TRANCE, Inc. 12

We need to talk about Amber.

I sat in the front seat of the Uber and made monosyllabic replies until the middle-aged driver caught the hint and stopped pestering me. It wasn't that I was irritated with the man — Cam, I thought, or whatever his name was. I just had something else turning over and over in my mind: Mike Lassiter's text message. On the list of things you never want to have happen to you: being out with your friends on a Saturday night, more than a little tipsy, and having one of your bosses send you an urgent text message that requires immediate attention.

I glanced over my shoulder into the back seat, where Carmen was sniffing dejectedly. Daisy rested her head on her sister's shoulder and Victoria quietly rubbed her back. Far away from me, seated in the second row of the SUV, was Amber. She was leaning forward and looking on, and even in the darkness I could tell that there was a concerned expression on her lovely features.

Normally, I would have gone right to my girlfriend with Lassiter's text. I would have asked her opinion, tried to get her help in figuring out what was going on. But there were too many things happening at once. Carmen was still upset, and it was wearing on all of us, but figuring out how to help her would have to wait until we got back to Starside. Likewise, I couldn't be sure what to do about these alarming texts from TRANCE Inc.'s Director of Talent Management until I had more information.

I was composing a message to Mike when the driver jogged me with his elbow.

"Huh?" I blinked, and realized that we had pulled into the semicircular drive of the luxury apartment building where the twins lived. The girls were being helped out of the back of the car by the Saturday night valet — a silhouette that I saw in the rear view mirror but didn't recognize.

"Go on," he said, gesturing at the shotgun-side door. "And I expect five stars." This last was a grunt of dismissal.

I was halfway out the open door, but I turned. "Look, Cam—" I said, glancing at the printed-out name and Uber ID that was pasted on the dash.

"C.M.," he interrupted, and I could tell from his tone that he was still irritated about how I'd brushed him off when we'd gotten in.

There was a moment of awkward silence.

My eyes twitched back and I reread the name tag. Oh, I thought, seeing that it was just the two initials. I felt the buzzed, socially-inept part of me try to react with anger at his tone and my embarrassment, but I shook it off. I felt bad for the guy, honestly. Even if it was his job, he did something nice for us.

Be a real man, I told myself.

"Thanks," I said, and looked him in the face. "I know that you're one of those people out here picking up the club crowds and making sure they all get home safely. Most people probably don't appreciate it, and they treat you like I just did. But you don't deserve that. Thanks for getting us back here quickly and safely."

The man looked surprised, and ran a hand through his shock of white hair. "I once looked after a girl her age," he said gruffly, jerking his bearded chin toward Carmen and the other women, who were waiting by the door. "She fell for the wrong guy," he added, "to everyone's detriment." His eyes were looking into mine with an abrupt sharpness, like he was silently telling me, I was thinking that guy might be you. On your phone while the girl cries quietly in the backseat.

I nodded in understanding. "I'll look after her," I said.

But as I hurried to join the others and the elevator took our tired, drained party upstairs, I worried about my ability to actually follow through on that promise.

Daisy immediately took Carmen back to the twins' bedroom and closed the door.

Victoria, Amber and I stood quietly in the entry area, like there had been a silent order for us to stay. I glanced at the others, waiting for one of them to take the initiative. When I saw two pairs of eyes — bright blue and deep brown — looking back at me, I realized that they had both turned to me with the same idea.

Crap, I thought, and forced myself to nod confidently and pull myself out of my jacket, draping it over my arm. "Alright," I said. I tried to think of what we should do, and then gave up. "I think it's time for us to go to bed." I sighed as I said it, and realized how exhausted my body actually was. "It's late. And I think we're all tired."

Their relief was evident in the small movements — the little slump in the shoulders, the slight nod of the head. Amber shrugged out of her jacket and hung it up on one of the aesthetically-arranged wall hooks. The gorgeous blonde looked confident now, and the sight of her fantastic body in the tight-fitting clubbing dress was almost enough to distract me from what has happening in the other room at the far end of the corridor.

I made her feel that way, I thought. She feels confident because she trusts that my ideas are the right ones to follow.

The thought gave me strength, and I nodded more assertively. "Wait here. I'm going to go ask Daisy about sleeping arrangements for tonight."

The door to the twins' room opened at my knock, and I heard a who is it? from Carmen's side of the bedroom.

"It's just Chance," Daisy murmured over her shoulder, before looking up at me with her calm, green eyes. She looked composed, but I knew that she was just as tired as me and, because of her size, was probably feeling the alcohol even more than I was.

"I just wanted to ask about the sleeping situation," I said. I felt like I was intruding, suddenly, on one sister consoling another, and I wanted to let them have their alone time. "Where should Amber, V and I bed down? Are there sheets and pillows and things we need to set up?"

Nodding, Daisy quickly explained the layout of the guest suite — which was apparently on the far side of the living room and kitchen area — and said that it was kept stocked with everything we'd need. Over her shoulder, I caught a glimpse of Carmen. The lovely teenager sat on the edge of her bed and was taut with nervous, upset energy. Her back was hunched, and her face was in her hands.

I retreated quickly after Daisy's explanation, arriving in the living room in time to see Victoria unzip the top of a gym bag and reach inside. "I hope I remembered everything," she was saying, and then she tugged free a bundle of cloth and I realized she had packed herself an overnight bag.

Abruptly, it struck me that I hadn't brought anything to change into after clubbing. I hadn't brought a toothbrush, either. Was I that nervous about going out? I wondered. That I hadn't even planned for afterwards?

"Here, Chance." The brunette rifled around inside for a moment and then pulled out some more folded clothes. "I saw you'd accidentally forgotten your toothbrush, so I thought I might make sure you had something to wear to bed."

Victoria glanced over when I didn't respond, and I nodded hurriedly. "Thank you," I said, walking over to accept the proffered tee shirt and sweatpants.

She pulled my toothbrush from a toiletries bag and extended it to me. "And this, too," she added with a smile.

I took it, then paused. She's always doing things like this, I thought.

That was what Victoria did. Take care of us. I shouldn't have been surprised that she thought of everything. But sometimes... It made me feel like an overgrown kid, someone who didn't have what it took to take care of himself.

Only I wasn't helpless. At least, not anymore. And I was learning that there are times when the easy thing — like letting someone else take care of you — isn't always the right thing. I glanced back down the corridor towards the twins' room. Then, I looked at Amber and Victoria.

I made a snap decision.

"You two go get ready for bed," I said. "I'm not going to be sleeping in the guest room tonight."

* * *

I walked back down the hallway toward the twins' door. The distance seemed longer now that I knew I had a situation to handle on the other side of it.

This girl is your responsibility, I told myself. Both of them are. At least in part. You care about them, and so you're going to do everything in your power to help make them feel better.

With every step, though, Devil Chance was snorting with disbelief and sneering at me. Your past speaks for itself, he told me dismissively. You think you can help Carmen? Ha. You're just going to upset her even more. It's your fault, anyway. You heard Carmen's conversation with her father...

But I kept going. Reaching for the handle, I realized that the negative presence was fighting harder than ever.

Don't you remember that night after Daisy got Seth's first phone call? he demanded desperately. They were upset, and they wanted to go and be by themselves. Away from you!

I paused. I wouldn't want to go against—

Then, I remembered the arcing words inked across each teen's left side. Property of Chance. I turned the handle and slowly opened the door, stepping in after it and adopting an air of confidence that I didn't particularly feel.

These women had put themselves under my power. They also deserved my protection.

Daisy turned to face me with an expression of uncertainty, but I was pleased to note that it eased when she recognized me. She stood, still wearing her slinky club outfit, and I resisted the instinctive urge to check her out.

Carmen lay on her bed, facing the wall with her knees curled up. She looked helpless and scared, and I felt a surge of concern.

"Is she okay?" I asked, my hand brushing against Daisy's upper arm when she came to a stop before me.

"Just too many drinks," the girl murmured. "And too many feels." Her hand was on my forearm, and her eyes looked clear. I could sense her concern, and it was obviously the instinctive reaction of a sibling who knew that she was the only one her sister could truly rely on. "Can you take care of her while I get ready for bed?"

"I've got her," I told Daisy. "And I'll help her get ready once you're done."

The redheaded teen hesitated, then bit her lip and nodded. Ducking her head, she kissed my chest wearily then walked past and into the bathroom. The light flicked on and the door clicked closed. The shower turned on several seconds later.

I recognized her departure for what it was — a huge gesture of trust. Then, I wondered when I'd gotten so insightful. Must be all the time you spent together, I thought. You're starting to really get to know these girls.

I walked to the edge of Carmen's bed and contemplated the young woman's back for a minute. Then, I sat gently and placed my hand on her shoulder.

"Day?" Carmen murmured. She sounded groggy, and a little bit stuffed up.

"No. It's Chance." I was stroking her upper arm softly, so I felt the way her muscles eased when I told her. It felt good to know she could relax around me.

"Oh." A few seconds of silence, then she rolled over onto her back and looked up at me. Her eyes looked bright, and I realized that they were wet with unshed tears.

"I'm here for you..." I said, nodding reassuringly and having absolutely no idea what to do.

"I'm so sorry, Chance!" The words burst out of her all of a sudden, and then her pretty features crumpled. "I can't believe I ruined everyone's night over something that I should have just... I was so stupid!"

The teen surprised me, but then I was shaking my head and realizing that my job was really quite simple. "It's okay," I told her. "No one's mad at you. You didn't ruin anything..."

Carmen's jaw was tight, and her green eyes met mine uncertainly.

I held out a hand and she took it obediently. I wound our fingers together and squeezed. Poor girl, I thought. Seems like she's embarrassed, as much as anything. "No one's mad at you. Promise."

The young woman sniffed, then lifted our hands to her mouth and kissed my knuckles. "Thanks..." she murmured.

I felt the exhaustion begin to hit me as I waited there beside the girl, and maybe it was the tiredness but it felt like quite a while before Daisy was done with her shower.

* * *

When Carmen's sister finally came out of the bathroom, accompanied by a cloud of steam, I helped Carmen up and across the room with an arm around her that was mostly for emotional, rather than physical, support.

Daisy seemed more relaxed, like her shower had mellowed her out, and she smiled tiredly up at me. She was wearing one of the cutest pajama outfits I'd ever seen — a onesie rendition of Tigger, from Winnie-the-Pooh — and she leaned her face against my shoulder when we paused beside her.

"Go to sleep," I ordered, before she could say anything. "Me and Carmen will be up for a couple more minutes."

I think the girl was just waiting for permission to let go of her responsibility, because she didn't resist. She simply nodded quietly and shuffled to her Queen-sized bed against one wall.

"G'night..." she mumbled over her shoulder.

"Good night," Carmen and I answered.

The door clicked closed behind, and then it was just us.

While Carmen undressed, I started up a nice, hot shower. The window was open, letting in chilly night air, so I closed it before leaning back against the wall and slid to the floor. Like the rest of the twins' apartment, the master bathroom was lavish and expensive. The tile was a lovely, shiny marble and the shower had one of those multi-heads with settings like "Rushing Waterfall" and "Jungle Rain." I rested my head against the wall and listened to the water as it cascaded down onto the floor and Carmen's skin.

It was a few more seconds before the girl started to speak.

"It was Miranda," she said. Her voice, quiet as it was, still echoed a bit in the shower.

"What was Miranda?" My eyes were closed, but the overhead light kept me awake.

"The call." Carmen sounded frustrated, but I knew it wasn't with me. "Not the one at the club, I mean. That was my father. But Miranda was the one who called him."

"Called him about what?" I asked. I had the sinking feeling I already knew the answer, but Carmen spoke like something was eating at her. She'll feel better if she gets it off her chest.

"About you..." No echo, this time, because her voice was too low and upset. Then, it was rising. "About how she saw you several times today, with me and Day and also with the others. Amber. And how she remembered you from before and knew that James had said you have a cheap car and dress like a slob."

Ouch. I winced, even though I knew the insults were from my least-favorite valet and not my upset companion.

"Miranda reported to my father when we left for the evening, and he called to check in on us." The crimson-haired teen was speaking faster and faster. I could hear the tightness in her voice, the angry stress on certain words. "He just wanted us to know how valuable me and Day are, and how we need to make sure we aren't spending time with people who don't deserve us."

Meaning you, Devil Chance offered, in case I hadn't understood.

"Why can't we ever escape?!" Carmen's voice was more than just tight now, it had the tangled, balled-up tension of a sob that hasn't yet been released. "Why can't we just live our own lives how we want? Why can't I just be happy without them trying to ruin it?!"

And... there the sob went.

I was on my feet before I had really thought about it, turning and striding to the glass door of the full-sized shower.

"What—?" Carmen gasped softly as I stepped inside, my bare feet splashing on the wet tile.

But then I was close and my arms wrapped around Carmen's shoulders, hot water ricocheting off my skin and misting against my face. I pulled her close and kissed the top of her head, and I felt the softness of her body press against mine with the relaxed release of trust.

I was still wearing my artfully-torn, expensive jeans and my fashionable shirt, but how could I care about that?

The redhead's slim body shuddered with angry sobs that seemed more frustrated, now, than sad.

One of the benefits of luxury housing is that the water never got cold as I held her there for a few long, quiet moments.

* * *

While Carmen dried herself off, I stripped out of my clothes and washed myself as quickly as I could.

I approached the girl from behind as she wiped away the last of her makeup and buried my face in the side of her neck. "Feeling any better?" I asked, my lips moving against her skin.

"A bit."

She still sounded subdued, and I met her eyes in the mirror. I could tell she was just drained, but seeing the lingering upset in her gaze still hurt. Without her makeup, Carmen looked younger, more innocent, and I felt the surge of protectiveness return. I thought of the last time I'd seen us both in a bathroom mirror — when she had snuck me away from the table at Delicieux for a bit of naughty fun — and I resolved to make sure that we had more nights like that, and less like this.

"Let's get you to bed," I murmured, and the teen mutely nodded.

It was dark in the bedroom, but the light of the city outside and the light from the bathroom behind us gave us the illumination we needed to get Carmen quietly tucked in.

I went to check on Daisy, across the room, and saw that she was still awake, looking at her phone.

"Not asleep?" I asked quietly, kneeling on the side of the bed.

"No..." she muttered, yawning and setting the device aside. I could hear the sleep in her voice, in the small yawns that interrupted her. "Wanted to stay awake... To make sure... You're okay... And Carmen..."

"We're okay," I reassured her. I leaned in and kissed her temple, hearing her stir under her sheets and snuggle deeper into the blankets. "By the way, what is that smell?" I asked. "It was in the bathroom, too. Not strong, but I could definitely tell it was there."

"Mm..." I could tell Daisy was almost gone. "'s an incense... Burn it to help me relax..."

Huh, I thought. But it checked out. Daisy was definitely enough into meditation and yoga and all that. Evidently the incense had helped, because the teen's breath had smoothed out, even since I'd joined her, and her big green eyes had slipped closed.

"Good night," I whispered, gently touching her head. Then, I stood. I glanced over at Carmen's bed, but knew that I had one more responsibility before I could let myself go, too.

Amber and Victoria looked up when the door to the guest room opened. They were in bed, sitting up against the headboard. Both were free from makeup, but their hair was dry, which made me suspect they were putting off showers until the morning.

"Hey, baby." Amber was the first to respond, holding out her arms to me in a way that couldn't help but emphasize her big, bouncy breasts.

I realized, then, how tired and drained I was. A stunning brunette and a bombshell blonde, wearing nothing but oversized tees and — I was sure — barely-there panties. It was like the kind of dream you hope for every night before you sleep. Normally, I had to flex all my willpower not to fall on them like a starved wolf on its first free meal. Tonight, when I clambered onto the bed and crawled up between them, all I wanted was to bed down and sleep until noon.

"I wasn't sure you'd come to say goodnight," Amber murmured. She stroked my damp hair gently.

I could feel my shoulders release the last of their tension. "Had to look after the twins."

"We know." Victoria's hand rubbed soothingly down my back. "Don't worry. And we're glad you came by after such a long night."

I raised my head, and accepted two chaste kisses. Then, groaning, I pushed myself back up. "Going back now," I managed.