Page 130 of Pretty Poisoned

"Fuck you."

I'm the first one out of the elevator with both of them laughing behind me.

"When did you even find the time to piss her off like this?" Luca asks Declan.

"It was a quick turnaround," Declan says. Then, he's at my side with his hand on the back of my neck. "But she looks so pretty—even when she's mad. I miss my kitten, though." I hold mybreath while he runs his hand down my back. "Don't be mad. No one is laughing at you, baby. You're not a joke."

"I'm not mad," I say to him. "I just want you to stop being nice to me."

"You don't mean that," he says.

I push through the hotel doors and climb onto the bus with Declan and Luca behind me.

"Teagan! We're making Bloody Marys—do you want one?" River asks.

"I want two," I tell her. "One for each hand."

I regret it as soon as the words leave my fucking mouth.

"Yeah, Teagan loves having one for each hand," Luca says.

God damn it.

"Actually, just one is fine," I say over everyone's laughter.

"Go ahead and make her two, Riv. She'll change her mind," Declan says.

"No, I won't."

I take one Bloody Mary and sit in a space between Luca and Hazel. The Bloody Marys are actually bloody, and I should have anticipated that, but it's been a while. The coppery taste on my tongue comforts me; it relaxes me. I take another drink and sink down into that space under Luca's arm.

I am going to want that second one, too.

"So, what'd he do?" Luca whispers. "Ass-to-mouth?"

I laugh, choking on my drink. "Luca! Damn it."

"What? Am I right?"

"No. I fucking wish it was just ass-to-mouth."

"Youwishit wasjustass-to-mouth? Well, god damn. I have no more guesses."

"Move," Declan says to Hazel.

I place my hand on her arm. "Please don't."

She looks at me and shakes her head. "Sorry, Teagan. Declan is Daddy. I have to listen to him."

I frown, and he sits in that space next to me. So much for him hiding upstairs.

"Get over it, Teagan," Declan says. "I'm not going to apologize to you; I'm not sorry."

"I didn't expect you to," I tell him.

I try to make myself smaller somehow—to sink further into Luca's side. I don't want to leave the rest of them. I know that means I'll have to make some kind of peace with Declan even if I don't want to, but I don't have to right now. I don't have to kiss him or touch him; I don't have to be soft or sweet to him in the middle of the night. He'll find someone else to hunt and forget about me.

We can exist together separately. I'll just have to be more careful.

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