Chapter eleven
Double down
Flying high
Erica was stepping out of the toilet cubical to be wearing the tight fitting mini black dress, she could see that Elizabeth was putting make up on wearing a white dress that wasn't as tight as the dress she chose, but it still showed off the curves of the younger girl. "You sure you don't want to wear a wig?" She picked up the wig she chose to wear to hide her long dark hair.
Placing a lipstick down Elizabeth ran her fingers through her long red hair; it seemed to get brighter every time. "I am not really great with wigs." Her eyes shifted in the mirror to look over Erica putting her hair in a wig cap before pulling the wig on. "But you look very sexy in those heels."
Erica glanced down to her feet, "Well I hardly get the chance to look feminine." She then picked up some of the make up on the sink, "you don't mind?"
"No," Elizabeth finished off her face stepping back to give herself a once over to make sure she looked good. "I am pretty sure I look like a show girl." Her hands were going into her hair again trying to make her loose curls to look neater.
Taking a step back Erica studied over Elizabeth, the white dress was tighter on her chest, but was softer around her hips. For a few moments Erica walked behind Elizabeth pulling the back of her dress down.
"Much better," for a few seconds looking to the fact Elizabeth isn't wearing shoes. "Are you going to be in heels or flats?"
"Heels." Elizabeth reached under the sink picking up a pair of white platform heels with pink flowers on the back of the shoe. "I rushed home for these babies." Her eyes were going over Erica. "Guess it's lucky we have the same size feet, and you look nice in my dress."
"Well it's a good thing you had something I could wear." Erica smiled putting the wig on straight.
Walking into the office, Elizabeth and Erica watch as Lloyd slide into the room. "Is somebody screwing with the thermostat? Because the heat is on." He waved over a black shirt with flames on the bottom wearing some shades.
"Wow." Shea raised his eyebrow looking over to Lloyd's stupid outfit. "White folks." He muttered walking away.
Lloyd took the glasses off and poked himself in the eye, " Ouch, oh." He touched his eyes looking to the table, "Hello." He smiled looking over Erica and Elizabeth, but then glanced to the table with the money sitting on it. "Hello." He rushed over to it picking it up.
"Oh, hell, no." Erica stepped over to Ray, "He is not coming anywhere near me in that shirt." She pointed to Lloyd, she wanted to hit him.
Elizabeth bit her lip looking as Lloyd counted the cash, her eyes going over to Julianne glancing to her outfit. "You look good." Julianne smiled, but tried to ignore Lloyd's attitude.
"Ray, is this the bankroll?" He felt Ray snatched the money from his hands, and he tried to grab it back from Ray.
Ray glared to Lloyd, "Five grand signed out in my name." He held it himself, "Every penny comes back." He walked over to Erica and hander her the money.
"I found Kizzy!" Lloyd pointed out in an attempted to get Ray's attention, but Erica waved the money at Lloyd to show she was boss.
Elizabeth ignored Ray, she went to the rails picking out a nice suit, she and Erica exchanging glances as they were both thinking the same thing. "Please…"
"Photo op." Lloyd glanced from Erica to Elizabeth, Erica being the one to force the clothes into Lloyd's hand. "Shea, take a pic Come on, Erica, I'm killing in this shirt."
"you're killing me," Erica pointed out, "Take it off, or I will burn it for real." She walked away from him.
Elizabeth sighed, "Lloyd the shirt is a bit much," Her hand brushed over his shoulder. "Would you please?" She asked her eyes locked onto him.
Lloyd felt his eyes going over the dress, "Since you asked so kindly." He glanced over her again. "Photo?" He waved the shirt, "So I can remember."
Elizabeth laughed taking her phone out, "One photo." She took the smart clothes from him snapping the picture. "Now change." She pointed to him with a smile.
Elizabeth felt bad ass walking into the casino with Lloyd and Erica, she glanced to Travis. They all knew what to do, and Elizabeth was going to do her best to make sure it went right.
"Okay, okay, okay, now, gambling is not a spectator sport." Lloyd looked existed, and his eyes focused on Erica who held the cash, "If we're gonna fit in, we need to play a little bit." He held out his hand, "So I will take, like, 500 bucks to start."
Erica handed him a five dollar chip, and Elizabeth let out a giggle. "You left off a few zeros." He looked disappointed. "Follow me," He waved them both, "Come with me."
Elizabeth walked with Lloyd and Erica to the roulette table, she watched Lloyd, and she knew that she had to do her best to control him, but then it wasn't the easiest of tasks.
"All right, you sweet wheel of destiny." Lloyd felt the thrill of placing a bet, his eyes going to Elizabeth as he sat down holding the chip for her. "Blow on it for luck." He smiled.
"Really?" Elizabeth felt herself sit with him, and Erica made her way to keep an eye on Travis. Elizabeth could see another man at the table watching them both. Elizabeth leant in lightly blowing the chip. "Happy?"
Lloyd nodded, "Seventeen," He placed the chip down.
"No more bets," The woman said rolling the wheel, and Lloyd was sitting with anticipation. "Seventeen."
"Boom, and it begins." Lloyd glanced over to Elizabeth seeing her face, "You're now my lucky charm." He smiled pulling her closer to him, his eyes watching her for a second. "I'll be gentle." He winked.
"Oh God." Elizabeth felt herself seeing people watching them, "Don't make me regret this."
"Let's go again." Lloyd seemed happier, and his arm moved from around Elizabeth's waist back to the table looking to his winnings. "Let's make this happen."
Elizabeth kept her eyes on Travis, but knew Erica was doing a better job, she was ignoring Lloyd's rambling, but every now and then his arm would slip around her, and it was getting harder for Elizabeth to push the feeling away, her eyes locking on his. "You're crazy." She whispered close to his ear.
"Not crazy, just enjoying the rush," His hand squeezed her arm, but held another chip under her mouth, "Daddy's on a streak."
Elizabeth laughed blowing on the chip again, she didn't understand, but still kept her composure. "Daddy now?"
"Yes," Lloyd glanced to another man, "She's a lucky charm."
The man smiled, "And a cherry too cute to look at," He winked to Lloyd, "You're one lucky fella tonight."
Erica walked back to the table, "Okay we're going." She watched as Lloyd slipped a chip over to the man.
Elizabeth watched Lloyd rushing over to another table, she and Erica trying to stop him, but it was too late seeing him lose everything. "Guess I was his lucky charm." Elizabeth said to Erica seeing him lose it all.
"You are something to him." Her eyes were going over Elizabeth's face. "I don't know what Ray's going to say about it."
"I'll replace it," Elizabeth felt bad for Lloyd as they all walked from the casino, she could see the disappointment in his eyes. "Hey," She tapped his shoulder. "You know this isn't going to be forever."
Lloyd glanced to her, "Yea, but then I am an addict." He felt her hand holding his arm. "But then you know that."
Elizabeth felt a lot better in her clothes, she pulled her hair up seeing Julianne in a rush for the exit, "Hey," She felt her sister barge past her. "Where's the fire?"
"Coffee," Julianne snapped, but stopped herself, "Sorry, I'm just on edge." She pointed out looking over Elizabeth. "Are you okay?"
"Yea, I'm good, why?" Elizabeth felt nervous, "I mean why wouldn't I be? I got to look all pretty as Lloyd showed me off like a lucky charm."
"Lloyd…" Julianne shook her head, "For a moment I'd assume you enjoyed it." Her eyes were going back to where Lloyd was still standing. "He's just being Lloyd to me."
"He's worried Jules." Elizabeth exhaled, "We're both worried about you." Her hand tried to touch her, but Julianne pulled it away. "You can't keep doing this."
"Maybe you should just let it go!" Julianne gave Elizabeth a look, "I don't need your help." She turned on her heels walking away from Elizabeth. She was done with today and wanted it to be over with already.
Elizabeth stood still, her eyes watching the elevator going down, and could see Lloyd making his way over to her. "You okay?" He studied her face.
"No…" Elizabeth bit her lip, she headed for the integration room, but didn't know Lloyd was hot on her heels.
Lloyd closed the door behind him, he could see Elizabeth brushing a hand under her eye. "Do you two ever talk about this kind of stuff?" He felt himself wanting to step closer, but kept back. "I feel like something is missing."
"I don't know Lloyd," Elizabeth waved her hands in the air, "I'm just tired, and I'm not in the mood for a psychoanalyst right now." Her hands were trying hard to stop her makeup running.
Lloyd took careful steps, "I'm not psychoanalysing anything," He kept himself calm. "I'm just a friend, worried about a friend." He placed his arms around her. He felt her tense in his arms before relaxing. Closing his arms he felt her wrapping hers around him. "She's closing off, and it's not your fault." He whispered rubbing her back gently. "We'll just have to figure it out."
"What if it's my fault, what if me doing all this is pushing her into." Elizabeth stopped, "Lloyd what are we doing to each other?" She carefully stepped out of his arms. "I know you have feelings for her, so what are we doing?"
"I have no idea," Lloyd could see the tears in her eyes, and knew that it wasn't good to be in this. "I'm just trying to figure things out myself."
Both of them now hearing the phone ringing and something didn't feel right. "I'll leave you here." He walked out.
Elizabeth sat down on the table; she took her phone out glancing over the photo she took of Lloyd. Part of her didn't want to be that person, but the more she tried to push herself away, it was harder to ignore, maybe she was just doing what she always did. The feeling was unsettling, but she listened to hear everyone rushing out, she stepped out of the room seeing Lloyd looking panic.
"What did I miss?" She asked brushing her face, she didn't like the look on his face, or seeing Travis handcuffed to the radiator in Ray's office.
"Jules been taken," He was glancing up, "The others have gone after her." He then saw Elizabeth's face going white. "They're going to find her."
Elizabeth took a deep breathe, "Something doesn't feel right." She went to glance at the elevator. "I just need to get something." She pointed to where she'd gotten changed, she didn't trust this, and walking away she could hear the elevator, the sound of Lloyd getting hit, she knew she would be smart to stay where she was, she didn't know how many of them there was.
Stepping out, she felt her eyes going to Lloyd lying on the ground. "Oh god!" She rushed over kneeling beside him. "You okay?" She could see he was alive, and turned to see the elevator open to the other's walking in with Julianne. "Oh thank god!" Jumping to her feet she rushed into her sister's arms hugging her.
Elizabeth and Julianne didn't talk much the ride home, Elizabeth kept her focus on the road, she knew that in the back of her mind she would soon tell her what was bugging her, but for now Elizabeth wasn't going to push it.
"It's great, we got a big fish." Elizabeth finally said, her eyes kept on the road.
Julianne exhaled, "Yeah," Her voice was soft, but then Elizabeth put it down to being tired. "And I noticed you talking to Lloyd."
"Lizzie," Julianne see them getting closer to their apartment, "I need to tell you something, and I don't know how you'll take it."
Stopping the car Elizabeth felt nervous, but she had to do her best poker face. "What's that?"
Julianne rubbed her hand into her hair; she could see Elizabeth watching her carefully. "You don't remember, but we had a cousin."
The car was filled with silence as Elizabeth listened to Julianne, part of her knew what it was like to keep a big secret, and so she kept calm listening to everything. How Julianne witness their cousin being taken, how it affected everything in Julianne's life, and it was a big puzzle piece falling into place. "And that's why I've been the way I have." Julianne finished.
"Oh Jules…" Elizabeth reached over; she pulled her sister into her arms, "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" A part of her relived it had nothing to do with her, but then felt worse for Julianne having this secret to begin with. "Whatever you need me to do, I'll be there," She brushed her hand into Julianne's hair. "I love you."
"I love you too," Julianne smiled, "We still have that movie to watch." Her eyes went to their apartment.
Elizabeth nodded; she then glanced to her phone to see she'd not had any missed phone calls from Pete, and felt slightly bummed out about it, but worse is that a big part of her was happy he blew her off.
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