Page 33 of Rattle the Cage

“Holy shit.” She clasped a hand over her mouth, blinking down at her phone and then at me.

And I couldn’t help the shit-eating grin that crossed over my lips at her shock. “Happy now?”

What I’d sent her wasn’t even a drop in the bucket compared to what Cyrus had deposited into my account — I wasn’t comfortable dipping into the full amount until I cleared up why the fuck Cyrus had sent it to me.

But I’d guess it was more money that Lola’s bank account had seen in a long time. Enough to pay a month of rent and utilities with some leftover.

She shook her head at me through the mirror. “Tess, it’s too much.”

“Consider it interest. I owe you for saving my ass when I needed somewhere to crash.”

“That was a favor, bitch. I didn’t do it so you would pay me off.”

“I know. But it makes me feel good to pay my way.” I could see her in the mirror gearing up for another refusal. So before she could say no, I turned in the chair, looking her in the eye. “If nothing else, take it for Chrissy. Buy her some new toys on Auntie Tess.”

She frowned at me for a moment before popping onto the counter beside my makeup. Her legs swung back and forth under the counter as she studied my face. “Where did you get the money? You boning some trust-fund fucker, or….?”

“God, no.” I laughed, trying to imagine any of the Freaks living the white-collar life. “I got it from my friends. Clients, really. That’s where I’ve been the past week or so. Speaking of which…”

“What now?” She frowned, passing me my eyeliner just as I finished up my eyeshadow.

“I’m going to be out of the apartment for the next month.”

“Month?!” she shouted, drawing the attention of several other dancers in the green room.

“Volume.” I nudged her before fixing up the wing of my eyeliner.

“A whole month?!” she hissed, “What type of job takes a month?”

I bit my lip as I glued on my false lashes. It was probably safest for Lola to know as little about Feverpoint’s sordid secrets as possible. Would she be able to look at me the same if she knew about all of the Freaks’ demented pastimes?

“One that pays well.” I shrugged, reaching for the tube of mascara. But before I could wrap my fingers around it, she ripped it out of my grasp. “What the hell?”

“Don’t play fucking coy with me, Tess.”

“I’m not⁠—”

“I’m worried about you!” Her voice wavered, but her expression remained stern. “I can’t have you in and out, ghosting me all the time. It’s not fair. Especially for Chrissy.”

The mention of her daughter cut through my defensiveness like an icy dagger. “You’re right. I’m sorry, Lola.”

Letting out a deep sigh, she handed the mascara to me before resting her back against the vanity mirror. “If you’re so sorry, then start talking. Who are these people?”

“Old friends from childhood.”

“It’s multiple people? How many?”

“Three.”

“People I know?”

I shook my head. “I hadn’t talked to them for a decade before this.”

“And what are they paying you for?”

I swallowed hard, trying to figure out an honest answer that wouldn’t create unnecessary risk. “We play a game…”

Lola’s tone was sarcastic through the confusion wrinkling her brow. “What, like hide-and-seek?”