I pull Juliette toward me, her sweet scent pulling at something deep and tender inside my chest.

"Before you take that pill, will you give me a half hour? Please?" I have to shout because the music's so loud. Vee and the other women have scattered to other corners of the VIP area, leaving Juliette and I alone.

She looks at me with fire in her eyes and for a second, I'm convinced she's going to wrench her hand away and swallow the ecstasy. But then her expression softens, and she nods.

"Let's go outside so we can really talk."

"Here," she says, handing me the pill. I exhale with relief and grab a stray receipt off a nearby table and fold the pill into the paper. I stick it in my pocket, hoping that I'll be able to throw it away soon. Who the fuck knows what's in this? I'd bet it's not even MDMA.

It's a good sign that she grabs my hand and threads her fingers in mine. We make our way downstairs, thread our way through the crowd and the air that's thick with Versace cologne and heavy beats, and out the VIP exit.

"Want to sit on the beach? Or get food? Coffee?" Why am I so nervous?

"Yeah. Beach sounds good."

We walk hand in hand, in silence, down to the water. We're only a couple of blocks from Ocean Drive. There are benches at the back of the beach, closest to the walkway, and nearby, there's a guy strumming guitar and singing in Spanish. Two girls are smoking a joint near a palm tree. This part of the beach is lit up from the neon of the art deco hotels across the street, and it's usually pretty safe.

We sink onto an empty bench. I can tell she's anxious by the way she's chewing on her cheek.

"Angel. I'm sorry. I'm sorry about everything. Sorry for getting you involved in any of this. This is my fault, and I'll understand if you never want to talk to me again. I feel like a shithead."

She squeezes my hand.

"But taking molly isn't the solution."

She shrugs.

"It could get a lot worse if you do."

"Yeah. Sure." She jerks her hand out of mine. "Maybe it'll do me some good. Anyway, what's it to you? It's not like you didn't used to sell it."

I run both hands through my hair, tugging at the ends. The word karma keeps repeating in my brain. "You don't know what's in that pill. You don't know how you'll react. Please don't take it. And you mean everything to me."

Silence.

She rubs her lips together. I'm not above begging, not in this situation. I press my hands together in a prayer gesture. "Please give me a half hour, and then you can do whatever you want. After you hear what I have to say, you can take the pill, tell me to fuck off, whatever. I know you're angry and you have every right to be. Every right to be pissed and disappointed. With me."

"Thank you for acknowledging that."

I take a huge breath. "Zoe's supposed to be on a plane right now bound for Philadelphia. The shipment went through. Engel got his money, Willem got his drugs. I just got a call."

"I'm glad."

"I won't totally believe it until Zoe calls me from Philadelphia. But I'm hopeful."

"What are you going to do when she gets back?"

"That's what I need to talk with you about. That's why I need you sober. Sebastian gets back Sunday night."

She winces when I say his name, and I fight the urge to clench my hand into a fist and let out a string of swear words. No. Stay strong and calm for Juliette.

"I got you into this situation, and I want to get you out of it. I need to get you to safety. So I was thinking, when we know Zoe's landed in the U.S., we'll put you on a plane. Somewhere safe."

"Alone?"

"At least until I can get Zoe to Ash, and until I..." my voice trails off. Should I tell her my plan for revenge on Sebastian?

"Until you what?" I hate that her voice sounds shaky whenever he's mentioned in conversation.

"Until I do what I need to with him." Kill him.

"I see."

"But I want to do what you want. You're driving this bus, Juliette. You're in control here. I'll do whatever you ask."

"If I want you to just leave him alone, will you?"

Why wouldn't she want him dead? I don't understand. But I don't ask. "Of course."

"If I want nothing to do with you because I'm mad, will you respect that?"

A spike of fear jabs my heart. I will die if she leaves me. "Yes."

She nods. "I don't think that's what I want. Because I love you. Still. Always."

I go to touch her beautiful hair, which is flying everywhere in the ocean breeze. But I shouldn't assume she wants me near. "Can I?"

She nods, and I tuck a lock behind her ear. "You need to know something. Many things. But the most important is that I love you. More than anything in the world."

Her posture sags. "Your opinion of me hasn't changed, because I originally said yes to Sebastian's agreement? You're not mad?"

I shake my head. "God, no. Not one bit."

She looks down at her shoes, then kicks them off. "I hate how these make my feet feel."

We both laugh. There's a tinge of sadness, because they're the heels I bought her a year ago.

"You don't think less of me because he saw me almost naked? You don't think I'm dirty or soiled because you're not the only one who's touched me? You're not ashamed of me?" Her voice is clogged with sadness and regret.

Tears are running down my cheeks now and I don't give one fuck. "Jesus, no, Juliette. I don't love you for your purity or innocence. Or even your beauty. I love you because you're smart and you're funny and because you have the biggest heart of anyone I've ever met. You are truly good, no matter what's happened. He can't take that away from you. No one can."

"How do we know Engel will keep his word and give drugs to the Amsterdam people? That they'll keep their word and release Zoe?"

"Greed." I shrug. "Money means more than anything, and now that I've connected the two, they can make even more."

With that, she throws her arms around me and hugs tight. "I love you," she whispers.

"I love you, too. We'll get through this, okay? It's so close to being over. So close. I'm sorry. If I could take all of your pain and trauma and hold it in my heart forever, I would. Just so you wouldn't have to."

We hug for a long time in silence, the sound of the waves and the soft guitar notes washing over us.

"I don't want to take that pill," she murmurs. "I don't know what I was thinking. I guess I wanted to try to forget everything. Or take out my anger on myself."

I shut my eyes and kiss the velvety skin of her neck. Thank God. Her body's melting into mine, and I could stay here all night. "Do you want to go back in the club? Maybe dance a little? What would you like to do now? Food?"

We break apart and she puts her hands on my cheeks. "Go back to your house and watch a movie on your sofa."

I smile and my muscles finally relax. "We might have to stop and get popcorn."

She stands up and holds out her hand.

We decide to watch a movie about penguins, because it's all either of us can handle. All throughout, my mind is turning and twisting.

I could be free tomorrow. Zoe will return, I'll get on a plane and disappear.

So why don't I feel happy?

I snuggle into Griffin's arms — we're on the sofa, watching the movie — and wish we could go back a year.

To a time when we were perfect and giddy in love. But we can't, and I have decisions to make.

"Oh thank Christ. You made it."

The phone call rouses us from the most blissful, deep sleep I've had in forever. It's six in the morning, and from Griffin's laughter, I know it's Zoe. I roll over and watch his face light up.

"Ah hell, you can't get on an earlier plane? Are you okay? You going to be good, waiting there for eight hours? Okay. Okay. I love you, kiddo. Glad this is over. See you."

Griffin turns to me. "She just cleared immigration in Philadelphia. Somehow she talked a woman into letting her use her phone. Now she's going to buy a phone, but her flight to Miami doesn't take off for eight hours."

I pull him toward me and brush a kiss over his lips. "Is she okay?" I've been wondering what the men in Amsterdam have done to Zoe all these months, but haven't wanted to ask. Especially after what I've been through.

"She sounds good. Zoe's a tough cookie."

"Everything's going well for once," I murmur, reaching to stroke his bicep. I'm beginning to like the lean, lithe Griffin. He's like a wild cat.

"For once. I'm not going to be able to sleep now. Going to make some coffee."

He kisses me on the forehead and bounds out of bed. I lie alone for a few minutes, turning my dilemma over and over in my mind. Then I climb out of bed, slip on a pair of Griffin's boxers and one of his T-shirts, and walk out into the kitchen.

"I know what I want to do," I declare.

He looks at me, startled. "What? For what?"

"With Sebastian."

He takes a deep breath and grips the counter. "Okay."

"I'm not leaving."

His jaw drops. "Why?"

"I can't leave Lena behind. She's gone through more than I have. I can't just let this guy get away with what he's done."

Griffin walks over to me. His intense eyes, the way he rubs my arms, his warm skin. All things that still make me feel the happiest tingles. "Angel, I know you want what's best for her. Please let me take care of it? Please? We can buy you a plane ticket now and you can be out of here by sunset. You'll be safe. He won't be able to get you. I promise."

I shake my head. "No. I need to do this. I've never been more sure of anything. I have to help her. And I think I know just the way to do it. We need to call Lena and Vee and ask them over today. I promise you that if both of them think I should leave, I will. But I want to at least talk to them first. Okay?"

"I'm not sure I like this plan."

I'm in my living room and the unwavering, pissed-off eyes of Juliette, Lena and Vee are on me. The power in their collective gaze is a little terrifying, honestly. They've laid out a scenario that sounds solid. The execution? Could be dicey.

"I know you don't like it. But we need to get that computer. That's the only way he'll be held accountable, if we can get that evidence to cops and to the media. I want him arrested. We all do. Because detectives won't believe Lena and I if we go to them without something concrete," Juliette says.

"Angel, are you sure? The two of you have pretty convincing details. Why can't the two of you go to the cops?"

Juliette rolls her eyes. "We need photographic evidence. Our word mean nothing. And if we all leave, he'll just do it again to another girl. Or girls. And we have to stop that."

"I guess you're right. I don't know. Maybe I'm thinking like a man."

"Bingo," Vee chirps.

I shoot her an exasperated smirk. "I think we're risking too much. And I don't know if I can pull strings to get us on a flight immediately after."

"I'll help with that," Vee pipes up. "I think I can hook you up with a guy with a private plane."

"You always know a guy," I mutter, and Vee laughs.

"Do you doubt my connections?" She looks surprisingly sparkly for someone who just got out of jail. Who spent the night rolling. Dressed in a pink romper and a lot of silver jewelry, Vee is the most confident one of all. She's approaching this like she's the captain of a particularly well-dressed army. One with mimosas, which she'd brought over.

I sigh. "I don't. I doubt if we'll be able to pull this off. Are you sure he doesn't have security cameras everywhere?"

"I'm positive. He's told me as much, and I've looked all over for them." Lena says. "Sebastian has two weaknesses: perverted sex and money. Juliette's going to offer him the first, and you're going to offer him the second. That will be enough to get him where we want. He most likely thinks that Juliette is scared that he'll turn her in, or that he'll go to authorities about you."

"Wouldn't it be easier if I had him killed? Or if I shoot him myself?"

Juliette shakes her head vigorously. "No, because then you could be charged with murder. And we want him in prison, not you. And death is too good for him. He needs to suffer. Please, Griffin? Just do what we're asking?" Juliette touches my hand. "Just say yes, go get Zoe at the airport, make the call to Sebastian, and let the three of us take care of the rest?"

I look to Juliette, then to Lena — who seems so fragile, like a baby bird. I'm not sure if I trust her to carry this out.

Then I glance at Vee. She grins, showing both rows of teeth, and the memory of her punching a third-grader in the face comes to mind. He was an elementary school bully who teased me on the playground about how my ears stuck out, and she was so fierce that I knew she'd be my friend forever.

"Griffin, we've done some shit together over the years," Vee says. "Let's make this our final deal."

____