And I do try.
“We all want you. You just need to pick.”
“Naturally you all think I want one of you,” I say, moving away from the dresser to open the drawer and take out a hairbrush.
“Don’t you?”
I sit on the edge of the bed and comb through my wet hair. “I haven’t decided,”
Dino rolls his eyes. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you, putting us through hoops?”
“I just don’t see why everything has to be so conventional.”
“Conventional? Is this conventional? I was covered in blood earlier. I look a fucking mess right now.” Dino huffs, blue eyes flashing with frustration.
I dart a glance at him. I want to ask him how clean-up went, but I’m also too fucking tired to probe him further or get into an argument.
“Clean up went fine if that’s what you’re wanting to ask.” Once again, Dino reads my mind with ease. I’ve no idea how he does it. It’s unnerving.
I scowl and it makes him smile.
“Actually, blood splatter looks good on you,” I retort.
“Only you would get turned on by death,” he says. He sounds disgusted by it. And that just annoys me. I don’t reply, continuing to brush my hair. What else is there to say? It’s fucking true.
Dino narrows his eyes and shakes his head. “I’m going to get cleaned up.”
“What happened to showing me your dark side, Sinner?” I say before he disappears, using his nickname. I still don’t know how he got it. He’s as pure as driven fucking snow sometimes.
He glances back, one hand on the door handle ready to leave. He sighs, closing his eyes and then opening them again. “Don’t tempt me, Viola, you might not like who I turn into.”
After Dino leaves my room, I get the urge to drive somewhere. I need air. If the boys won’t fuck me, then I need to get out of here. This place is too crowded. It also wouldn’t hurt to check out Quinn’s place for any trace of Dante or his eyesore of a car. I was going after school most nights just for something to do. But I haven’t been in a while, not since Lorcan left. I’ve been too busy planning kills to do any stalking.
I grab my keys and leave just as Jude is pulling in. He’s driving so erratically, he almost crashes into me. Our eyes lock onto each other through the open car window. He shouts something. I’ve no idea what as he’s blasting his shitty music so loud I can’t hear a thing.
“Whatever,” I mouth at him, and casually flip him the finger as I peel out of the driveway.
Fucking Jude. With Lorcan gone, he has been a royal pain in the ass. We alternate between ignoring each other or getting up in each other’s faces. Mostly he drinks himself stupid and fucks anything that breathes. Dino was wrong. Jude doesn’t want to date me, he wants me gone and seems to be doing everything in his power to make that happen.
It doesn’t take long to get to the industrial estate Quinn’s office is located in. Hidden behind a pair of sunglasses, hair tucked under a baseball cap, I park up as close as I can get without being seen. As I turn off the engine and lights and survey the area, I realize I’m still quite far away.
Luckily, I keep a pair of low-light binoculars in the glove box for jobs like this. I use them now to get a better look.
Nothing.
The place is eerily quiet. The usually full parking lot near the amenities is empty. Quinn’s car is not here either. It’s a Friday night, a few weeks before winter break. Everyone must have gone home, or gone away for the holidays. I check my phone again, there’s another message from Quinn, a more persistent one this time.
I send Quinn—or should I say Dante—a message to meet tomorrow night at the art gallery we met at.
If it is Dante, he will find me sooner or later and it’s always better to know you’re walking into a trap. I should at least control the timing, if not the place.
Tomorrow will be better. I’m too wired after my release to go up against him. If there’s to be no sex tonight, then I need sleep. Dante taught me everything, so he knows what I know. I can’t let my guard down. If I want answers, our meeting needs to be perfect.
Almost immediately, Quinn replies.
Not there. Too far. I’ll choose the location.
Okay. I didn’t meet Quinn in an art gallery. We met at a bar.
Now I’m one hundred percent certain….
Dante has Quinn.