Page 71 of Soulless Deeds

Micah wore a strapless mini dress, the majority of her tattoos on show—an intimidating bombshell that could make anyone bow and kiss her toes with a simple command. Emerson, on the other hand, was the surprising wildcard. She’d fought against my choice of attire until Micah specifically requested the dress for her birthday. And Emerson, being Emerson, couldn’t resist.

My blonde beauty of a sister wore a bodycon minidress, the tight fabric accentuating her thin waist and toned legs. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen her without jeans, and I’d cussed her out when she’d finally given us a glimpseof her unblemished skin beneath. She didn’t look like some angelic innocent—instead, she was a fallen angel, leaking potent depravity and sin. Just from looking at her, you’d happily take a bite of the forbidden despite the taste leading you to hell.

I had no idea where our boys had disappeared to, but I was all too willing to take advantage of their omission. My sister’s expressions brightened with a tipsy buzz as they welcomed Remi and I into the fold, spinning and twirling until we were one tangled mess, the crowd encroaching closer as I closed my eyes and let the blissful party take me hostage.

Firm hands latched onto my hips, and my lids opened to be consumed by vibrant silver, pupils dilated and fixated on my mouth. “Spence,” Remi mouthed. I couldn’t hear him over the thumping music, but his lips shaped my name as if releasing a vital breath.

My hands automatically traced up his arms to settle over his shoulders, his warmth seeping into my flesh with familiar comfort.

It could be so easy to press my lips to his, to drown myself in this calm presence that would never hurt me. Unlike the one person who had torn out my fucking heart.

Forget him.

And before I could decide anything, Remi lowered his head, lips lining up to my ear causing a shiver to cascade down my spine.So easy.

“Spenc—”

Then, I was ripped out of his grasp, where a blistering chill snuffed out that warmth as I stared into the blazing hazel eyes of he who owned me.

XXVIII

Echo

Iroamed Life Support on a fucking mission, a blearing beacon of black dread in an endless sea of white. All someone had to do was see my expression to know they’d better stay the fuck away.

Entering the main party room, I vaulted onto the bar, that invisible tether pulled taut as I hunted for her bewitching, fucking enthralling energy that forever linked us together. My attention easily marked Spencer in the congested space, white skater dress pressed up against Remi. The image nearly sent me into another panic attack, the booming music lulling to a muffled beat in my ears as the world shook around me.

Then, Remi’s arms wrappedmyGhost in a close embrace, forms colliding together. Pain lanced through my fresh wound as I practically stormed the duo, ripping Spencer out of his grasp and into my chest.

Her green eyes bled into mine, surprise sparking over her features. “Oh, you’re alive.”

My jaw clenched, grinding teeth sending shooting pains down my neck. “You missed all the vital organs. Merely a flesh wound, sweetheart. Now, what the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

“Celebrating.”

“Not without me, you aren’t!” I screeched. Remi flinched beside us, face draining of colour, while Spencer’s sisters discreetly watched on, giving us the required space to sort out our shit. If only that put a restraint on my seething anger. “Get your ass off this dance floor. We’re going home.”

“Home? Where is that exactly?” Her lashes fluttered, the little terror.

“You. Know. Where.”

“Oh, I thought you said…”

I blew out a breath, giving up the last blockade holding me back—usback. “Look, you want a fucking apology, here it is. I shouldn’t have said that to you. My home is your home.”

One second. Two seconds.

Spencer scoffed. “Is that it? Your apology? You know, you’re missing a very important four-letter word in there.”

All of a sudden, I felt faint, fucking dizzy.Is that what she wants? That four-letter word has never passed my lips—ever.

Spencer took in my expression and giggled. “Oh my god, you thought I meant the L word. I don’t need that from you. I’ll never need that from you. As if I don’t have enough already.” She sobered, opening her arms, chin lifting to her companions.

Her sincerity gutted me, the blaring truth staring back without a shadow of doubt. She had those who loved her, wholeheartedly, and she them.

My hands twitched, wanting to grasp onto something entirely intangible. They had what I wanted, and in that fraction of a moment, I was willing to rip it from them in order to not be left out on my own—deserted and alone.

Spencer continued her rant as if I wasn’t having some existential crisis. “Although that’s fucking hilarious, that’s not what I meant. I’m talking about another four letter word, justas sinister, just as ominous and non-existent in your vocabulary. Starts with S, ends with ooorryyy.”

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