Burn (Virtues & Lies 1)

“Wear those, they’re sexy as fuck.” Pointing at the thigh-high peep-toe boots Fleur takes another sip of the vodka and Red Bull in her hand. “We’re winning at this shit today, matching underwear, fingers and toes, and we’ve managed to get ready whilst pre-drinking. Winning!”

Laughing, I pull my boots on and once I’m ready to go, I finish my drink in one long gulp. Her mixing skills definitely favour the alcohol rather than the mixer and not only do my taste buds and throat feel it, but the burning in my stomach has me grimacing.

This is our going out routine, though. We pre-drink so that when we’re out we can stick with water, that way if anything happens, we can act quickly. But also, no one wants a boozy photo of them showing up anywhere, and although tonight is meant to be camera free, not everyone gets the memo.

Going through my jewellery I catch the yellow dress from the corner of my eyes, and instantly my chest tightens. It’s silly how something so simple can make you feel so much. It’s been months since I wore it, months since I first laid eyes on Leo, but looking at it, I can feel all the same things I felt that night. And the more I think about it, the more I let myself feel them, the tighter my chest gets.

“Are you ready?” Fleur asks, handing me my mini cross-body bag.

I’m not ready to pretend like another guy can make me forget Leo. I look at them and all I can do is think of all the ways they’re different. Leo’s eyes are so unique, they’re as mercurial in their colouring as he is with his moods. And his lips are thick in a way that’s just right for his face with his cupid’s bow curving slightly in the middle. They felt warm and hard on mine and although his kiss wasn’t gentle, it felt so deep and savoured and…God, I just want to feel like that again. Like I was seen and felt and wanted, even as I melted into nothing.

“Cassie, if you want him that much, you need to do something about it. And I don’t mean chasing him or letting him walk all over you, just…I don’t know. Maybe you need a better friend than me, because I’m shit at this. But, I’m trying to help you the best way I know how, and I think it’s pointless because you’re looking at the thin air like it’s the most precious thing you’ve ever seen, and I know you’re not thinking about the night we’re about to have.”

Without another word she starts for my bedroom door, leaving me to follow and when we get to the bottom of the stairs, we both stop in our tracks.

“Fuck my life,” groaning, she adjusts her strapless gold, beaded dress. The glamour of it toned down by her patent black Doc Martens and oversized leather jacket. It’s so weathered that it’s light grey in places. “The fucker is everywhere.”

He is. I think, struggling to hold in the giggle

that bubbles up my throat because my stomach is somersaulting, and my heart is galloping at a crazy speed at the deep timbre of Leo’s voice.

“God, I hate the bastard! I’ve spent the last two weeks trying to make you smile and laugh like that. I’ve practically turned into a juggling monkey, agony aunt, and yet, the minute he speaks it’s like a unicorn has shat a rainbow in the sky. Seriously?”

“Sorry!” My feet begin to carry me towards him and the closer I get, the more my stomach knots and my lungs struggle to do their job.

“I’ll continue tracing the accounts, but I need more time. They’re all subsidiary companies owned by companies and umbrella companies. It’s an admin assault.”

“I know.” My father replies. “How’s Kit?”

Pausing around the corner from where they’re talking, I look at Fleur who mouths, “Who’s Kit?”

When I shrug, she rolls her eyes and as I’m about to speak she holds her finger to her lips.

“Alive. Barely.” Leo replies with a sigh, and it’s so sad that it’s taking everything in me not to move.

“I know you think it was Lucian, but that’s too far, even for your father.”

My chest inflates with the new information. It’s nothing amazing, but it’s another piece of the puzzle I can put together.

“I don’t know,” Christopher laughs with disgust dripping from his voice. “I don’t think there’s a line he won’t cross. It’s like he’s ran out of fucks to give.”

Grabbing Fleur’s hand, I plan to make a dash across the corridor to the kitchen, but just as we’re about to go for it, three pairs of eyes find us.

Dad’s narrow with a warm smile crinkling the corners and Christopher takes a step towards me, giving me the once over.

“Going out?”

Unable to get my brain and tongue to work together, I nod. Desperately fighting to keep my eyes on either my brother or my dad because if I look at Leo, I don’t know what I’ll do. And I don’t want to make a spectacle of myself.

His gaze is burning through my effort though, and that battle is very quickly lost.

“Take Wayne,” Dad says.

“We’ve already made arrangements with him.” Fleur is quick to reply.

“Does your dad know you’re going?” Raising a brow at her, Dad crosses his arms over his chest, looking down at her.

I hate it when he does that. It feels like he’s a giant ready to quash whatever you’re about to direct at him.