Vipers and Virtuosos (Monsters & Muses, #2)(85)

Everything in the gallery is still, the shadows square and unmoving. I frown, pushing back to my feet, and grab Riley from behind.

“Why would Caleb lock us in here?”

Her hand freezes mid-knock, and she shrugs. “To be a dick? I don’t know, we did just turn his bathroom into an exhibitionist site.”

“Yeah, and I’m pretty sure he’d rather drag me out by my dick than trap you in here with me.” Jimmying the doorknob again, I shake my head, frustration lancing my skull.

“Get out of the way,” I tell her, rolling my shoulders and trying to loosen the muscles in my neck.

She scrambles a few steps, the backs of her calves hitting the toilet. “What are you doing?”

Without answering, I call out for Caleb one last time; silence continues to trickle in from the lobby, so I focus on the doorknob and lift my foot, aiming for the lock and pushing all of my weight into it.

The door flies open, bits of metal and wood splintering into the air as it knocks into the wall. One of the hinges pops free from the impact, and Riley screams, even though she’s clearly not in any fucking danger.

Just as I suspected, Caleb is nowhere to be found.

But someone else is.

“That seems so unnecessary,” Riley says as she exits the bathroom, smoothing her hands over her dress. She comes to a complete stop at my side, a small gasp falling from her lips as she takes in the petite, platinum blonde standing at the front of the shop, looking like she’s just seen a ghost.

“Mellie?”





40





I can’t tell if I’m choking on surprise, or the imprint of Aiden’s fingers pressing on the back of my tongue.

Like they’re still lodged there, I can feel them cutting off my air supply and debasing me in a way I didn’t think I would enjoy, given my past.

For some reason, though, it just feels right at his hands.

It shouldn’t, I know that. I know that he was awful to me when he showed up, and that the stalking was… well, illegal.

But I also know that no one’s ever made me feel quite as good as he has, either.

As beautiful.

Whole.

Maybe that’s not the answer to everything—I know the trauma can’t be reversed or healed by pretty words and forehead kisses.

They help, though.

It’s so much easier to navigate when you have someone standing by you.

Tearing my gaze from the disturbingly attractive man at my side, I focus my attention back on the front door, where Mellie Simmons stands.

Her skinny fingers wrap tight around the strap of the clutch hanging off her shoulder, her pale cheeks flushed pink—from the cold air outside, or what she possibly just overheard in the bathroom, I can’t be sure.

Or maybe it’s the fact that her former classmate is supposed to be dead, and yet here she stands, freshly fucked and being extremely obvious about it.

My mother’s voice is quieter these days, but she comes raring back with a vengeance as the silence ticks by, reminding me of what a disgrace I am.

As if sensing the tension lacing my muscles, Aiden shuffles closer to me and drapes his arm over my shoulders, tilting his head as he looks between us.

“Another Lunar Cove resident, I take it?” he asks, closing the distance to hold his hand out for her. “I’m guessing there’s a fifty-fifty chance you have any clue who I am.”

Mellie blinks, her dark eyes peeling off my frame and swinging to him. “You’re Aiden James. I… I cannot believe I’m standing in the same building as Aiden James right now. Holy shit.”

He smirks, lifting his chest. “So, you’re the percent that I like, then.”

“She’s not from here.” I shrug off his hold, trying to make this thing between us look more casual than it feels.

Her excitement dwindles, and we just stare at each other for a long stretch of time. Aiden shifts on his feet, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I’ll be honest,” he says. “I don’t understand what’s happening here.”

“Tell me about it.” Mellie’s voice is suddenly cold, so unlike the way it was in high school. “Last I saw her, Riley Kelly was walking away from our class at the airport after our NYC trip, and the next thing I know, she’s dead.” Her head cocks to the side, eyes hard. “Care to explain?”

“You recognize her even with the pink hair?”

My fist lashes out, catching Aiden in the abs, and he lets out a low chuckle. “I’m just saying, you didn’t really do that much to change.”

“Maybe not in person. But on paper?” Mellie frowns, adjusting her purse. “Totally legit. Then again, I guess when your family’s involved with the Mafia, you can manage arrangements like that.”

Unease gnaws at my intestines, and I wrap my arms around my stomach. I feel Aiden’s eyes on me, hot where they try to penetrate my defenses as soon as they start shackling back in place. Taking a deep breath, I try to figure out how to explain things without explaining things.

“She doesn’t owe you an explanation,” Aiden interjects, stepping so he’s positioned slightly in front of me.

Mellie’s eyes go wide. “No? I was her friend.”

“A friend would realize that people don’t usually fake their deaths without good reason.”