Luke lets out a laugh, shaking his head. “Yup, he would absolutely shit.”
From my glance around the room, everyone is having a similar reaction as they try to imagine the look on David’s face. This could work actually. If everyone, or even a lot of people, see the Vater, the real Vater, standing there alive after David said he was dead, well they might very well just let us right in the front gate. Which would allow us inside without a single death.
Mateo clears his throat, mumbling something under his breath too low for us to hear before raising his voice and filling each of us in on his thoughts. “Yup, I’m in. Two days, that way Chase can meet Andy tonight and let him know we’ll be outside the gates tomorrow evening. Let’s say eight p.m.? Any arguments?”
Mateo looks to Dakota first, then Lord Paul, but it’s Luke that responds. “No arguments. And eight is good. We don’t want it to be so late people are in bed.”
There’s a chorus of agreements around the room, along with a few side conversations, and then I add, “Now all we have to do is get Vater Henry on board, and make sure he doesn’t go rogue once David is dead.”
With those words, I slip out the front door and take a seat on the bench out front. It’s midafternoon, still plenty of time for Chase to get everything in order and then head off to meet Andy. Part of me wants to go with him, the other part of me wants to spend one last night with Luke.
When Luke takes the seat next to me, slipping his hand in mine, the latter part wins out.
***
ANNA
Chase left hours ago to meet Andy, and given the current time he could be back any minute. The rest of us decided to party the night away. One last hoorah before we all potentially die. No, I’m not gonna think like that. We have a solid plan, and after several of us met with the Vater early this afternoon, I feel even better about it. Granted, I don’t trust that man as far as I can throw him, but he did say he would help us, and he said once David was dead or in custody, he would help us take down the rest of the rogue elders. Once that was finished, he would ensure the church got back to its original intent, and the selling of girls or theft of any kind would not be tolerated. He also agreed to help us in the bigger mission to take down Vater Roger, and any other compound engaging in unsavory practices.
Even though there’s a good chance the Vater could screw us over the minute we step foot inside the compound, I have a really good feeling about our plan of attack. Good enough that tonight, I let go of everything that’s happened and everything that may be yet to come. I let go of it all and just enjoy my friends, my family. My parents had even shown up earlier today from Greenville, and now I watch as Easton tries to teach my father some drinking game in the corner while my mother sits nearby laughing.
Around the room, everyone seems to have made a similar choice as me. No one sulks, no one brings up the church, and no one even so much as mentions the attack looming less than twenty-four hours away.
Okay, I realize I’m thinking about it right now, but that’s because I’m waiting on Brea to get back from a bathroom break. It doesn’t count.
“Alright, people! Let’s play spin the bottle!” Brea yells as she steps back in the room.
There’s a chorus of no’s from around the room, and I notice they’re all boys with a significant other. Not sure what spin the bottle is, but it was a hard no for Luke. Got it.
“Fine,” she pouts. “What about…truth or dare?”
There are several noes to her suggestion, but not quite as many as the first, and I know this game, so I’m totally in.
“We’re doing it!” Brea squeals and claps her hands as she motions for anyone playing to gather around.
I don’t have to go far. Brea, Camila, Ash, and I had already been sitting at a table near the bar, so we only have to wait on a few others to join us. Luke slips in next to me whispering that if I’m playing he’s playing. Mateo and Daniel both join us as well, but no one else in the room makes a move to join so Brea starts us off.
“Mateo, truth or dare?” She asks with a sneaky look in his direction before turning back to me and winking. When he answers dare, she claps her hands, bouncing up and down in her seat before putting on a serious-minded face. “Oh, I got it. Mateo, I dare you to take your shirt off, get on the bar, and squawk like a chicken. Hand motions and all please,” she cackles.
Mateo picks up his drink, and throwing it back he removes his shirt before completing his dare. Not only am I laughing the minute he takes off his shirt, I’m in the floor by the time he’s done. He just did that in front of Lord Paul and Dakota, who by the way are not playing our little game. Of course, that didn’t stop them from laughing their asses off.
Once Mateo returns to his seat, he’s ready to claim his turn, but first he points a promissory finger in Brea’s direction and says, “I’ll get you back later. In private.” Brea actually looks concerned as her eyes widen and she scoots closer to Camila. “Alright, my turn. Hmmm. Luke, truth or dare?” With Luke’s response of dare, my heart pounds in my chest, and Mateo looks pleased. “Good. How about…”
Before finishing he stands from his seat,
