Vain (The Seven Deadly, #1)(10)

“What are you doing!” he grated as I tossed in the last shoe.

“Oops.”

“You bitch!”

I climbed my way up the gravel walk and into the house not bothering to look behind me. I continued up to my room determined not to think of the consequences of what I’d done.

“Nobody messes with Sophie Price,” I said out loud. “I don’t care who you are.”





CHAPTER THREE





My father burst into my room without knocking. I attempted to hide my shock at seeing him on my side of the house.

“What the hell happened tonight?” he demanded.

My mother came into the room and silently stood beside my father.

“Nothing,” I said, leaning over my vanity, removing my makeup.

My father met me at my chair and swung me harshly by the arm away from my task.

“I have put up with a lot from you, Sophie.”

“Really?” I asked, surprised at my own words. “The last time I checked neither you nor my mother bothered to endure anything to do with me unless absolutely necessary or if it was a publicity risk. I was raised by strangers. You have not put up with anything from me save for the occasional call to your attorney. So you can spare me the lecture. You missed the opportunity to be my father a very long time ago.”

He slapped me across the face and I stumbled back into my vanity chair, stunned silent. My hand went to my cheek and held there.

“You spoiled, selfish little whore,” he told me through gritted teeth. “I pay for your life and all I’ve asked in return were a very few things. Stay out of the limelight and support the image we are a healthy family in company. But apparently even that was too much to ask. You’ve done irreparable damage this time, Sophie, and there’s only one thing I can think to do with you.”

He whipped his cell from his jacket’s inside pocket, dialed and held the phone to his ear.

“Pembrook? Sorry to wake you. Yes, as we’ve discussed,” he said and hung up.

My parents left my room abruptly and shut the door behind them. My hand trembled from my cheek and fell into my lap. I tried not to think what the subject of conversation had been, tried not to take my dad’s accusation that I was a whore to heart, regardless how true it was, tried not to think too much into the fact that my mother let him accuse me without so much as a peep from his side.

I stood and slinked out of my Chanel, letting the garment fall into a heap at my feet. I slept in my underwear and bra, uncaring of anything around me. It’s easier to pretend. So much easier.



In the morning, I showered and forewent breakfast, something I did often as I rarely ate. A girl has to keep her figure. I’d planned on visiting Sav, to get away from my tension-filled home, but when I approached the carriage house, my SLS was gone.

“What the hell?” I asked no one. I searched the entire garage, but it was nowhere. Ah, I see. He thinks to punish me.

I took out my cell and rang Sav, but it went straight to voicemail.

“Fine, you don’t feel like answering, you piggish trout?”

I dialed Spencer and he picked up the first ring.

“La fée?”

“What are you doing right now, love?”

“I’m taking you out, I hope?”

“You’ve read my mind,” I flirted back. “Pick me up at my place in, say, an hour?”

“Right.”

I hung up and went straight to my room to pack a bag. I wouldn’t need much. I planned on spending most of my time warm in Spencer’s bed.

Spencer was right on time just as I expected as no one kept me waiting, ever. On my way out the door, Sav rang me.

“Sav,” I spit out.

“I’m so sorry, Sophie. I—”

“Save it, Sav. I’ve no need of you. Goodbye.”

I hung up.

Spencer leaned casually against the passenger side door and looked incredible. Just under six foot. Spencer’s wardrobe spoke trust fund but his face screamed of how handsomely rugged he was, not at all babied-looking and I appreciated that about him. His face would be screaming something else within the hour if I had anything to do with it.

I’d just hit the last of the steps when he lifted his finely sculpted body and sauntered my direction.

“Hello, beautiful,” he whispered into my ear when I reached him. He yanked me by the waist toward him and lightly kissed my ear. “I was wondering when it would be my turn.”

My stomach clenched at the memory of my father’s words, but I stuffed them back down.

“Seems you were a fine wine, Spence. You only needed aging.”

He grabbed my bag and opened the door for me. I settled inside, wrapping my seat belt around myself just as Spencer joined me after placing my bag in the trunk.

“I have to crash for a few days,” I told him, examining myself in the vanity mirror.

“That shouldn’t be a problem,” he said, smiling at me.

His teeth were white and perfectly straight. He was equally as flawless as I was.

He started the engine and it purred like a kitten, but I’d heard Aston Martins did that.

“Why?” he asked.

“Well, after Sav’s party—,” I said, but there was no need to finish.