Page 43 of Poison Touch (Monarch Vipers #1)

KINSLEY

After my conversation with Kade, I decided to go to the Halloween party with Josh. If he does try something, I’ll be ready. As I did last time, I tell Josh I’ll meet him at the party. Needing to stay in control of the situation, I don’t want him to pick me up.

Luca is on his way to do my makeup when I get a text from Adam. It’s short and sweet:

He’s done his first part by getting me the fight’s time and location.

Now, he needs to get me in so I can do my part.

Even though I’m still trying to figure out what that is.

I know Venom will be there. The venue might change, but the gamblers and murderers are guaranteed to come out and play. After all, the UG is their game.

I take the dress out of the garment bag.

It’s more stunning than I remember. The images Edge planted in my head at the dress shop have haunted me all week.

When I got home from the mall, I texted a simple thank-you to the number on the piece of paper the woman at the dress shop gave to me.

I had to assume it was Edge’s number. When the response came back, I had all the confirmation I needed… One day soon.

As usual, Luca doesn’t knock when he arrives.

He waltzes right into my bedroom and sets down his makeup bag on my desk.

“Kins, you are going to have the hottest costume there.” He kisses both of my cheeks.

Luca is never flamboyant until he starts talking or shopping for clothes or makeup—the two things I suck at.

“I’m going to assume you’re clean because of the towel on your head. ”

I smell my armpit. “Don’t I smell clean?”

He waves me off, ignoring my question, and takes the towel off my head. “I’m going to do your hair, then makeup, then put you in that beautiful gown.”

“Most guys try to get girls out of their dresses,” I tease.

“Girl, I’ve already seen you naked more times than I care to count.

And as perfect as your little body is, it does nothing for me, babe.

Sorry. Besides, you already have a taker in that department.

And if he’s not the one, that come-fuck-me dress is a calling card for any guy you have your eye on tonight.

” He taps the tip of my nose. “And don’t try to hide it.

You know as well as I do that is what every straight guy is going to be thinking when they see you tonight. ”

“Luca!” I spin in the chair to look at him. “You know that’s not the goal here.”

“Whatever.” He brushes my comment away with the flick of his wrist.

Over meatball subs, I told him about Edge.

At least the trivial details: he drives a Jeep, is popular, and is in a couple of my classes.

I wanted to say to him more, but it wasn’t time yet.

Luca’s only advice was to wear a condom.

So, I especially didn’t tell him that Edge said he wanted to fuck me with the dress on, but that was obvious enough in the dress shop.

What my best friend did share was his thoughts about me backing down, to leave my dad’s death alone, and wanting me to believe what the rest of the world was told, that his death was an accident. I know Luca doesn’t believe this. It’s just his way of trying to keep me safe.

Luca taps his phone screen, chooses a hip-hop playlist, and then gets to work.

Almost two hours later, he’s done. Thank fuck!

I’m not one for being pampered. The prodding and poking—not my thing.

But if I complained or fought Luca about it, he would have tortured me by making the process three hours.

He places his hand on the back of the chair. “When I turn you around and you see all of my glamorous and hard-as-hell work, you’re going to love it. If you hate it, bitch, you better lie straight to my face.”

I laugh. “I can’t imagine I’ll hate it. I just might not be as comfortable looking as glamorous as you want me to be.”

He puffs out a breath. “Don’t go there.” Luca covers his mouth as if haunted by a thought. His eyes widen to the size of beach balls. “Oh, Jesus on wheels! Please tell me you’re not riding that crotch rocket to the party.”

“Of course not. Eden is coming to pick me up. Now, can I please see your masterpiece?”

“Oh, thank fuck for small gifts.” He lets out a relieved sigh. “Okay, here we go, the reveal. Ready?”

“Yes!” He turns the desk chair to face the mirror. My breath hitches. “Luca, I look… I look… Holy hell. Amazing. I mean, I’m not trying to get all cocky and brag on myself, but damn. I’m bragging on you. Look what you did.”

He tosses his head to the side and fans his face in all his glory. “I know, I’m a goddess. But I have to give you credit, too. You give me a beautiful canvas to start with.”

The intricate lines of the lace mask look so real.

My blue eyes are brighter than usual with the ombre of royal to light blue colors.

My hair is in a sophisticated, loose bun with long tendrils curling on either side of my face.

I have no words. The girl in the mirror looks so refined and sophisticated.

I pucker my pale pink lips. I can’t stop staring at myself.

“There’s only one rule,” he says, holding up a poised finger.

“Do I have to be home by midnight?”

“Girl, as hot as I made you, you better not come home at all.”

I most definitely have intentions of coming home... alone. “Then what’s the rule?”

“Do not touch your face. I put a finishing spray on it to help it stay in place, but don’t rub your eyes, itch your cheek, or let those hot lips of Mr. Edge trail across the mask in any way.

He must know he has boundaries. Stay to the areas of lips, neck, breasts…

” He gives a dismissive wave. “You know the places.”

“If you could see my face, I’m turning red.”

“Yeah, right. The last time you blushed in front of me was with anger when I kicked your ass and made you tap out.” He gives me a knowing look. “Listen, I know you can’t stop staring at your stunning self, but let’s get the dress and heels on. Then you can admire the entire costume.”

Twenty minutes later, the doorbell rings. I open it to find Eden in jeans and a sweatshirt. I give myself another quick once-over. “Shit! I am waaay overdressed.”

She doesn’t speak, then stammers, “No—no. You look amazing.”

Luca steps up behind me. “That would be all me.”

I look over my shoulder and smile. “Eden, this is Luca. Luca, Eden.”

“Kins has told me all about you and your bestie. It’s nice to finally meet you,” he says, extending his hand.

She shakes it. “Thanks. You, too.”

“Can we be any more formal?” I roll my eyes.

“Please forgive her. She isn’t the most polite creature,” Luca says. “Especially when she’s all dolled up.”

“Ready to go?” I ask Eden.

“What are you?” Luca taps his lip, checking Eden out. “Wait—let me guess. An angry college student on the verge of rebelling against uniforms.”

She laughs. “My costume is in the car. Bryce and I are going as an avocado. Each of us is a half. I’m the one with the pit.”

“Very clever,” Luca says.

I kiss him on the cheek. “Will you be here when I get home?”

“I told you not to come home.”

I give him the dumb face.“And I told you to come, but you’d rather spend your evening with Trey, eat pizza, and watch old Bruce Lee movies.”

“You won’t watch them with me.”

“You’re right.” I’m jealous of his simple, laid-back plans. “I’ll see you later then.”

“Call me if you need a ride home.” He rubs his hands together as if concocting a wicked plan. “Hopefully, you won’t,” he sings.

“Thanks, Luca. Love you.”

“Love you back,” he says. “And I want every effing dirty detail of the night.”

I follow Eden down the driveway. “Bye, Luca.”

“Wait!” Luca hollers from behind me. He races after us and hands his phone to Eden. “I need a pic! Do you mind?”

We pose as she takes a few pictures. “Thanks,” Luca and I say as she hands him back his phone.

He gives me one last hug. “If you need me, I’m here,” he whispers into my ear.

“Love you.” I release him.

“Me, too.”

“Send those to me,” I call over my shoulder to him and climb into Eden’s boat of a car. Thankfully, it’s not a small car with the layers of fabric I need to tuck inside. “Thanks for picking me up. I didn’t want Josh to. If I meet him there, it’s technically not a date, right?”

“Absolutely right.”

Bryce is standing outside the large, modern beach style house when we arrive. Most everyone is dressed up. There are funny costumes, sexy ones, scary and clever ones, like Eden’s and Bryce’s.

“Holy shit! You look amazing, Kinsley,” he says.

“Thanks. But I may not make it the whole night in these shoes.”

Josh sees me just as I see him and hurries over.

“He’s been looking for you since I got here,” Bryce says.

“Yay me,” I say flatly.

“Hey, Kinsley. Wow! I mean, whoa. Your costume is awesome. You look gorgeous.”

He’s dressed as the Phantom of the Opera.

I didn’t think I mentioned what I would be, but ironically, we kind of fit together.

He reaches for my hand, but before he can take hold of it, I slip it away, pretending to adjust my hair.

Nausea becomes a swirling entity in my gut when I look at him now.

Before, it was just that I wasn’t that into him.

But now, after Kade told me about his sister, there’s a yucky writhing sensation I have a hard time ignoring.

I want to ask him straight up, but I’m not sure tonight’s the night.

“A lot of people are inside,” Bryce says.

“I heard there’s a hedge maze in the backyard,” Josh says.

“Of course, there is. We’re at Mikayla Winward’s house,” Eden says as she points to a group of girls. “There’s the guest of honor, sexy Medusa.”

The name doesn’t jostle any faces in my memory until I see Brielle draped on her arm like an accessory to her costume. Oh, that Mikayla, one of Venom’s groupies.

“This is considered a mansion,” Bryce corrects.

Josh nudges my arm. “I’m thinking we should hit it before it gets busy.”