Would I let Vincent down? The Milestone is his life as well as mine. Vincent gave me this opportunity on a silver platter. He and I have a good thing going, and more is yet to come.

Bringing fresh water onto the reservation is next on our agenda, and hiring veterans to do the work will be a great thing.

I continue to spin my gun, dark thoughts pushing through. I wonder … Why wait? Others can take my spot with Vincent. I’m not afraid of death. In fact, it would be better there. Valhalla. No more nightmares. No more waiting for the last shoe to drop. I almost killed a woman tonight. She could have died. I’m a loaded gun.

My hands shake as I lift my phone. I type and delete. Put it down. Spin the gun. Pick the phone back up again.

Finally, I type, Yeah. I’ll be there.

Send.

1

Lauren

Las Vegas is completely phony but fun if you buy into its game.

When Sanam said she was getting married to the super-wealthy Reza Nader, everyone begged for a bachelorette party in Vegas. It seemed like it would be a fun idea at the time, but now, I’m seriously regretting saying yes. They’re all in amazing places in their lives while I’m stuck in the same spot I’ve been for the last ten years—a legal secretary at Crier, one of the most prestigious law firms in LA and completely single. I’ve had boyfriends, of course. But none to love. I’m thirty-two years old, and I want to settle down with a smart, intelligent, kind, and handsome man who loves me. Where the hell is he? I’ve dated men who checked every box in my credential list. And yet all of them have turned out to be utter assholes.

The heavy rap music bounces against high concrete walls, painted to look like marble, and bursting against my eardrums. Bodies, costumed and practically nude, gyrate on the dance floor. A life-sized metal birdcage dangles from the ceiling by our table. A woman dances inside, if you can call spreading your legs and grinding against the bars dancing. It’s Cirque du Strip. I don’t want to stare, but it’s hard not to. I mean, how the hell does she contort herself in these positions? The theme of the party tonight is Turn a Trick, Get a Treat, and my entire group, along with the rest of the club, is dressed accordingly.

I turn toward my friends, simultaneously cringing at their antics and wanting to make sure they’ve had enough water. They’re all rolling on Molly, and their happiness has reached cloud-nine status. Apparently, Roxy and Allie got it from Sandy, who swears up and down it’s as pure MDMA as you can get. The alleged result? The euphoria of ecstasy without any down. I know because I did all the research beforehand. Everyone’s been texting for weeks about the party favors tonight, and of course, I immediately looked up all the details. I’m not planning to partake, but I’m also not one who appreciates a surprise. If everyone around me is going to be on drugs, I need to know what to expect.