5

He looks at it doubtfully—the loveseat isn’t even long enough for me to stretch out on, and I’m only five-four. Somehow, Tommy got all the height in our family, and all the charisma. I ended up with all the manners, which I make up for with my potty mouth.

I close my eyes. He doesn’t even need to ask. “Fine,” I say. “Take the bed, I’ll take the couch.”

“Thank you, sis,” he says, finishing off my general’s chicken. “You’re the best.”

I go into my bedroom to stow my vibrator in a drawer so he doesn’t have to see that, then I quickly change the bedsheets. I snag the better blanket for myself, because if I’m going to be on the couch, I at least won’t be cold.

When I come out of the bedroom, Tommy has already moved on to my carton of chow mein.

Yeah, he’s a butthole in so many ways, but he’s the only family I have left.

And at least he isn’t asking for money.

Probably because he knows I don’t have any.

Sebastian

On Thursday, Kingston’s nowhere in sight when I arrive at Vice. Usually he’s standing outside, looking impatient. I’m going to be pissed if he makes me wait long for him. He knows I hate coming to places like this without him. He’s the only person who knows this about me, though, and he wouldn’t make me suffer on purpose. So he must be inside.

Sure enough, as I make my way through the entry and past the coat check, I spy him sitting at one of the low tables off to the side of the dance floor. The prick thinks he’s too good to sit at the bar with everyone else. Then again, there’s a crowd of younger people all mashed up along the side of the bar, and King probably got annoyed with the scene.

Maybe we’re too old for this place. But it’s the best club in San Esteban.

I’m moving toward King’s table when a man stops in front of me. He has to tilt his head back to look carefully at my face, and I see the moment that recognition really hits home.

“You’re him, aren’t you?” he asks.

“Depends on who ‘him’ is,” I say.

The guy gives a little laugh and nudges the woman with him. “Brianna, you know the song ‘Princess’?”

Her mouth falls open in surprise. “No way! They were just playing that an hour ago. I’m a huge fan. Will you sign something for me? Is it rude to ask for your autograph? I don’t want to be rude, but wow, it would really make my night.”

I look over to where Kingston sits. One of his eyebrows his raised sardonically. I say, “Uh, I’m on my way to meet my friend—”

But she’s pulling a half-wrinkled sticky note from her handbag and digging for a pen. I’d be a dick to say no, so I wait while she finds the pen, and then I autograph the paper. Not that my autograph is that sought after anymore—I haven’t released a song in years. I’m only seeing some renewed interest in my music because we’re now in the age of remixes. Apparently my lyrics are filthy enough that they’re timeless.

The guy shakes my hand and the girl thanks me and wanders off, staring at her prized sticky note.

Sighing, I make my way over to Kingston, feeling old as fuck.

“Hey,” he says with a laugh when I get close, “you’re the one who wanted to come here.”

“Yeah, well, I’m experiencing regrets.”

“We could leave,” he says, moving to stand up.

“Nope, sit your ass down, old man. We’re going to find someone to play with.”

He shakes his head. “Not me. Not tonight.”

“No?” I want to ask him why not, but a server has just glided up to the table.

“What can I get for you?” she asks with a flirtatious wink.

I wink back. “An iced tea would be great, thanks.”

“You got it.”

If she’s disappointed that I’m not ordering pricey champagne or some top-shelf liquor, she doesn’t show it, and I’ll tip her the same either way.

She walks away to retrieve my order, and I turn back to Kingston once more.

“Tell me what’s going on,” I say.

He shrugs. “I don’t know. Nothing, really. I’m just not in the mood.”

Fair enough, but it’s so unlike King, so out of the blue. Usually he’s the one pointing out potential women for us. He’s great at finding them. Even if they look posh and grown-up, he can find the women who, deep down, want to be treated like naughty little girls. Those are our favorites. They want spankings, they want to be punished and rewarded. They want all the twisted things we love doling out.

“You’re going to the gala without a date, then?” I ask, because I know he isn’t seeing anyone seriously enough to ask them.

“Probably. Are you bringing anyone?” He takes a sip of his whiskey.

“I don’t know, maybe.” I accept my iced tea from the server and wait until she has moved on before saying, “I’m bored, King.”

“Yeah, me, too.”

We sit back in the comfortable booth. The DJ plays another of my tracks, mixing it with something pulsing and magnetic.

Look at me, say my name

Give me your all

Your submission, my bliss

Lift up your skirt, princess

Give Daddy a kiss.

King nods to the beat. “That’s not a bad arrangement.”

“I guess not,” I say, watching the dancers. Off to one shadowy area of the dance floor, two men dance on either side of a brown-haired woman. The way they’re moving makes me immediately suspicious.

“Hey, check them out,” I say. “Your ten o’clock.”

He scans the dancers until his gaze lands on the threesome. He grins. “You think they’re up to something? Because I do.”

I nod. That’s fucking hot—the two men are directing the woman exactly the way King and I like to do with our playmates.

King smiles. “Glad someone’s having fun.”