Page 43 of Pretty Lies (Watch Me Burn #1)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

LUKAS

“ S hould she even be driving? She was on something,” Jensen scowled as I followed Caden’s Challenger. We stuck as close to the Corvette as we could, not wanting to lose her if she decided not to go home after all.

Tyler had gone with Caden, but they’d called us so we could keep talking on the hands-free.

“Do you think he’s drugging her to make her compliant?” I asked tightly, calming slightly when Jensen gave my knee a squeeze.

“Skeet is a lot of things, but he doesn’t need to drug girls to get them in bed. She’s fucking him because she wants to.”

“Rory’s not like that,” I argued, making Caden snort, the sound loud through my speakers.

“You mean the girl who let me fuck her after a few pretty words? Skeet’s every girl’s wet dream, he probably just smiled and she jumped on him.”

“I don’t get it. Was she relaxed with you?”

The thought of Caden fucking her made my blood boil, but he had a point. If she was comfortable fucking him, she’d probably be comfortable with Skeeter too.

I wanted to get her as far away from him and his crew as possible, but I knew Skeeter, and he wasn’t sacrificing shit by sending her packing, he was simply biding his time and avoiding the drama.

“He wanted her from the moment he saw her at our party. He’s just doing it to piss us off,” Jensen huffed, but Tyler surprisingly spoke softly.

“I don’t think it’s an act. She gets too much special treatment to just be a crew whore. If Skeet didn’t want her, he’d be passing her around the crew. I’ll talk to Slash about it.”

“He’s not your friend, dude. If Rory’s involved with crew shit, he won’t tell you about it,” Caden sighed. “How the hell do we make her realize she belongs with us?”

“You could stop being a dick,” I said under my breath, but he heard me.

“I’ll talk to her and apologize.”

“That’s a start. The thing you need to realize about Rory is your fancy house and money has zero appeal to her.

Even when her family had money, she wasn’t a princess about it.

Running around the streets and fighting is just part of her personality, so convincing her that our side of the tracks is better for her won’t work.

She’s more comfortable having nothing,” I explained.

“How can anyone be comfortable living in poverty?” Tyler asked, sounding completely baffled.

“She had everything as a kid, then it was all taken away. If she only relies on herself and minimal things, she can’t get burned again. Look at what happened when she got comfortable with us? We threw it in her face.”

The guys were quiet for a while, but Jensen finally spoke. “How do I prove to her that I love her for real?”

“Actions speak louder than words. Are you sure she’s who you want?” I asked, a weird feeling twisting inside me. It was ridiculous, but it felt like jealousy.

It wasn’t like I’d lose my best friend if he started dating Rory, but it felt like it.

Caden had been throwing Jensen in my face a lot lately, and I’d been struggling to process it. I wasn’t into my best friend, but I was protective of him.

If Caden and some of the others were thinking I was into him though, did I need to back off? Even Skeeter teased me about it, so I knew I’d overstepped a line somewhere.

Jensen reached out to pat my leg, and I jerked back from him and almost ran us off the damn road, making him frown. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Do you think Rory’s going to flip out at the house? What if she tells Josie everything that we did?”

Tyler chuckled, but it sounded forced. “Then get ready for a beat-down and the biggest scolding of your life. We’ll all be in the doghouse.”

Caden

I parked my car beside the Corvette and bailed out, grabbing Rory’s wrist to stop her from going into the house, almost making her drop her bag. I needed to make her see that I regretted everything, but I didn’t know how.

“Please listen to me for five minutes.”

“Why should I? You played me for a fool, bullied me, and then threatened Skeet to make him kick me out. I don’t think you understand how pissed I am right now,” she snapped, yanking her wrist free of my grip. “Where I go or who I fuck has nothing to do with you.”

“The crew life?—”

“Are you ashamed at the thought of having a street rat as a stepsister? Who gives a shit what I wear or what company I keep. I like fighting, and I really like Skeet. You just had to walk in and ruin it!”

She shoved me, and I caught myself against the side of the house before I could fall over. She’d been working out and fighting too much. She was stronger.

Lukas and Jensen parked beside us and climbed out, but they stayed back as I tried to reason with Rory.

“I’m not ashamed, Aurora. Do you understand what the crew life is actually like?

Women don’t belong in it unless it's to be used for entertainment purposes. Skeet will get bored, he always does, and then he’ll pass you around the rest of his guys until they decide they’re bored of you too.

You’ve seen too much and you’re too involved with the fighting.

Do you know what happens to people like you when they want you gone?

” I growled, wishing she’d see sense. I liked the Psychos, but I wasn’t stupid enough to get too involved with them and end up dragged into their bullshit.

We let them party with us to find more clients, and they supplied our drugs. That was the extent of our business.

“Of course I know, but it’s not like that.”

“No? So you’re Skeet’s girl then? He’s actually told everyone you’re his girlfriend?

You know, he could invite one of his guys into the bedroom with you whenever he wants and you’d get no say in it.

That’s the type of people you’re in with right now.

You’re going to get killed, that’s my fucking issue.

Fucking Skeet isn’t the problem, it’s the fact that you’re getting too damn close to his world. ”

“It’s my fucking world too!” she shouted, clenching her fists.

“Scrappy fights, drugs, parties, and shitty rundown houses with ugly-ass curtains! You think I belong here with you in your sparkling mansion with marble floors and bottles of champagne that cost more than a car? It’s insane for you to think that’s how normal people live.

People like me and Skeet live on instant noodles so we can afford the electric bill.

Those who can afford a car, drive without registration and insurance because they have no choice when rent’s due and they need to work to earn the money.

I grew up in a neighborhood where prostitution was normal to pay for fucking groceries from the age of twelve, and I know firsthand what it’s like when you’re pimped out like an object.

Don’t tell me I don’t understand what I’ve gotten myself into, asshole. ”

“But you don’t have to,” Tyler said as he stepped closer, genuinely confused. “Why would you live like that on purpose? We’re sorry, and we just want to help you.”

She snorted, shaking her head at him. “Because taking handouts means owing people. The last time my family did that, I got my fucking virginity sold to pay it back. You think you’re doing something so good by trying to help me?

It’s an insult. I’m tired of being used and abused by those who promised to help. ”

She stalked towards the house as we chased after her, the door opening so hard it hit the wall.

“We really are sorry,” I insisted, earning an unimpressed glance from her over her shoulder.

“Like I said, I don’t give a fuck. You’re only sorry because it’s hurting you, not because it hurt me. You want the guilty pain inside of you to stop, but it won’t. I hope it eats you alive.”

She kept walking, her bag slung over her shoulder.

“Skeet really doesn’t scare you? You know he’s not bluffing, right? He could just kill you and dispose of your body.”

“I know he’s serious, but I’m not afraid of dying, Caden. I have nothing left to lose. Might as well have some fun before the Devil calls me home. I think I deserve it, don’t you?”

Her angry blue eyes stared me down, and I assessed her pretty face that was mottled with bruises and cuts. I hated that we pushed her to this point, she wouldn’t have gone near the Shed if we’d just canceled the plan of hurting her.

I wanted to blame the guys so badly, but it was purely my fault. Even if they’d told me to fuck off, I still would’ve torn her world down around her to make a point.

One that didn’t even make sense anymore.

I loved her, I couldn’t keep denying it, and I’d destroyed my chance to be with someone who didn’t see me as a golden ticket. Rory’s love was genuine, she didn’t care about material things, and I’d probably never have a chance like that again for real love.

Mom was in the kitchen on the phone when we all walked in, her eyes going wide when she saw the state that Rory was in.

“I need to go, but make sure that contract is on my desk tomorrow. Okay, bye.” She hung up and placed her phone on the counter, walking towards Rory with worry. “Oh my God, who hurt you?”

As predicted, Rory pulled back when Mom reached out to cup her cheek and inspect her, but she didn’t lash out at her.

Rory was damaged from bad parenting, but I was grateful that she respected my mom.

Mom loved her so much despite barely knowing her, so the fact that Rory saw that and was polite spoke volumes.

She wasn’t the girl I’d originally thought she was, and I should’ve seen it earlier before destroying everything.

“Self-inflicted. It was just a bit of fighting,” Rory said honestly, flinching when Mom tried to touch her face again.

“Let me look at you. Honey, why were you fighting? Are you having trouble with people? I can handle it for you, you should’ve come to me,” Mom murmured, and Rory finally stopped avoiding her touch and let Mom fuss over her.

She sat at the kitchen counter while Mom grabbed some ice, and I walked closer, keeping my tone quiet. I didn’t want to argue, I just wanted to fix everything.