Page 43 of Driftwood Daffodil 2

“I thought we were the sick fucks here.”

Was it wrong that I didn’t care? This wasn’t the first person’s life I ended, but I should feel something. A rush of adrenaline, or swell of guilt. But there was nothing. Just a blank void where all I could see were a pair of hazel eyes.

“He just had some stuff to work out. Besides, the bitch had it coming.” Darry leaned over and swept June’s hair off her forehead. “Isn’t that right, baby killer?”

That’s when I knew I was fucked.

For that brief second, reality and fantasy mixed, and I saw Nova staring up at me, lifeless and hollow. All I wanted to do was bring the light back into her eyes.

NOVALEE

WEDNESDAY

St. Agatha’s didn’t look the same. It was worse than the first time I walked into these halls. As if the walls were closing in, making the air around me heavier. Every corner I turned held a sense of dread that was darker than the unimpressed glare Sister Mary of the Hallway gave me. It felt like I was being watched.

Of course that might’ve had something to do with my concern over how a certain someone might act when I saw them again. But that was just semantics.

Memphis would say my anxiety was a basic survival instinct, but clearly I didn’t have that. If my drunken fights with wildlife didn’t clue him in to that fact, then the deal I made with Gio should’ve.

And there was the side deal I cut with Special Agent Jack, which kind of put me in the middle of a mafia and law enforcement showdown… unless I decided to suck it and marry Gio.

Still couldn’t believe that part. Sure, my choices were dead snitch – let’s face it, I wouldn’t survive turning on the Mancini’s – or bride to an asshole who wanted me dead. And my third grade teacher thought I’d never amount to anything. I sure showed him.

“Hi, Nova.”

My lip curled at the blonde passing me in the hall.

Something fishy was going on. That was the third person to say hi to me today. And she didn’t throw something after. At the very least she should call me a dumb bitch or something. I had a reputation to uphold.

Shaking it off, I rounded the corner and took a second to scan the crowd. Gio might be big, but he was oddly sneaky when it came to opening doors.

I was starting to think his lack of stalking skills was a purposeful act. The implications of which were terrifying. He could be anywhere for all I knew. Lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect time to strike.

Thankfully, the only familiar face I came across was Memphis, who was waiting by my locker.

There was a shocker.

He’d become super clingy. I had to practically kick him out last night. Pretty sure he would’ve slept in my bed if I let him.

“Hey.” His light eyes shone with worry. “Have you seen him yet?”

Did he think the first person I looked for was Gio? Today it kind of was, but that was beside the point.

“No, I haven’t seen him.”

Unless that was him over there?

My eyes narrowed on a trashcan down the hall. There was a shadow behind it I didn’t like.

After closer inspection I realized it was just a broom, although I wasn’t entirely sure what Gio’s disguising ability was like. So, it could be him?

My gaze narrowed further as I reached out to open my locker.

“What are you doing?”

Did Memphis forget what this place was?

“I thought I was going to school…” I eyed Memphis, glanced down the right side of the hall, then the left. “Yup, students, lockers, books. I’m pretty sure this is a school.”

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