Ruthless Secrets (Elites of Macedon High 2)

Chapter Six

Tomas

Elvis drones on in the background about having a blue Christmas while Adelaide hands me a red bauble. “This one,” she claims, “should go next to the green one. It’s a good contrast.”

I study her affectionately and nod. “You’re the only one who can get away with making me listen to Elvis of all things.” I place the bauble on the tree and smile with approval. “We should do some of the garlands next. How about silver?”

“Silver matches everything.”

“You’re right about that.”

While she digs through the plastic bin of decorations, she says, “I thought you liked Elvis, Tommy.”

I grin while tousling her hair, causing her to gasp and shove my hand away. I give her an apologetic expression. “Sorry, princess. You’re just too cute.”

“Uh, I spent all morning on my hair, okay?” She sighs with annoyance and walks over to the mirror in the living room to fix the waves she had one of the maids do. “It looks like Alex, right? She has waves sometimes.”

“Yeah, it does. It looks good on you.”

Warmth circulates my gut. I’m not accustomed to feeling happiness like this, to the sensations that prickle my skin when I think of how Alex has influenced my little sister. I’m not even sure why I find that pleasurable at all, but I lean into the feeling, hoping that it doesn’t come across as strange to anyone else.

And why would it? Nobody knows but me. I’m pleased to see Adelaide so taken with someone who isn’t me. She needs more supporters in her life.

My phone buzzes when Adelaide returns to the box. As she hoists a rather large garland from the container, I pull my phone from my pocket to see a text from Alex. My grin widens as I read that she’s coming over. Excitement bubbles so hard in my chest that I think I might boil over.

Now it’s my turn to run to the mirror.

Minutes later, Alex stands in the living room near the Christmas tree that’s only halfway decorated. Her eyes glitter with multicolored lights, hues of red and green illuminating her cheeks. She looks gorgeous in her crimson red sweater and dark blue jeans. She looks normal.

And it makes me yearn for us to be normal together.

“Alex, do you like my hair?” Adelaide asks while taking her hand. “I did it like yours.”

Alex blinks a few times, looks down at Adelaide, and smiles politely. “Looks wonderful.”

“Why haven’t you come over lately? We’ve missed you.” She lowers her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “And to be honest, Tommy hasn’t been very good at reading stories lately.”

“Actually, I’ve come over for a different reason.” She looks at me with an expression that I can only describe as constricted. “Could I speak to your mother?”

I frown. Is that the only reason she’s here? I send Adelaide off to the kitchen for a snack and then take Alex’s hand, leading her up the stairs to the third floor. Carpet quiets our footsteps as we approach my mother’s door. My heart races while I consider how fucked up she must be by this time—it’s possible that she’s barely coherent.

My hand rests on the doorframe as I look at Alex. “You sure?”

“Positive.”

“All right, doll. Steel your nerves.”

Inside the chambers of Marie D’Hautpoul are enough drugs to start a damn war. She doesn’t bother hiding things anymore, leaving everything set up for her to sample as she makes her rounds of the room. Right now, she sits on the chaise lounge near the open veranda doors, a cold breeze whipping through the room.

When I close the doors, she glares at me. “Can’t get any fresh air in here, can I?” She drags her cigarette while adjusting her silk robe, covering her frail shoulders. As soon as she spots Alex, she sits up and smirks, tapping her lower lip with the filter of her cigarette. “Well, what a surprise. To what do I owe the honor, Ms. Alexandra?”

“I need you to tell me everything you know about the children my father had.”

“You’re kidding.” My mother looks at me, mascara caked beneath her eyes. “She’s kidding, right?”

I shake my head. “She’s serious. Just answer the question, and we’ll leave you alone.”

Chuckling, my mother returns her attention to Alex. “Paulina knows more about Felipe’s bastards than I do. I’m just repeating gossip—common knowledge among, you know, adults.”