Page 4 of Such A Bad Girl

Time stood still.

And then — slowly, deliberately, with the utmost intention, I took one, two, three steps, and kicked Avett square in the face.

The tip of my boot sank right between his eyes.

He slumped to the side. Everleigh scrambled out from underneath him and stood next to me. The two of us stared down at Avett’s body.

His unmoving, lifeless body.

Everleigh squeezed my hand, whispering in such a faint voice that I wasn’t quite sure I heard her. “Thank you.”

She let go, took a step forward, and leaned down next to Avett. I watched in awe as she used both hands to push his body into the lake.

He disappeared without a trace, the gentle splash almost imperceptible.

Like nothing had ever happened.

She turned towards me and nodded, her eyes peering deeply into mine, tears streaming down her beautiful face.

“This never happened, Theo, do you understand?”

I nodded.

“Let’s get out of here,” I growled. I gripped her hand tightly, turned and led us away, our footsteps fast and light as we disappeared into the woods together, leaving our secret behind us forever, with nobody but ourselves and the bright light of the moon knowing the truth.

Chapter One

EVERLEIGH

Even going in the back entrance of the Hush Hush Club didn’t save me from the relentless pursuit of the paparazzi. As I approached the entrance, the familiar sounds of cameras mixed with shouts of my name that I’d learned to completely ignore.

I hustled through the door past security, flashing them a smile of gratitude when the beefy security guard quickly closed the door behind me.

“Thanks,” I said. “They’re relentless tonight.”

“Of course, Miss Everleigh,” he replied. “West is at the bar.”

I pushed through the pulsing crowd, the night already in full swing. Flashing lights bathed the skin of Hollywood’s beautiful people tonight, just like it did every night here at the club. The line that stretched around the block and led outside the door that I’d bypassed was full of hopeful hipsters eager to do almost anything to get into the club my brother and his friends had created. Frequented by A-list celebrities, the club had become the most likely place to rub elbows with anyone important in this town.

But I wasn’t here to do that.

I was much more interested in some place else.

My brother greeted me with his usual resigned ambivalence.

“Hey,” I said. He grunted in greeting and I hugged his new love, Kaylee. I grabbed a drink from the bartender and stood at West’s side as he looked out over the crowd.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

“Yep, just watching,” he said. My brother, West, was obsessed with the club and his career. Until Kaylee had come along, I was sure he’d die a bitter, lonely workaholic. Now, at least he wouldn’t be lonely. I was hoping Kaylee could keep him from burning out and so far, he seemed much better.

I scanned the crowd, unable to quiet the burning question in my head.

“Where’s Theo?” I asked, trying my best to sound casual.

“I don’t know,” he shrugged.

“When’s he going to be in?” I asked. West’s immediate irritation told me I’d failed at sounding casual.

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