Page 21 of Pretty Lies (Watch Me Burn #1)

I’d heard Max cursing about the crews one night on the phone to his asshole friends. Apparently, all the local thugs were ruining their drug and sex trade schemes by taking over territory and opening their own businesses.

My eyes ran up the guy’s chest and back to his face, finding him staring at me and definitely catching me checking him out.

“See something you like?” the guy asked as I jerked my eyes away from him, and Jensen smirked without hesitation, having no concern about a potential ruthless killer at his friend’s party.

“Evening, Skeet. Eyes off, you can’t have this one.

This is Rory Donovan. Babe, this is Skeeter Maddox.

” Skeeter reached a tattooed hand out towards me to shake, a sadistic smile tugging at his lips when I visibly tensed and Jensen took a small step back.

“No offense, dude. Don’t touch her. Like, ever. ”

Skeeter raised an eyebrow, dropping his hand with a shrug. “All good. Rory Donovan, huh? Isn’t she Holloway’s property? That’s what I heard, anyway. You know how this town likes to gossip. Rich boy dicking Heights pussy? Yeah, that shit will spread like wildfire.”

Irritation burned through me at the way he spoke about me like I was just an object, and I wriggled until Jensen put me back on my feet. Skeeter’s amused gaze remained on me as I made my escape, a dark laugh leaving him as Jensen cursed at him.

I stalked off across the yard and around the corner of the house, my eyes instantly landing on Claire. She was laughing at something a guy was saying, but Caden emerged out of nowhere and made his way in their direction, instantly capturing her attention.

She smiled and placed a hand on his chest, moving against him so that she was rubbing on him like a fucking cat in heat. He appeared bored with her swooning, but he didn’t remove her either, which set off a bomb of jealousy inside me.

I had no right to feel like this, but between Skeeter being a dick and my nerves being fried, I needed to hit something. Preferably something blonde and annoying.

I made a beeline towards them and tapped her shoulder, a sly smirk spreading across her face as she went to say something, most likely something bitchy, but I didn’t give her time to speak before I swung my fist back and slammed it into her face, knocking her to the ground as a pathetic screech left her.

I stood over her and flexed my knuckles to relieve the ache, a sense of peace washing through me. It had been a while since I’d hit someone with the intention of knocking them the fuck out.

She was instantly out cold, adrenaline pumping through my veins as I craved more. I wanted her to get up so she could fight back, wanting to prove to her and everyone else just how strong I could be when I wasn’t crippled with anxiety.

Maybe then they’d all stop fucking with me.

Caden’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, but I stormed back into the house without a word, searching for some whiskey and hoping no one bothered to follow me. I was done dealing with bullshit for the night, I just wanted to get drunker and go to bed.

“Hey, Superwoman!” Tyler’s hyena laugh hit my ears and he was suddenly in front of me in the kitchen, a bottle of whiskey in his hand and an unlit cigarette in the other.

I glared at him but happily snatched the bottle, chugging it before handing it back with a scowl. I wasn’t mad at him, but he could’ve warned me that bitch was going to show up.

“What the fuck is she doing here, Ty?”

He knew exactly who I was talking about.

“C’mon, babe, it’s a public party. Nice way to earn your hardcore street rep though,” he replied as he continued to laugh, handing me a lighter without argument as I snatched the cigarette from his hand.

“How is it a public party? It’s in your fucking house. Don’t you choose who comes?”

“It’s private to a point because only particular schools in Ashburn Valley can attend, but it’s open to anyone at those schools,” he shrugged, lighting another cigarette for himself and leaning back on his heels, flicking the ash on the floor without a care in the world.

“Which school is Skeeter from then?” I asked casually as the anger simmered down, wanting to know how they all knew each other. Skeeter was the complete opposite of these guys, and I was a little bit surprised to see guys like him mingling with the blue bloods.

Tyler’s eyes snapped to mine, narrowing as he spoke tensely. “You met Skeet? He’s here?”

“Yeah, he interrupted mine and Jensen’s conversation by the fire pit,” I replied, dragging on my cigarette and trying hard not to look too interested in the conversation, despite wanting to know everything about the tattooed bad boy with the violent smile.

I liked keeping my enemies close, and I didn’t like the way he’d looked at me as if I was his next little toy to break.

“Skeet doesn’t go to school, he’s twenty-one.

He used to go to Ashburn Valley High though, and his boys know how to throw a party.

We’re allowed at theirs, and they’re allowed at ours.

Works well for everyone,” he said, answering my question before stepping closer, his lips tickling my ear.

“You said you like to get high, right? Do you like coke?”

“Does a bear shit in the fucking woods?” The thought of finally having rich dude powder got me insanely excited. “You got some you’re willing to share with me?”

“C’mon, I’ll hook you up,” he grinned, taking my hand and leading me through the crowded house, butting our cigarettes out in an empty bottle on the way.

People parted for us, shouting greetings to Tyler and acting like he’d done them all a favor for allowing them into his home.

No wonder the guys had egos the size of Jupiter.

He pulled me into a quiet room, and I took in the scene in front of me. A few guys were sitting back lazily on couches around a glass table in the den, skanky girls on their laps as they passed around a rolled-up bill.

One of the guys grinned at us and spread his arms wide, my eyes instantly zoning in on the leather jacket with the logo. He seemed to be part of the Psychos too.

His short, dark-blond hair stuck up slightly where he must have run his hand through it recently, his dark gray eyes being similar to Tyler’s, but they held something threatening within their depths.

He was bulky, ink peeking out from under his shirt and on his wrists, but not as much as Skeeter.

“Ty! Nice party as always. Who’s your bitch?” he asked arrogantly, and I saw red. I knew better than to start shit with grown men who could snap me like a twig, so I was definitely letting the liquor control me.

My knife was in my hand in seconds and Tyler snaked an arm around my waist and sat in a vacant spot on the couch opposite the prick, hauling me down onto his lap and keeping a firm grip on me.

“Babe, don’t.” His warning was clear but I held my knife tightly, my eyes on his friend.

“C’mon, Slash. Be nice to our girl. This is Rory, and she’s new at socializing, so forgive her for her abrupt greeting.

” Tyler’s fingers wrapped around my hand that had the knife, lowering his voice.

“Put it the fuck away before you get us both shot.”

Slash’s hand twitched as he watched me, and I slowly folded my knife and eased it back into my pocket. If Tyler was worried, then it meant he wasn’t as close to this guy as I thought.

That meant he could turn on us at any moment and blow our brains out.

Slash relaxed slightly as my weapon vanished, his rough voice still sounding pissed as he spoke. “Isn’t she Holloway’s piece? You boys need to get her under control before she causes trouble. You feel me?”

My usual anxiety lay dormant inside of me as I struggled in Tyler’s lap, ignoring his growl to behave as I glared at Slash, letting the booze get to me again.

“I’m no one’s piece of ass, you arrogant cunt!”

Slash’s eyebrows shot up as Tyler chuckled nervously, tightening his hold on me almost painfully. “Relax, babe. Let me talk to my boy. You can have some attention later.”

He was lucky I didn’t punch him for that.

Slash glared right back at me, but he spoke to Tyler with disapproval. “You let the girls talk like that now? Getting soft, Ty.” His eyes shifted to Tyler and he scowled. “And I’m not your boy . I’m not one of your little high school buddies, I’m too old for your bullshit.”

“I don’t have to let her do shit, she has an issue with authority, and she isn’t a piece of ass, she’s one of us.

She just knocked Claire Davidson the fuck out with one punch, so she’s just on edge right now and not thinking clearly.

Apologies. Also, don’t act like you’re old. You’re only twenty-three.”

“I feel fifty,” he grunted before his face broke into a smirk, all anger fading away as amusement took over. “She knocked that slut out, huh? What for?”

I clenched my fists, speaking through my teeth. “For being a whore and the bane of my existence. I came in here to get high, not to chit chat.”

I made sure to give Tyler a filthy look over my shoulder, and he rolled his eyes, nodding towards one of the others who pulled a large baggie out.

Powder was tipped onto the table like flour as if we were about to bake some fucking cookies for Sunday brunch, and I’d hate to know how much it cost.

Thousands, at least.

Slash cut lines with someone’s plastic card, holding my gaze for a second before handing me a rolled-up bill. I mumbled a thank you before leaning down and pressing the bill against my nose to sniff a line, passing the bill along for the next person.

Slash and Tyler talked while we all bumped lines, and I noticed that Slash didn’t touch the powder at all. It was smart if he wasn’t using. Nothing was riskier than having addicts move drugs. They snuck some here and there until they’d racked up a huge tab.

I’d seen reports on the news about it before where drug alliances had turned sour and someone ended up dead due to drug debt.