and this specific group of people worked, not him.

I went up to our room before the movie ended, ignoring everyone when they asked where I was going in the middle of it. I plopped down onto our bed and my phone chimed with a text message.

I picked it up to see a message from a number I didn't know. I unlocked my phone and read it. 'Hey, angel. Starts at 7. Address is 2811 Main St. See you there(;.'

I rolled my eyes and dropped my phone down onto the bed next to me and rolled over onto my stomach, burying my face in the comforter.

"Hey," I heard Colby softly say. I looked up to see him quietly shut the door and then lean against it.

"Hi," I said.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah. Tired," I said. I was also a little bit annoyed, but it was extremely difficult for me to stay mad at Colby. "Come here," I said, moving my head to rest on my pillow and holding my arms out toward him. He smiled and laid down next to me, wrapping me in a hug and pulling me against him. I kissed his neck and snuggled into him.

"I love you," I said. I didn't want him to think that I actually wanted to flirt with other guys. Just that I knew I'd have to since Kian was hosting the whole thing and I wasn't going to disrespect him by denying him in his own home in front of our mutual friend group.

"I love you too, baby. Should I call you Saturn in front of everyone?" he asked.

"Yeah. Since Axel, Trixie, JC, and Kian won't be the only ones there," I said.

"Alright," he said.

"I promise it'll be pretty simple. Axel and Trixie will probably just kind of tell Kian and JC how things work and fill them in on current situations. It's a formality for all of the higher ups to be on the same page and connect with each other a little bit," I explained.

"Okay," Colby sighed. He shifted around a little bit.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, there's just...," he trailed off. He reached behind his back and pulled my phone out from under him. "Ah. That would be it."

"Oops. Sorry," I said. I reached out for it. It was still on since I hadn't turned off the screen, and Kian's text was open. I knew Colby wouldn't like to see that. Luckily, he handed it over to me without reading anything. "I'm beat. I'm going to go to sleep," I said.

"Okay, princess. I'm going to go eat something and then I'll be back up," he replied.

"Mmk," I said. He kissed my forehead before getting up and leaving the room. I changed into one of his t-shirts and a pair of shorts, then climbed into bed again.

I was almost asleep when I felt him get in next to me and pull me up against him. I fell asleep in his arms, feeling his warm body pressed against mine.