It wasn’t fair. Katia knew Sonia’s deepest secrets and she wasn’t afraid to use them.
“I can’t wear that,” Sonia protested, even as she moved closer just to touch. Katia unpacked twin gold armbands, a fabulous pair of gold high-heeled sandals, a black wig and a golden headdress, setting them all in a line on the coffee table. It was a fantastic costume and obviously expensive. There was a gilded leather domino mask, too.
Sonia swallowed. “It’s a superhero theme at the club’s party tonight.”
“Which is why I’ll need your costume, whatever it is.” Katia held out the dress, knowing that she was tempting Sonia. “And you can wear this to Tobias’ party. His theme is Kings and Queens of History. Think of how awesome it will look on you. It looks good on me, but I’m just thin. You’re all toned and fit and healthy.” She made a face.
“No.” Sonia chose to be responsible, just the way she always did. “I have to go to the club. Meesha might need help with prizes...”
“Oh well,” Katia sighed in a way that warned Sonia. “Nick will be disappointed.”
Sonia’s heart stopped. “Nick? What’s Nick got to do with it?” Nick had been the fourth of their high school gang, the one with the conscience, the big guy with the serious gaze who’d always called Tobias’ bluff.
The one who’d gotten away.
“He’s coming to the party,” Katia said, as if she didn’t know how much that mattered. “Look. I even got kohl. The clerk said this was the best kind.”
“But Nick lives in Minneapolis still and he’s married...”
“Divorced and took a job in Jersey.” Katia smiled. “He’s been hanging out with Tobias and we’ve been getting along really, really well.”
“How well?” Sonia asked with suspicion.
Katia smiled. “I pretty much told him that tonight I’d be his.”
Sonia sat down hard. “You can’t. You didn’t.”
“Why not? He’s cute and you didn’t want him.”
Sonia bit back her protest. It was maybe better if Katia didn’t know the whole truth—although Sonia wasn’t convinced that was the case. It was hard to tell with Katia. “You wouldn’t,” she said instead.
“But I will.” Katia held up the black sheath and wiggled it. “Unless you’d rather take my place. You know, I think he’s a lot hotter than he used to be. Kind of bulked up. Man not boy.”
Nick was here. That was more than enough.
And if Sonia didn’t follow Katia’s plan, Katia would seduce him.
Just knowing that would destroy her completely. It was one thing for him to marry Jessica who looked nothing like her, but to know he’d been with Katia...
Sonia felt a familiar wave of futility. She was always cornered by her sister’s schemes, even knowing that they didn’t work out in her favor very often.
But Nick...
“You really are the evil twin, you know,” she said to Katia.
Her sister smiled, untroubled, obviously hearing capitulation in Sonia’s tone. “No, I’m not. I warmed him up for you. I did what you wanted to do, because I knew you wouldn’t do it. Now you can just slide in and claim the prize.” She hung up the dress. “You can thank me in the morning.”
“Maybe I won’t.”
Katia’s smile was wicked. “Oh, I think you will.” Sonia didn’t want to know how her sister had come to that conclusion. “So what’s your costume? Are you going as my alter ego? Because that would make it really easy.”
“No. She’s not a superhero, even though she’s fictional.”
“You’re just saying that to hurt me. Who then?”
“She-Ra.”
Katia laughed. “She-Ra? Like we’re five and watching cartoons again? She’s...”
“Got a twin who hogs the spotlight,” Sonia said, interrupting Katia so crisply that her sister shut up. “And she never gets the guy. I feel a certain kinship with her.”
Katia eyed her. “What if your evil twin is helping you out this time?”
“It’s a long shot.”
“I don’t think the chances of success are as remote as you believe.” Katia wiggled the gold domino.
Sonia shook her head, sighed, and took it. “Okay, deal. But don’t leave a mess. Don’t smoke in here. And be gone by the morning.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Katia agreed, so unable to hide her delight that Sonia knew she should worry. Her sister bent closer to examine Sonia’s new tattoo. “I really wish you hadn’t done this, though. It complicates things.”
“Good,” Sonia said with heat. “We can find out how much you like complications from your twin.” Although she had a feeling that Katia would handle it better than she would.
Nick.
Tonight.
Seven
On her way out of the club at the end of the day, Jacquie stopped at the shop and thanked Germaine for helping Pierce choose her gift.
“Did I do right by you?” he asked, showing the concern for customer satisfaction that made him an ideal retail store manager. “I wasn’t sure about the red, but he insisted. You can change them.”
“No, they’re perfect. I wouldn’t have bought the red myself but I love it. I do need some leather conditioner, though.”
Germaine smiled and put a bottle on the counter. “Treat those babies right.”
“I will.”
“And hang on to that man,” he advised as she was leaving.
Jacquie smiled and waved, then left the club.
She needed an ally to ensure that her evening wasn’t interrupted and she knew the only one who would do. She called Brandon as soon as she was on the street. He wouldn’t have headed to work yet, but he’d also be awake. She was walking down the street to the subway station, juggling the box with her beautiful new gloves, negotiating the crowds. Everyone seemed to be in a hurry and she knew the subway would be crowded.
Brandon answered on the first ring. “Hey, Mom. How goes the plan?”
“Which plan?”
“The one to create yourself a wild new life, now that you’re liberated from responsibility and safe from listening ears.”
Jacquie smiled. “It’s right on track, which is why I need your help.”
“I’m thousands of miles away, remember.”
“You can do this from there.”
“Name it.”
“Keep anyone from calling
