The most important thing for me and my girl Freya was survival, and there was only one way we saw fit to achieve that-capping up men, very successful men
Before me stood a guy in a hoodie, his face hidden in the shadows. Pointing a gun at me, he sneered, "You know what, bitch? You fucked with the wrong one. I'm gonna kill you in front of your little boyfriend, and then I'm gonna kill him."
He cocked the gun and fired-right at my face.
I jolted awake, gasping for air. My heart was pounding. Shaking off the nightmare, I grabbed my phone and called freya. She had been like a sister to me from the moment we met.
"Hi, Celes. This better be important," Freya said as she picked up.
"Freya, I had that dream again," I said.
"I told you to stop falling asleep watching The First 48," she said.
"Shit, maybe you're right," I admitted.
"I know I'm right. And besides, death in a dream means a new beginning. Speaking of which, tonight's New Year's Eve party is gonna be so fucking lit-and it's your birthday, bitch!" Freya said.
"To be honest, I'm not even in the mood. I just want to sit on the couch, sip champagne with the love of my life, and watch the ball drop," I said.
Freya paused for a second, then said, "Okay, for one, you're on the phone with the only motherfucker that's got real love for your ass. And two, the only couch we're gonna be on is in VIP. And three, fairy-tale endings don't happen for girls like us."
She took a breath, then added, "So I'm gonna need you to get up, go to the closet, pop the tags on one of those badass dresses, and get snatched, bitch. It's hunting season."
That's Freya-always finding a way to cheer me up and always looking out for me.
At the club, Freya made sure we were in VIP. With the music pumping and the electric atmosphere, I had to admit-I was loving it here. Across from our table, two guys were drinking with some girls. Freya tapped me and pointed at one of them.
"Ooh, he's cute as fuck," I said.
"That number on his chain is even cuter," Freya added.
"What do you think-football or basketball?" I asked.
"Shit, I don't even know, but either way, it works," she said. "Come on, shoot your shot, sis."
"Nah, not with all those bottles in his face," I replied. "I'll wait till he goes to the bathroom or something."
"Can I get you ladies anything else?" the waitress asked with a smile.
Freya smirked and tapped her, pulling her close for a whisper. The waitress leaned in, listening as Freya subtly pointed at the guys' table. A moment later, she pulled out some cash and tipped the waitress with a knowing grin.
"What did you just do, bitch?" I asked, raising a brow.
Freya grinned. "Sent them a bottle of Ace-so we'll be the only girls they see for the rest of the night."
"Come again? A bottle of Ace? Bitch, that's a thousand-dollar bottle," I said in disbelief.
"No, that's a thousand-dollar investment," she corrected. "I guarantee we'll see a return on it."
Freya had put me up on game. She taught me everything-from how to scout the players to how to score.
The waitress delivered the bottle to their table, then gestured toward us. They turned back with a smile.
"Whoo-la," Freya smirked. "Let the game begin."
A few moments later, one of the guys strolled over, stacks of cash in hand.
"Hey, who do we owe for this gift?" he asked smoothly.
Freya waved him off. "Put your money away-don't insult us like that."
"That so?" he said with a smirk. "What's your name?"
"Freya," she said.
"Freya, I'm Kalif." He nodded, then gestured to his friend. "And this is my brother, James."
"James Allen," the second guy said, locking eyes with me in a way that sent a chill down my spine. "And you are?"
"I'm Celes," I replied, reaching out as he extended his hand.
"The pleasure is all mine," he added, his grip firm and warm.
Just like Freya predicted, we were the only girls they had their eyes on all night. I was with James; Freya had Kalif. More bottles came, and, damn-these guys were loaded. They didn't hold back, throwing money on us as we gave them a night to remember.
By the time the drinks were gone, we ended up in the VIP room, where we made sure they got a long-lasting experience they wouldn't forget.
Chapter 1 The Game Begins
05/03/2025