He nodded. “One of the biggest events of the year inCharleston.”
“Then how likely will it be that your mom is going to be there?” I askedGrayson.
He sat up straighter. “She’s never missed ayear.”
“Okay, then we’ll be there,” I said with a decisivenod.
“What are we going to do there?” Bellamy asked. “I thought you were originally suggesting that we avoidher.”
I sighed. “Well, we determined that’s not exactly a viable option,” I said. “I wish it was, but Knix can’t leave and I’m not leaving him alone here. She’ll probably go after him if she can’t come after me. Plus, my mom’s here. She’s…” I trailed off, a hitch in my breath, “she’s not doing well,” I finally finished, lowering my gaze. “I don’t want to leave and have somethinghappen.”
Someone’s hand fell on my shoulder, squeezing, offering comfort. I closed my eyes and then released a breath, thankful for the support. I reopened my eyes and looked up, meeting the gazes of theothers.
“She embarrassed Knix tonight,” I said. “She tried to buy me off and she threatened me. Our plan is to make it too difficult for her to keep trying to mess with us, and in order to do that, we need to return thefavor.”
Texas grinned and whooped. “Yes, I’m so down with this plan.” He clapped his hands together and rubbed with an evil glint in his eyes. “We’re going to give Mommy Dearest a taste of her ownmedicine.”
“You want to take me shopping for a dress?” I asked with asmile.
Texas leaped out of his seat and flung himself at me. “You’re so making it up to me for earlier, aren’t you?” he asked. “I don’t care,yes!”
I squealed as he lifted me and swung me in a circle before planting a kiss on my lips. Shocked, but not unwelcoming, I twined my arms around his neck and returned the kiss with passion. When he pulled away, I blinked up at him, stunned and a little dizzy. Texas’ smile was contagious, though, and he turned it on the others—none of whom had said anything about the very public kiss—andwinked.
“Don’t worry, Grayson, with our girl on our side, we’ve got youcovered.”
When Texas released me, I stumbled and suddenly Bellamy was there behind me. He caught me with his hands on my arms. I looked up, but he was focused on Knix. I turned my head and realized that Knix was shaking hishead.
“The charity ball is at the end of the month,” he said. “I highly doubt that Vandersen is going to just give us a break untilthen.”
Damn,I thought.He wasright.
“What if we cut off some of her avenues?” Texasasked.
“What do you mean?” Knixreplied.
Putting his hands on his hips, Texas tilted his head to the side—a clear sign that he was thinking through something in his head. “What if… we started fucking with her the same way she fucked with us—but before the charitymasquerade?”
I reached for his arm, feeling the sinewy muscle under his skin. “What do you have inmind?”
Texas fixed Grayson with a hard look. “You know her the best out of all of us. You know what’s most important toher.”
“Her looks. Her money. Her reputation,” Grayson saideasily.
Texas nodded. “We attack thosethen.”
“She’s—” Graysonstarted.
“Been watching us for a while now,” Marv interrupted. “But I’ve got money too. I’m sure if I find her PIs and offer them some extra cash, they’ll be happy to turn onher.”
Knix nodded. “It would be good if we could be sure that she didn't know about this. I don't like to think what she would doif..."
I had a thought in my head. Something I had watched in a movie once, but I wasn't sure if Knix would like the idea. I looked at Texas. He would help me, I knew. Maybe even Grayson and Bellamy and Marv would. Knix was our moral compass though. He would know it wasn't right. While I adored him for that, I didn't necessarily care anymore about being morally right. Theodora Vandersen-Caruso fucked with my family, and I wasn't going to stand forit.