Page 14 of Pretty Poisoned

"Thanks…" I say, still confused. I almost bring it to my lips, then pause. "Um, is there blood in this?"

"Of course!"

"Well…who's blood?"

"Yours," she says.

I look back and forth between River and Declan. When the fuck did they take my blood? When I was sleeping?

Then she starts laughing. "Oh my god, I'm kidding. This is just coffee. Iamhere to take your blood, though. So I need you to give me your arm and make a fist."

For a second, I think she's joking again, but then she snaps on some latex gloves and unwraps a needle. She pulls a tray of test tubes from the same bag and sets them on the coffee table, attaching one to the end of the cannula.

"Arm," River says again. This time, I hold out my arm and make a fist like she asked. She ties a small rubber tourniquet around my bicep.

"I'll be shocked if she's clean," Declan says.

"Ignore him, Teagan," River says, her tone harsh as she narrows her eyes at Declan. It makes me nervous, but he doesn't react. I guess he must care about her, or they must have some kind of rapport if she's comfortable snapping at him in front of someone else, and he'd let her. "You have delicious veins. Little pinch."

She inserts the needle and starts filling the vials. Once she's finished, she pushes the tray aside and attaches a bag to the end.

"What's that for?" I ask.

"For fun," she says.

"What?"

"You're doing so well."

But that doesn't really answer my question, and I'm starting to get light-headed. As the color drains from my face, I lean back into the couch. River runs her fingers through my hair as if she's trying to soothe me.

"We'll get you something to eat once we're finished," she tells me. "Almost there."

When she's done, she puts it all in a biohazard bag and gives it to Declan.

"I'll text you when I get the results. Don't let her out of your sight," he says.

"I got it," she replies. "Don't worry."

"I don't understand what the fuck is going on," I tell River.

"If this comes back clean, you can come to the show tonight. And maybe, if you can handle it, you can come with us when we go to Coeur d'Alene. Personally, I don't think you can," Declan says.

"Then why are you doing this?" I ask.

"I want to see what it looks like when you break," he says. And the way he says it, the look in his eyes, again, it's terrifying. All I can do is sit there.

"If you come tonight," Declan adds, "stay away from my brother. Don't talk to him, and definitely don't touch him. If you do, you're out."

Now, I'm even more confused. I assumed he was here because Luca wanted me there.

"Why?" I ask.

"Because," he says, "I want towatch youbreak. Luca won't even give you a chance. You won't be able to handle him."

I wait for more clarification, but I don't get it. He simply turns and walks out the door.

"Luca breaks all of his favorite toys," River says. I realize she's cleaning my upper arm with a cotton ball. "That's why he's in timeout. One more pinch."

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