Page 23 of Poison Touch (Monarch Vipers #1)

KINSLEY

When I check the party's address, I realize it’s only a few blocks from my uncle’s house.

Being that it has been a week from hell, a drink or two might do me good, so I suck it up and go.

At least, that’s what I tell myself. I’m pretty sure my body has other reasons for wanting to go.

Ignoring the tiny tingles of anticipation, I change into my bikini and pull on ripped jeans and a white, cropped, off-the-shoulder T-shirt.

I haven’t painted my toes in forever. Luca would have a conniption if he saw me going out like this.

But I’m in the I-don’t-care mood. After tying my hair up in a messy knot, I grab my lip gloss and phone off the nightstand.

There’s only twenty percent left on the charge, but oh well, it’ll have to do.

I may kill Bryce if he doesn’t show. After I told him Josh invited me, he said he knew about it and would probably attempt to go. He was also going to try to get Eden to go, but that would be difficult.

Josh has been riding me all week about the party. So, at least I may have a couple of people I can hang with while I’m putting myself out there.

Luca keeps pushing me to make friends. “Let down your walls,” he says when we chat each night. It’s turned into a joke. He knows I don’t let my walls down for most people—especially undeserving assholes. Plus, it’s not that easy, especially when you have no idea who you can trust.

Uncle Trey is in the kitchen making a drink.

“I didn’t know you knew how to make a cocktail.”

He turns and smiles. “Vodka with a splash of soda water is hardly a complex cocktail.” He swirls the liquid in the glass. “But it does have a lime.” He squeezes the juice into the glass and then drops the wedge in. “Tonight, I need something a little stronger than a beer.”

“Yeah, you and—” I stop myself before I finish, but my uncle isn’t stupid.

He offers a knowing smile. “Listen, I wouldn’t blame you.

You’ve been through a lot lately. And just so you know, I was young once, too.

” He gives me a wink. “I went to my fair share of parties with the iconic red cups—not filled with anything considered alcohol, funnels next to the kegs, and music loud enough to get the cops to show up every damn time.”

That brings a smile to my lips. “Well, a party on the beach a few blocks from here will undoubtedly have all. I planned on going with a couple of people I met at school. Are you okay with that?”

“Absolutely. Go have fun.” He sets down his drink. “If you need me to drop you off or pick you up, this drink can wait until another time.”

“Thanks, but that’s okay. I’m just going to walk. It’s close enough, and if I have a couple of drinks, I can just walk home.”

He eyes me pointedly. “Like I said, if you need me, I’m here. I can be there in a flash.”

“Thanks.” Wanting to keep the line of trust open, I snap a picture of the address on the paper Josh gave me. “Here’s the address. It’s right up the beach.”

“Well then, if you’ve got it handled…” He holds up the glass. “Cheers.” Then he takes a sip, the ice clinking against the sides of the glass. “Be careful. Don’t take a drink from someone you don’t know, don’t swallow the pretty pills, and wear a condom!”

“I will. I mean, I won’t— I don’t plan on—” I slap my hand over my face.

He chuckles through my sputtering. “I’m just kidding. I mean, I’m not. I know you know how to be responsible. At least you look like you do. I’m only trying to be the adult who thinks they should know what to say.”

“You do. You sound like my mom,” I comment with a sarcastic thumbs-up.

“Great!” He chuckles as we walk out onto the back deck.

“I’ll be home before midnight. And I promise to be careful.”

He plops down in his favorite chair and kicks up his feet. “Kinsley. Try to enjoy yourself, will ya?”

I turn to look at him before stepping off the last step. “Yeah, thanks.”

As soon as my feet sink into the sand, it’s not hard to know exactly where the party is.

The raging bonfire is the first indication.

The second is the music's beats, which can easily be heard from down the beach.

The sun hovers just above the ocean. The raging fire complements the melting fiery orange glow as it sinks below the horizon.

The closer I get, the clearer the details become.

A game of volleyball is going on, a few people are playing Frisbee, and others are tossing a football.

It seems like the entire population of Monarch is here.

With so much going on, a small hope sprouts that maybe no one will notice my arrival.

And as fast as that seed takes root, it’s killed when an arm wraps around my shoulder.

“You made it!” Josh pulls me tight against him. “Damn! You look hot.” His breath reeks with the stench of beer and mustard. This Josh is very different than the cautious and shy one in gym class.“Hey, you want a hot dog? I just had one.”

That explains the mustard. “Thanks, but no, I’m good,” I say.

“Let’s get you a drink,” he suggests.

“Great idea.”

The second we pivot, I get a full view of what’s in store for tonight.

And I suddenly want to turn around, head back down the beach, and go home.

Then, to sweeten the deal, order a pizza and pop a bag of microwave popcorn while I chill out and watch a movie.

Instead, I do the exact opposite. I let Josh guide me toward the house.

The bonfire casts a golden glow over the people surrounding it.

Some lounge in beach chairs, while others lie on towels.

Most of them are against another body. We make our way around the blaze to the other side.

Gunner and one of Brielle’s bitch friends are a mess of tangled limbs, groping hands, and fused mouths.

My gaze travels around the curve of the fire.

Levi is next in the lineup, lying on a towel.

His knees are bent, and a girl is tucked under his arm.

The side of his torso is on full display.

There’s no sign of the snake tattoo. One of them is in the clear.

It doesn’t mean he isn’t involved. He just isn’t the one who did the actual killing.

All this amateur detective work would be a lot easier if masks weren’t mandatory at the UG.

Kade is in a beach chair, eyes closed, and his earbuds are in place as he takes a drag off the joint between his fingers. He’s wearing a loose tank that covers any possible ink. There’s a girl at his feet, but he’s too wrapped up in his happy place to notice or care.

Then there’s Edge. His muscular body is splayed out, legs crossed at his ankles.

With his head lying on Brielle’s stomach, he uses her mostly naked body as a cushion.

One of her hands trails up and down his bare chest. With each of her caresses, her overflowing breasts spill out of her triangle top and come intentionally close to his face.

He looks uninterested, bored by everything going on around him.

Unable to stop staring at the gorgeous sight of him, I trip on the edge of the deck but quickly regain my balance.

His chest is smooth and tan, and his arms are a masterpiece of lean, corded muscles.

My attention snags on the black ink curling up the side of his torso, and my mind instantly falters back to the night my father was taken from me.

Python had a striking snake tattoo in the same spot.

I shift slightly, easing onto the tips of my toes to get a better look.

But with Brielle’s tits in the way, I can’t make out exactly what the tattoo is.

I don’t know if I feel more frustration or relief.

Am I ready to come face to face with the killer?

For the past three months, it’s all I’ve planned for—or at least I thought I did.

Now, the situation is more difficult than I thought.

What the fuck am I going to do if one of them is my dad’s murderer?

Those gray eyes narrow and home in on me.

Our eyes catch and hold. Stepping off the edge of a cliff, falling into the abyss, would have been better than to get caught in Edge’s snare.

My body stiffens. I may be staring right into the eyes of my father’s murderer.

A flare of intensity flashes over his too-perfect, unshaven face.

I dare myself to look away. But I can’t find the will as I drink him in.

The cursed link we both seem to share doesn’t afford either of us a choice in this game of captivation.

He looks like he wants to devour me, while I want to drag him through hell.

And yet, the silent chant echoing in my head, murderer, killer, python , does nothing to ebb the heat coursing through my middle.

“You okay?” Josh asks.

As I’m jerked from the moment, Josh tugs me along, saving me from drowning in Edge’s hypnotic gaze. “Uh… yeah… fine.”The sadistic side of my curiosity is dying to glance over my shoulder to fall back into those dangerous dark pools. What in the actual fuck is wrong with me?

I walk onto the pool deck under Josh’s arm.

Not wanting people to get the wrong idea, I gingerly ease out of his embrace.

Doing my best to push Edge out of my mind, I focus on the long table lined with every kind of alcohol available.

A keg is propped next to the table. Several guys are tapping from it right into their mouths.

There’s a mad game of beer pong in the corner next to the pool.

Whoops and cheers follow the toss of the small white ball.

“What do you drink?” Josh asks.

I wasn’t planning on having anything to drink except water. But after almost allowing myself to slip into the clutches of the devil himself, I say, “Tequila.”

Josh’s red-rimmed eyes question my answer. “Are you sure?”

“Very.” At this very second, I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.

“Okay then.” His gaze falls back to the table, searching for the bottle I already have in sight. “Ah, here it is. Um, there’s limes and s?—”