Chapter 644

"You're a pretty girl, Ari," Luca says, leaning down and raising an eyebrow at me. "In a place like this? You could make some bank."

I gasp, delighted. “That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

He bursts out laughing and shakes his head at me, raising his chin at the Black Hawk. "Come on, Daphne," he says, putting deliberate emphasis on my assignment. "Let's get this done. And please," the seriousness in his voice makes me turn to him again, paying attention, "please remember that this is dangerous, okay? Take it seriously?"

"You got it, kid," I say, giving him a wink. Then I exhale and straighten my shoulders, throwing my curling red hair over my shoulder the way I've seen Daphne do a thousand times. "So, do you want to get a drink? Or what?"

Luca's face bursts into a grin as he sees me take on her personality - or at least, as close as I can get. "Sure, seamstress," he says, shaking his head at me a little. "You lead the way."noveldrama

I turn with confidence, heading to the door, trying to take on Daphne's poised stride as best I can. As I walk, I try to think of all the things that make my friend who she is confident, cheerful, optimistic, fun, hard-working - and do my best to embody them, to forget all the things that make me me and become, instead, her.

I have no idea whether or not it works, but still I set myself to the task as we walk into the bar. The place is as shabby as I was promised it would be - with wooden walls and a sawdust floor, each of the tables slapped together out of what looks like spare wooden parts. The chairs, too, are simply stools.

But despite all of that, the place is packed - and at least a quarter of the patrons are wearing black Cadet uniforms. My eyes go wide as I recognize a few faces. God, it's not even a weekend - how often do they come here?

Luca clears his throat, frowning down at me and I school my face into less shocked lines.

"You get us a table," I say, falling back into my Daphne persona as I wave a casual hand towards my mate and for the bar. "I'll get us some drinks." Behind me I hear Luca sigh, but he doesn't counter me. "You got it. I'll be...just over here."

I raise my chin a bit, walking smoothly over to the bar, slipping the little bit of money that Daphne had laying around out of my pocket so that the bartender can see it. A little thrill runs through me - honestly, this is one of the first times I've been at a bar ordering a drink by myself. In my Princess life, if I do go out at all, I'm usually tucked away in a VIP area with waiters, or if not then a bodyguard will go order for me.

Even the thrill of doing this by myself runs through me with a delicious shudder.

The bartender - tall, a little grizzled, sees me and comes over when he finishes with his patron.

"What will it be?" he asks, bored.

I panic inwardly because I suddenly realize that I did not get this far in my thoughts. What - what would Daphne say?

"Two...beers. Please." I say, looking confidently up into his face even though inwardly I quail.

He just smirks at me. "Sure. What kind?"

"Um!" My voice hums high in a way that is much more Ariel than Daphne

and I take a deep breath,tap?"

down the bar. "Whatever's omtap?"

UMS

His smirk deepens as his eyes sweep over me. "We've got two on tap tonight."

My inner Daphne takes over as I lean

e forward with a sigh and grin at him. "Whatever is your favorite, then i say, giving him a cheerful nod. "You pick for me."

The bartender nods once and steps away to get the drinks and I straighten up, letting out a long breath, wondering how the hell this is going.

To my surprise, I get an answer to my silent question immediately.

"Daphne," a curious voice says to my

left as a hand softly brushes my

aley, it's good to see you

.ne

what are you doing here..."

But Tony's voice fades as I turn to him in surprise.

As his face drops in shock, mine bursts into a smile.