Vincent (8 page)

Chapter Fifteen

Into the Lion’s Den

Lake somehow found herself being pulled up the stairs to the front door.

“I am
not
going in there, Adalyn! Do you know who lives here?” She was somehow managing to yell and whisper all at the same time.

“Yep.” Adalyn quickly lifted her knuckles to knock on the door.

“Wait!” Lake swiftly grabbed her hand before it made contact. “You told me this was a party where a bunch of seniors would be getting drunk, not a goddamn gathering of the head of the Kansas City crime family! Trust me, these people are insane. I met that crazy one today, and all he had to do was that flippy thingy with his lighter”—Lake tried to mimic the movement with her wrist—“and I practically piss—”

The front door opened, and Nero appeared.

Lake wished she could crawl into a deep, dark hole and only hoped he hadn’t heard that, but the amused look on his face told her otherwise.

Adalyn tried to break the awkward silence. “Thanks for inviting us, Nero.”

“You’re welcome.” Nero smiled as he opened the door wider for them to enter. “Nice to finally meet you properly, Lake.”

She tried her best to smile as they entered the home. “You, too.”

“There’s a bunch of pizza in the kitchen, and don’t worry, there are seniors here, too,” Nero informed them as he left the foyer, still smiling.

Oh, God.

Adalyn tried her best not to laugh. “Well, at least that was a step up from the last one you met.”

She really wasn’t good at making first impressions. Thankfully, Nero wasn’t as scary as his older brother, but looking at his emerald eyes, she figured he only needed time. “Yeah, well, you’ve got fifteen minutes, remember?”

Adalyn dropped her voice. “Seriously, Lake, look at this house. We can’t see it all in fifteen minutes.”

Lake glanced around at the huge foyer with a grand staircase. There was no telling how the rest of the house looked, and they had only taken one step inside.

“Fine, twenty.” As she moved further in the doorway, she couldn’t help feeling like she had been led into the lion’s den.

As they made their way through, Lake became easily distracted by the extravagant home.
This place is definitely fit for a king.
The huge kitchen connected to the dining room, which connected to the living room, making it feel even more ginormous with the vaulted ceilings. There were quite a lot of people there, and there was still room to spare.

“I am so glad you both are here!” Maria quickly gave them each a hug. “Come here, you have to meet my friends.”

Lake followed Adalyn and Maria through the people to the couch in the living room, which was quieter and a little more secluded than the rest of the house. She noticed the strawberry-blonde she had seen that night at Poison.

“This is Elle. Elle, this is Adalyn and Lake,” Maria introduced them.

“Hi.” Elle sweetly smiled, her voice matching her looks.

“And this is Chloe,” Maria finished, pointing to the dark-haired girl on the end.

Chloe nervously smiled back at them. “H-Hi.”

Lake couldn’t help noticing the scars which marked the right side of Chloe’s face. One went from a few inches above her eyebrow down her cheek, while the other ran about an inch above and below her lips. Lake could almost see the pain in her shockingly gray eyes.

“Hey,” Lake replied when Chloe let her black hair veil the right side of her face. She instantly felt bad for staring, but it wasn’t even the scars which had caused it; it was how beautiful she was even with the markings.

“Weren’t you the girl at Poison back in January?” Adalyn asked.

Elle laughed. “Yep. I don’t think that was a good night for any of us.”

All the girls burst out with laughter, thinking about how that night really hadn’t panned out for anyone.

Lake and Adalyn sat down on the huge leather ottoman in front of the couch, feeling comfortable talking with the girls.

“You took Nero back, huh?” Adalyn asked, wanting to gossip more than talk.

Nero broke in and answered for her. “It took a bit of persuading, but she finally did.”

“Yes, unfortunately, I did,” Elle teased as Nero leaned over and brushed his lips over hers.

“What kind of pizza do you want?” Nero asked Elle.

Lake turned her head when another voice greeted her, one she hadn’t heard in what seemed like ages.

Looking up, she saw the baby-blues which would every so often enter only her uncontrollable dreams. Her eyes scanned over him, taking in all the changes she had seen from a distance. Vincent’s features had only taken on small ones; he groomed himself a little more immaculately, and his clothes were a little more flawless. However, it was his eyes which had really changed. She could see a different man behind them.

“Lake…? Lake?” His words finally interrupted her thoughts.

Huh?
Lake blinked up at him, trying to shake off her stupor. “What?”

“What kind of pizza do you want?”

She turned her head, unable to look at him and talk at the same time. “Um, no thanks. I’m not hungry.” That was a clear lie. She was actually starving from not being able to eat much of anything that day.

“Pepperoni or cheese?” It came out as a demand that time.

Lake faced him again. “I said I wasn’t hung—”

“Adalyn just said you haven’t eaten today,” he quietly growled.

“They are really sensitive about food.” Elle laughed, trying to calm the situation. “Just pick one.”

Lake had forgotten there was anyone around.
Awesome.

She sweetly smiled up at Vincent. “Since you don’t ever give me an option, you pick.” She knew he would understand there was more than one meaning behind that.

Vincent’s eyes narrowed on her before he left with Nero and Amo.

“What did Vincent do after Poison when you all got home?” Elle quietly asked. “Nero told me,” she added.

Took my first kiss, screwed another girl, and then took me home where he told me it was all a big mistake.

Lake smiled. “Apparently, he burned our dresses.”

“For good reason.” Vincent returned, shoving a plate in front of her.

Lake grabbed it, looking down at the four huge slices of pepperoni and cheese pizza and then up at Vincent’s smiling face. She had forgotten he was good at playing games, too.

Lake glanced around seeing Vincent hand Adalyn a plate, Nero giving one to Elle and Maria, then Amo setting another in front of Chloe. Something told her none of the girls had a choice in not eating when they all picked up their first slice of pizza.

Lake felt like she fit in once the guys started talking amongst themselves, which allowed the girls to chat again. She had to keep telling herself not to look in Vincent’s direction every now and then, though.
Shit, why did you look?
A couple of times, she was unsuccessful.

She had begun to notice Chloe wasn’t talking as much as the rest of them and after a fit of giggles, she whispered something to Elle then got up to leave. Lake watched her walk to two backdoors before she disappeared.

Something about Chloe called to her. She felt almost responsible for why she had left.

Getting up, she shoved the barely half-eaten plate back at Vincent.
I won.
Then she quickly went to the backdoors Chloe had just exited from. Opening them, Lake was taken aback by the beauty of the backyard.

The whole yard was huge with plenty of green grass, but it was the garden which drew her attention, and within it sat a gazebo strung with white lights. It was stunning.

“It’s so gorgeous,” Lake said in awe.

Chloe looked over at Lake and smiled. “I-It is.”

Glancing over at Chloe’s half-covered face, her heart slightly burned. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stare earlier.”

Chloe looked down at her hands and began to wring them. “It’s okay. I’m u-used to it.”

Lake went to place her hand on Chloe’s shoulder, but Chloe practically jumped ten feet out of the way.

“S-Sorry, I’m germaphobic.” Chloe grabbed the shoulder she had almost touched.

She held up her hands. “No, I’m sorry.”

Lake finally understood why Chloe called to her. Although she could relate to her pain, Lake knew the torture behind Chloe’s eyes was far worse than hers.
Not in a million years would I want to know her nightmares.

“If you ever need someone to talk to, I would listen. I know what it’s like to be alone.” Lake went to leave so Chloe could have her time alone but before she did, she felt compelled to say something else. “You shouldn’t hide your face. It’s beautiful.”

Chapter Sixteen

The Good Has Been Strongly Outweighed by Evil

Chloe found herself under the white gazebo once more. Months before, she had been there in the dead of winter when there was snow yet a promise of flowers. She had found it beautiful then, but now she found it…
Breathtakingly beautiful.

Looking through the windows into the party, she realized she wasn’t any better at social gatherings than the last time. However, this time was a little different. She hadn’t expected Lake to go out of her way to say those things.

You shouldn’t hide your face. It’s beautiful.

Chloe reached up and swept her hair behind her ear, remembering her words. She had never thought that maybe they weren’t staring at her scars, but instead maybe her. Regret was setting in that she hadn’t said much to her or thanked her for being so nice, but the truth was she hadn’t grown used to kindness again. The good had been strongly outweighed by evil in her life.

Chloe knew if she didn’t expect kindness, she wouldn’t feel pain again. She knew the moment she grew used to kindness would be the moment it killed her all over again.
The next time, I won’t survive.

“Hey, darlin’,” a familiar, deep voice greeted her.

Chloe looked up at Lucca, wondering how he could appear and disappear without a sound. He was the last person anyone would want to catch them off-guard, and she was the first person who shouldn’t be snuck up on.

Lucca pulled out a cigarette and held it with his lips as he spoke. “I hear you’re still saying you’re a germaphobe. Have you ever thought of telling the truth, just once?” He flicked his Zippo with his wrist and lit the end.

Chloe looked down at her lap and squeezed her hands together. “I-It’s not a lie.”

Lucca needed to only take a few strides before he stood above her, where he held out his hand. “Come on, darlin’; just try it once.”

Glancing up through her lashes, she stared at his hand.
Just try it once.
She didn’t know if it was the truth he wanted or if he actually wanted her to touch his hand. Either one would be a first, and either one would be just as scary.

Chloe released the pressure of her hands and felt an itching need to reach up and touch his.

Hers had only moved mere centimeters before she came to her senses. “I c-can’t.”

“Why can’t you?” his dark voice commanded.

Glancing up farther through her lashes, she met his face. “Because I’m scared to,” she whispered her confession.

Did I just say that out loud?
To him?

After a moment longer, Lucca sat down on the chair in front of her. “That wasn’t so bad, darlin’.” Taking another puff of his cigarette, he continued, “It’s summer now, and you’re still wearing long sleeves.”

Chloe quickly pulled the sleeves of her black dress down to make sure her arms were covered.
How does he always know?
She didn’t know whether the trait added to his scary or sexy side. It was too hard to tell right then when she was looking at him.

His appearance seemed even rougher than the last time she had seen him since his black-brown hair and beard had slightly grown out. However, he still kept up his bad-boy appearance by wearing dark jeans and a black T-shirt which hugged his muscular frame.

Lucca flipped out his silver Zippo and began rolling it through his fingers. Then he waited for her to become entranced in the flame. “Are you going to college?”

“Yes, of course,” she answered mindlessly.

He weaved the lighter faster through his fingers. “Where?”

“Stanford, in California.”

Swiftly, he flipped the lighter closed. “That’s awfully far, darlin’. I guess you
do
get to keep running.” Lucca stood over her once more.

Chloe sucked in her breath, waiting for what he would do next. She began to feel a sudden déjà vu, realizing this time had gone much like the last.

“She
is
right, you know. Those scars are beautiful.”

She could sense his hand wanting to touch them, exactly as she sensed his disappointment with her going to California.

He was gone before she knew it, like he had appeared.

Chloe reached up and smoothed her finger over the scar on her cheek.
Those scars are beautiful,
she repeated his words in her head.

Not in the least.

*  *  *

As Lake closed the door to the backyard behind her, she was met with three confused faces.

“What?” she said after they continued to stare at her.

“What did you say to her?” Vincent asked.

Lake looked at him then to Nero and Amo, all wondering the same thing.

What the hell?
“Um, why?”

Vincent tried again, “Because I asked.”

Now I remember why I don’t like him.

Lake decided to simply walk past him, ignoring him completely. She was done trying to talk with him because his attitude had only gotten worse over the months. Besides, she heard the music starting up, and she wasn’t going to miss her chance to dance again with Adalyn.

When she took a step to pass him, Vincent grabbed her arm, stopping her. She tried to jerk back unsuccessfully.

“Get. Off.”

“Not until you answer me, sweetheart.”

“I wasn’t fucking mean to her, if that’s what you were thinking!” Lake finally yanked her arm again, and he let go. She smoothed down her dress to cover more of her legs from the jerking. “Now, will you please move? I’m going to dance.” She made sure the ‘please’ part was sarcastic.

Amo took a step forward, quickly insisting, “I’ll go with you.”

Vincent quickly put his hand on Amo’s shoulder, squeezing so hard it made his knuckles go white.

Lake glanced at Amo.
He is a big mother trucker.
Yes, he scared her with the way he was eyeing her up and down, and no, she didn’t particularly want to dance with him because he didn’t ask if he could, more like told her. She didn’t care at the moment, though, because it was clearly making Vincent mad.

She smiled as sweet as butter. “Oka—”

Vincent quickly snatched her arms and began pushing her backward until she found herself plastered to the glass wall. Her eyes widened when she looked up at Vincent’s face, realizing she might have pushed him too far.

“What did I tell you the last time?” he gritted out.

Lake lowered her voice to a whisper as she tried to see over him. “Vincent, there are people—”

Vincent pushed his body closer to hers, making her press more into the glass. Gently, he placed his hand over the top of her throat so she wouldn’t have a choice other than to look at him.

“When I ask you a question, sweetheart, you
will
answer me. Now, don’t make me ask you again.”

Lake’s chest thought it was going to burst out of her dress with the way she kept breathing.

His thumb glided back and forth over the pulse in her throat, letting her know he was completely aware of how she felt. She had pushed Vincent way too far, and she had forgotten until right then exactly what kind of man he was.

“I … I don’t remember.”
I do, but I can’t say it.
Regardless of how much she tried to kill Vincent off in her head, those words he had spoken still came to her.

“I’ll remind you.” Taking his other hand, he swept her silky, light-brown hair behind her ear. “I told you if you ever went on a date again, I would chop his hand off. Fucked someone, I would chop his dick off. Do I need to leave to go do either of those things?”

Her mouth grew dry as she managed to slightly shake her head under his grasp.

“Good girl.” Leaning over, he put his mouth as close as he could, careful not to touch her ear. “I also told you that, if I ever caught you dancing and looking like that again, your days of being a virgin were over.”

Lake squeezed her eyes shut with each word he whispered in her ear. The warmth of his mouth so close to her skin made her body respond by heating every inch of her flesh.

Vincent leaned back up, eyeing her body with intensity. “Sweetheart, you are halfway there with that dress.” Taking his hand away from the grasp he had on her hair, he traced her chubby bottom lip. “I dare you to try it.”

When Vincent pulled his hands off her after one last swipe of his thumb, Lake’s body instantly cried for them to return.

She watched Nero and Amo move from their blocking positions, only then realizing they had been there the whole time. The two had put their backs to them so the world couldn’t see.

Lake was forced to watch Vincent walk away from her again, just as easily as he had the first time.

Goddammit, I hate him.