Tangled (40 page)

He couldn’t explain it. Something had him on high alert.
And not just because some of these douches looked half ready to
tear into Tess.

Adonis popped his knuckles. They could try. They wouldn’t
get very far. “Hey, I’m going out for a smoke.”

Riley nodded, his attention lured by a girl bundled in saran
wrap.
Or a see-through dress.
What
the fuck ever.
“If I bump into Tess, I’ll let her know.”

Grinding his teeth, Adonis shoved through the crowd. There
was a reason he didn’t attend these parties. Obnoxious music blasted through
his skull. The sickly sweet smell of jungle juice cloyed the air. Dashed with
the pungency of a thousand different perfumes and colognes and something that
fairly reeked of piss, it was enough to make his stomach revolt.

The things he did for this woman.

Nerves jangling like loose change, he twisted through the
corridors until he found a side door.

Crisp, night air chilled his skin and defogged his head.
Besides a couple making out near the hedges, the courtyard was empty.

Packing the fresh carton of cigarettes, he stuck one in his
mouth and patted himself down for his zippo. Shit. Had he left it at the house?

A flame snapped into existence, illuminating feminine
features. He grunted his thanks and accepted the light.

“It’s cold as fuck out here,” she commented faintly.

He responded with something noncommittal.

Another click from the lighter and soon the sweet aroma of
ganja floated into range. A joint.

He almost groaned. How long had it been since he last toked
up? Almost two months.

She must have noticed him staring because she held it out in
offering.

He ran his tongue along the roof of his mouth. A few pulls wouldn’t
kill him. Maybe numb out of his brain enough to make the night past quicker.

“’
Preciate
it.”

They smoked in quiet, companionable silence. Thankfully she
wasn’t a talker.

Adonis glanced at her. Eyes having adjusted to the darkness,
he became aware of her attractiveness. No.
More than that.
She was stunning. Waves of dark, glossy hair framed her face. Her skin shone
like alabaster under the moon. Her features were fine-boned, the rise of her
cheekbones evocative of European aristocracy. He couldn’t make out the color of
her eyes, but he imagined them to be deep, fathomless. Unlike the other girls
in attendance, she wore jeans and a nondescript tee shirt.
 

Beautiful as she was, his libido remained unmoved. He
admired her as one would a fine painting, an impassioned appreciation.

What the hell had Tess done to him?

“What’s so funny?”

Adonis hadn’t realized he’d been smiling. “It’s nothing.”

“She must be one lucky girl.”

“No, I’m the lucky one.” The words were easier to share with
his brain immersed in a nebula of sticky green.

She smiled and stubbed out what was left of the joint before
lighting two cigarettes. She handed him one. He accepted without complaint. “Where
is she?”

“Inside doing shit knows what.” Head buzzing pleasantly, Adonis
checked his phone to make sure she hadn’t texted him.

Not even an emoticon.

What was taking her so long?

“You sound like you’d rather be anywhere else.”

“That goes without saying.” He discharged the smoke from his
nostrils. “What’re you doing out here by yourself? Shouldn’t you be fighting
off these frat fucks with a stick?”
 

Her laugh was quiet. “I needed a break. I’m here with a
friend for moral support. This isn’t really my scene.”

He raised a brow. “What’s your scene?”

Eyelashes lowering, she covertly glanced around before a retrieving
a black eyeglass case from her purse.

She opened it for his perusal.

He forgot to exhale. His lungs heaved with unexpended smoke.
His heart began beating so fast it vibrated. It rattled behind the cage of his
ribs, shaking the bars like an inmate being taunted with freedom. “What—where
did you get that?”

She lifted her shoulder. “Does it matter? I’ve found there
aren’t many people here who can handle my type of fun.”

He barely heard her. His world had narrowed to a single
point. Phantom sensations stroked the ache he’d kept entombed for months.
 

Memories bled into his vision.

The sting of the needle.

The burn of liquid euphoria shooting
through his veins.
 

It eclipsed everything.

Pot.

Alcohol.

Food.

Sex.

He shook his head to physically rebuff the urge and struggled
to remember why that had been a bad idea.

Fuck, he was too high. His tolerance was practically
nil
.
 

A sudden rush made him dizzy. If weed felt like this after a
few weeks, how would a nod feel after almost a year?
 

Why float on a tuft of cloud when he could skim the gate of
heaven?

“You want in?” The question reeled him back to the reality.
But the tether was threadbare.
 

That was the
million dollar
question.

Chapter 24

“I cannot believe this bullshit.”

Tess winced as Jade scrubbed her dress with wet paper towels.
“Maybe cold water will help?”

“It would help if bitches would have the courtesy to not
fucking puke on me,” she snapped, scouring harder.

Jade had been the unfortunate recipient of a projectile
vomit incident. They’d found some poor girl crying near the sink in the
bathroom. Being a Good Samaritan, Jade had put an arm around her shoulder and
offered to get her water.

Her efforts were rewarded with a lapful of pink polka-dotted
puke.

“On the up side, at least we took pictures before we left.”

“Fuck you.” Jade slammed the towels into the sink. “Sorry.
I’m just pissed.”

“And with good reason.”

Sighing, she glanced down. “I think it’s a lost cause.”

“Maybe Lance has something you can wear.” Patting her
shoulder pityingly, Tess guided her from the bathroom.

Lance’s eyes widened as he saw the damage. “Shit, babe. What
happened?”

Jade’s lip wobbled.

“No used crying over spilled puke.” Tess glared at Lance.
“Do you have something she can throw on?”

He scratched his head. “Yeah, I think I have some old sweats
you can fit.”

“Oh God, I’ve been reduced to a sloth,” Jade bemoaned,
weakening.

“It’s ok. I look good enough for the both of us.” Tess
laughed and ducked her fist. “I’m going to find Adonis. Text me after you
changed.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

It didn’t take her long to track down the main staircase. On
the way down she passed kissing couples and an argument between three Lusts who
all happened to be wearing the same dress.

She was so not drunk enough for this.

Tess searched the crowd for Adonis or Riley. Where had they
gone?

She pulled out her phone and hesitated to text him. Would it
be clingy to see where he was? Her hand clenched around the device.

No, she’d wait. He hadn’t messaged her so maybe he was
enjoying himself. Her eyes narrowed. Hopefully not enjoying
himself
too much. She’d hate to ruin Jade’s hard work in a catfight.

It wasn’t Adonis that she didn’t trust. She did. It was
these skank hoes she had to keep an eye on.
 

Or maybe she was being paranoid.

Nothing a few drinks wouldn’t solve.
 

Tess made her way into the room. Everything was sticky. The
floor. The air. The people. Dark and humid, laser and strobe lights convulsed
over the dancing throng. Shitty rap thundered, splitting her eardrums.

As soon as she had enough to drink, she was going to
distract the deejay, hook up her music, and blow these people’s enfeebled
minds.
 

The booze table had been set up off the side of the ‘dance
floor’ near the kitchen. A trash can had been used to mix the jungle juice. Praying
someone had at least rinsed it out before making this batch, Tess retrieved a
clean cup and dipped it into the murky concoction.

She sensed rather than felt someone come up beside her.

Tess took a leisurely sip to communicate she didn’t
appreciate being rushed before turning.

She didn’t recognize him until a passing flash of light
temporarily retracted the veil of darkness.

The alcohol curdled on her tongue.

Dressed in dark colors, he struck an ominous figure. Fake
blood spattered his face, hair, and clothes. A machete hung was tucked into his
belt loop, its blade too covered in blood.

She smiled weakly. “Wrath?”

His eyes raked her body, lingering longer on her chest than
called for, before continuing their circuit. “Greed.”

Around them the party jumped with life and yet the mushrooming
tension put the world on mute.

He jerked his head, indicating he didn’t want to yell the
entire conversation.

Taking a breath and large gulp of juice, she trailed him
into the kitchen. But he didn’t stop there. He led her through a series of interconnecting
hallways until they reached a parlor. It seemed to have remained relatively unscathed.
He closed the doors behind them.

“So, how are you?” she asked setting down the briefcase.

He smiled, seemingly amused by her nod to propriety. “Fine.
You?”

“Good.” The silence returned, its friction so dense it chafed.
 

Cameron drank from his cup, his eyes never leaving hers. “Has
Adonis been behaving himself?”

“Why wouldn’t he be?”

“Still so naïve, Tess,” he said softly. “Have I taught you
nothing?”

“About what, Cameron?” she snapped, fed up with the
holier-than-thou spiel. “About being a good friend? Because I think you might
need to take a remedial course.”

His mouth lifted. “And I think you need to know a thing or
two about loyalty before doling out lectures.”

Tess scrubbed her forehead. This was going nowhere fast. “Cam,
I didn’t come here to fight with you. I want us to be on good terms, but if
you’re going to keep throwing this in my face, then we should call it quits. For
good.” Something in his face flickered. “I’ve apologized. I’m sorry for what
happened. What else do you want from me?”
  

He flashed in front of her, the abruptness of his closeness
nearly upsetting her drink. Up close, she saw the cracks in his poised veneer. Bourbon
radiated so strongly from his pores, she was surprised a vapory mantle hadn’t
shrouded his body. Red filigree veins laced the whites of glazed eyes. Unshaven
and clothes wrinkled, he appeared on the brink of unraveling.

“Cam, what happened to you?”

Something in his gaze gave way. “You happened to me, Tess.”

Regret knotted in her throat. “Cameron…”

He stepped closer. “I miss you.”

“I miss you too.” And she did. He’d been her best friend for
years. Even though things had gone south in the relationship department, she
still wanted him to be a part of her life. He’d left a hole in her life, like a
missing appendage. “Do you think we’ll ever be able to move on from this?”

“I don’t want to.” Tess recoiled as if struck and he was
quick to amend with, “Not in the way you think.” He set both of their drinks on
the old-fashioned roll top desk so he could gather her in his arms.

A warning flag hoisted in her head. “Cameron, what’re you
doing?”

“You should give us another chance,” he continued as if she
hadn’t spoken, his speech slowing. “I love you.”

Not so long ago the statement would have whipped her into a
state of frenzied glee. Now their utterance loaded her shoulders with discomfort
and guilt. “You’re drunk.” She squirmed to extricate herself, but he’d locked
her into a steel vise. “Let me go.”

“No.” His head dipped to steal a kiss.
 
 

Although she predicted the move—although she had time
to duck out of the way—curiosity kept her planted.

His lips were cool, moist, like that of a fish.

Whatever spark existed between them had truly been snuffed.
It didn’t evoke nostalgia as much as it did a deep-seated sadness. Sadness for
the way things ended between them.
Sadness that she’d been
wrong about him.

Her mother had been right.

She’d mistaken indebtedness for something else entirely. Tess
knew she would always be thankful for helping her acclimate to his world. But
it didn’t mean she had to shackle herself to him.

For so long, she thought he could do no wrong. For so long
she’d confused love with gratitude. With the field of stars cleared from her
vision, she saw he was far from perfect.

He was just a boy.

Figuring she’d proven her point, Tess broke away.
 

He pinned her with a critical look, as if he couldn’t quite
believe his kiss hadn’t elicited a response. “You’re really into him.”

“I really love him.”

He didn’t get a chance to reply.

The parlor doors exploded open, producing a lethal, vicious
beast that resembled her boyfriend. “You cock-sucking piece of shit!”
 

Between one blink and the next Adonis crossed the room. His
fist was a blurred projectile, its trajectory his former friend’s face.
 

A hard packing noise, like a brick striking clay, and Cameron’s
head nearly twisted off his neck. He staggered into a wingback chair, dazed.

“Adonis! What the hell are you doing?” She flew in front of
him, cutting off his path.

He looked through her. “I should kill you, you pathetic
little fuck.”

“What the hell is this about?”

Adonis hurled what looked like an eyeglass case at the blond.

Holding his jaw, Cameron didn’t bother blocking the attack.
It thwacked into his arm before clattering to the ground.

Tess covered her mouth as the contents spilled out. Needles.
A tourniquet. Spoons.
And a packet of fine powdery white
substance.

No.

He wouldn’t.

“Where,” she swallowed bile and started over, “where did you
get that?”
 

“I don’t know. You tell me,
Cammie
,”
he sneered. “Lindsay fucking told me everything.”

“Who the hell is Lindsay?”

“The chick he sent to ply me with smack.”

Her stomach twisted. “Please tell you didn’t do it.”

“No I fucking didn’t! Do you know how hard it was for me to
kick that shit?”

Tess stared at him, wanting to believe him. His face was
splotched with color. Too-wide pupils blotted his eyes, reducing his irises to
thin circlets of gold. A cold sweat slicked her spine. “You’re high.”

Black eyes cut to her, their depths foaming pits of rage. “I
smoked a joint. So fucking
sue
me. If I’d taken this
shit I’d be laid out on the ground facedown in my drool.”

Her body burned hot and cold.
“He wouldn’t do that to you. Tell him,
Cam. It has to be a mistake.”

“Why are you’re taking his side!” Adonis roared behind her.

“I’m not taking sides.” She kept her gaze on the blond,
who’d yet to defend himself. “Tell me the truth.”

Cameron bent down, reassembling the heroin kit. “Yes. I sent
her to do it.”

Tess gaped at him, disbelieving. Who did shit like that? Was
this the real Cameron? “Why the hell would you do that to him?”

Adonis paced next to her. Aggression crackled around him
like a force field. “Because he’s a sick, twisted, vindictive asshole.”
 

“It was just a test,” Cameron said simply.

“A test?” Tess walloped his shoulder. “Have you lost your
mind? You know how long it took him to get clean. Why would you do something
like that?”

“To prove a point.” Cameron jacked an angry finger his way.
“He’s a good for nothing junkie. That’s all he’ll ever be, Tess. Do you want a
life with that? Always wondering when he’s going to fall off the wagon.” He
sneered. “You see how long it took him to turn back to weed. Just give it a
couple of months and he’ll be back mainlining.”
 

Tess curtailed Adonis’s charge, shoving him back and almost
stumbling back by the force of his momentum. Though she knew it wouldn’t take
more than a flick of his pinky to send her flying, he reined himself in like a viper
coiling around itself, waiting for an opportune time to strike.
 

“You don’t think I’m good enough for her. Is that what this
shit is about?”

Beneath the fake scars and splattered fake blood, Cameron’s
smile was positively feral. “That isn’t exactly a trade secret. You wouldn’t be
good enough for a dog.”

All of a sudden, the anger left Adonis. It vaporized from
his shoulders, melted from his stance. The fire flattened from his dark eyes. “You
really hate me enough that you’d wish to send me back there?”

Although Cameron’s demeanor remained placid, Tess sensed the
conflict warring within him. “You would’ve ended back there without me.”

He stared at him shrewdly. “I guess that shows how much
friendship means to you.”

“Friendship?” Cameron’s features rearranged with
incredulity. “You want to talk to me about friendship? Don’t make me fucking
laugh. Do you want to know what our ‘friendship’ consisted of in the past
decade? Me making sure you didn’t drown in a puddle of vomit. Me lying to
people about your whereabouts and covering for your ass.”

“Yeah, I was a fuck up. I got it.” His fists trembled at his
sides. “But I thought out of everyone you had my back. One of the few people
who wasn’t a toxic drain on my life.” A new emotion taxied into his expression.
“You didn’t even come to my mother’s funeral,” he said if he could barely
believe it himself.