Page 78 of Beneath Her Skin

“Heidi, shut the hell up for once in your life!” Shane growls.

The gasps of shock that escaped Riley and me are an understatement of how unexpected that was. Her own boyfriend, finally standing up to queen bitch.

“You can’t seriously be taking their side, Shane?” Heidi shrieks, stomping her foot in anger—or disbelief. Who cares?

Shane turns to both of us, his features softening. “I don’t know what happened, and I don’t care. I wish I had stepped in sooner, and for that, I’m truly sorry. Can I give you girls a ride home? It’s the least I can do.”

I blindly reach for Riley’s hand, she finds my hand and interlocks our fingers together. I want to believe that Shane is being genuine, he did step in to try and help me, but that was the first time he’s ever intervened. It’s hard to trust those who would continuously turn a blind eye to your everyday abuse.

“Can we trust you?” Riley asks bluntly.

“Wait, Riles, W-Willow. Let me take you home. I’m so, so sorry.” Felix rushes before us, dropping to his knees with his hands laced together. Begging for forgiveness and blubbering at our feet. “I’ll talk to my dad as soon as I get home. I c-can’t lose your friendship.”

Riley’s head whips to him and scoffs in pure disgust. “I meant what I said to you earlier. You’re dead,” she deadpans, offering him nothing else before grabbing his glasses off his face, and snapping them in half. She tosses them at his knees and laughs. “Take us home Shane. Try anything funny and it will be the last thing you ever do.”

Her eyes slowly roam up to meet his. Shane nods, swallowing hard. “I only want to make sure you both get home safe. That’s all, I swear.”

Heidi storms over to Shane, crossing her arms. “If you allow that,” she glares at us, “trash, to get in your car, then we’re done,” she snaps.

“Then I guess we’re done,” he replies with venom coating his tongue. He gestures with his hand for us to follow him. “Let’s go.”

Without saying anything more, still holding hands, Riley pulls me ahead. We pass Felix, who is still apologizing on the ground, and Heidi, whose furious glare burns into us. Rileyflashes her a middle finger with a broad grin, which makes me smile too. We trail Shane to his car and drift away into the night.

The entire ridehome was mostly silent. Riley held me tightly against her in the backseat, rubbing slow circles on my bare thigh. Shortly after we left the party, I realized I left my sketchpad in Felix’s truck. Suppose I’ll have to get a new one, because I never wish to be in his presence willingly again.

We’ve been betrayed by so many people in our lives, yet the sting of Felix’s stab to the back was the worst of them all.

Shane pulls into our driveway with a heavy sigh as he parks. He turns in his seat and offers us a sad smile. “Do you know what happened Riley? How was Willow saved?”

Her hand pauses on my thigh. “I don’t know,” she responds. “What I can tell you is that I appreciate you helping tonight, at least you tried to help. No one else did, so thank you I guess. Sorry about your shirt.”

He chuckles softly, staring down at his naked, muscular chest. “I have plenty of other shirts. It’s no problem.”

Lights flicker violently from inside the house, and loud music blaring can be heard from inside the car. What the hell is happening in there?

Riley flashes me a puzzled look. That’s unlike Maria. “Well, thanks for the ride home. See ya around, Hawthorne.” Riley says, opening the car door and hopping out. She holds out her hand, which I take with a bashful smile.

“Don’t get into too much trouble, Draven sisters,” Shane quips, a panty-melting smile on his face. Riley shuts the door, saluting Shane before he drives off.

There’s a startling thud from inside the house right before the music abruptly cuts off. Our heads snap towards the sound, just in time to catch a splatter of blood streak across the living room window.

“Is she back?” she whispers. I latch onto Riley’s arm and gulp. She meets my gaze with a smirk. I plead with my eyes for her to tell me what’s going on.

“I made a bargain with Death to save you, Will. A reaper—Sable—came to me through the flames of the bonfire and offered to save your life, for a price. I didn’t care what she wanted, all I cared about was for you to be okay. So, she saved you.”

I inhale a shaky breath at her admission. I never wished I could speak more than I do right now. I have so many questions.

“She healed you, but our souls were the price. We must take two lives tonight. Two lives, for ours. I didn’t catch the fine print of this deal of hers, but I think we’re about to find out.”

She cups my cheeks, planting a quick, heated kiss on my lips. “I hope you’re not mad at me,” she breathes against my mouth.

Music blasts loudly inside our home again, causing me to jump. I nervously bite my lip and shake my head.

“Stay behind me,” she commands.

I stay quick on Riley’s heels as she slowly turns the door handle. As soon as the door opens wider, the music quiets to a less ear-piercing volume. A feminine giggle heard coming from the living room has the tiny hairs covering my body standing erect. My heart races, pounding with adrenaline and fear.

Riley digs in her pocket, brandishing the same switchblade that caused so many problems earlier. She sets the blade free, and hesitantly walks around the corner to peer inside the living room.

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