Page 61 of Pretty Poisoned

"Sure," she says. "What is it?"

"I'm going to have a car come and pick you up," he says. "I need you to go shopping and get some clothes for Teagan. I'll give you my card. You can get whatever you want, too."

"Oh, fun! What kind of clothes?"

He shrugs and takes a bite of his sandwich. "Stuff she likes."

"Can I go?" I ask.

He looks me up and down like maybe he's considering it. "I don't think that's a good idea, Teagan," he says. "Sorry, baby."

I sigh, defeated.

"Teagan's going home once we get to Seattle, so you might as well get used to not having her around now."

Declan's voice startles me. I remember how manic he was last night, how elated he was watching someone he called his family—someone who loved him even if he didn't love her back—bleed out on the ground.

I remember seeing her blood on his teeth when he smiled…right before he shoved his bloody fingers in my mouth. On instinct, I cling tightly to Luca's arm. This one might be insane, too, but he thinks he loves me. Maybe he can protect me.

The older brother's dark eyes drill holes through me. He looks like he wants to rip me apart with his teeth.

A smile spreads across his face as he breaks the gaze. "Why is everyone so sad? There's nothing to be sad about. Smile, Brady," he says.

"Um…are you serious?" Brady asks.

"Have you ever heard me tell a fucking joke, Brady?"

Brady forces a half smile in his direction.

"Why don't you guys understand that this is a celebration?" Declan says. "You know what? We're having a party. I'll call the others now. And where the fuck is Alana?"

"She went upstairs, Declan," Hazel says.

"Well, go fucking find her," he says. "I need to talk to her."

He starts to leave the room, then turns back and points to me. "And you. You and I are going to have a talk later, too, Teagan," he says. "Alone."

"Don't worry, Teagan," Luca says casually. "He's not going to do anything to you. He won't make you go, either. Not now."

I turn to reply and realize I'm still digging my nails into his forearm. When I release him, four little moon-shaped cuts fill with blood.

I remember what Layla said about what she'd done that upset Declan so much—she'd drawn blood from him.

"Oh my god," I say, panicking as I look from the tiny cuts to his face. "I didn't mean to. I'm sorry."

He shakes his head and laughs. "It's okay, Teagan. I'm not my brother."

He runs his thumb over the deepest of the cuts and then wipes it on the inside of my lip. "See?" He leans forward and kisses my lips. "You should get her a bathing suit, too, Riv. Then she can go sit in the hot tub. It'll help with your back."

"My back is killing me, too," Brady says. "That's not a bad idea."

"You both need to toughen up," Luca says as he bites into his sandwich.

"I'm actually okay with not being in grave-digging shape," Brady says, standing to leave the room. "I don't want to bury any more of my friends in the backyard. And you need to give her some fucking space, Luca. Don't love-bomb her. You're scaring the shit out of her."

"What are you talking about? Teagan's fine," he says.

"I actually just…want to go lie down," I say, testing the waters, "and rest. Maybe read a little."

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