Page 13 of Queen of Vice

It was clear to me that he was doing close to nothing to find her, despite claiming the opposite. Even if he actually had tried to, I’d long since confirmed what I already suspected when I first arrived here. The Castello family had very little power left. It made me wonder how they managed to hold onto the house considering the messy state of things.

Maintenance and the cost of living in this area were more than what I would’ve made working at the convenience store for an entire year. They had to be dumping nearly everything they brought in cash-wise into keeping up appearances.

And then there was Mateo.

I hadn’t seen or heard from him since he took me out to that diner. I returned home more conflicted than I’d been before speaking with him. I knew I couldn't trust the man, but he knew exactly how to catch my attention and hold it.

He knew I was in dire need of an ally, even if they only lent me an ear and helped point me in the direction. It was for that reason I forced myself to primp and dress for a night out with Melody and Peyton. I hadn’t wanted to involve them more than I already had, but I couldn’t see any other options right then save for making a deal with the devil.

Speaking here was out of the question. Something about my uncle rubbed me the wrong way and I didn’t trust him. I wouldn’t risk him overhearing the conversation that needed to be had.

I sat on the edge of my bed and slipped on my heels, making sure I hadn’t missed a text from Melody. She and Peyton were picking me up tonight since my car hadn’t been prioritized in my move back. Heaven forbid the neighbors get a look at my seasoned sedan parked on their immaculate driveway. Seeing I had some time to kill, I spent a few minutes checking my sister’s social media before calling it quits.

I found it strange not a single one of her friends had commented or posted to see where she was before her façade of a funeral was announced. Normally her pages were never short of interactions. There weren’t even a dozen condolences and the ones that had bothered weren’t names I remembered her ever mentioning.

I leaned back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling, placing my phone on my chest. A part of me knew I was in over my head, but I wasn’t anywhere near ready to admit that. Somebody knew what happened to Eva and where she’d gone, who hurt Molly too. Someone other than Mateo. Figuring out who was another story. If this was related to something my family had done, I couldn’t go around asking random people questions, especially here. I didn’t want to risk pissing off the wrong person.

My phone pinged and I quickly checked the text, sighing as I sat up.

They would arrive in less than ten minutes. That gave me five to come up with a way to tell them everything. I wasn't sure how to approach it. How do you explain that a girl who was supposed to be dead is actually alive? How do you sum up the chaos that had become my life? And on top of it all, how did I admit that I'd been propositioned by a notorious crime lord who everyone fears? Peyton and Melody were more familiar with this world than I was, and they knew firsthand about Mateo's sadistic tendencies. Yet, the same man who terrifies everyone had taken me out for breakfast, albeit against my will, and was offering me a tempting opportunity that was hard not to consider

I’d replayed our one-sided conversation more than a dozen times. I vividly recalled the warmth of his breath against my skin and how my stomach flipped from being so close to him. I couldn’t think of a single reason why he’d approached me.

It didn’t sound believable even to me, and I was the one there. What did he gain from this? I hoped Melody and Peyton could shine some light on things after I explained everything. That is if they didn’t decide to stay away from me after I told them my secrets.

Lore was packed nearly shoulder to shoulder. The music was so loud I had a hard time hearing myself think, but if I was really being watched it was a nice buffer between us and whoever could be nearby. I peered down at the lower level, watching scantily clad women work the room as some people danced and others crowded the bar.

If not for Peyton’s foresight to book a private booth with bottle service, we’d be down there in that sea of chaos.

“You know, I’m not that surprised about any of this,” Melody remarked.

Peyton shook his head. “Me either, but I wish I was.”

I toyed with the thin straw in my glass. I had started with a margarita and was now three drinks too many past my limit. It was never a good idea to mix alcohol with my medication, but I believed this was worthy of an exception. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the day we talked.”

Melody flashed me a sad smile. She looked gorgeous tonight. Her makeup was flawless, and she’d let her dark hair down. “I know you wanted to protect us from this, but if you ever got caught up in something we’d be right there with you, Lena. This is the last thing you need to deal with alone.”

“I can drink to that!” Peyton agreed loudly, clinking his glass against hers.

He took a generous swig and made a face, shaking his head from side to side. I laughed and took a sip from my straw, savoring the taste of Bacardi and Coke. He slammed his glass down and leaned closer, so he didn’t have to speak so loudly to be heard. Melody did the same so she could hear what he was saying.

“Mateo knows Eva isn’t dead, and if by some slim chance, he doesn’t know who put the hit on your aunt and why Eva’s missing, he can easily find out.”

“My money is on him already knowing. I would be shocked if he didn’t have her exact location,” Melody speculated. “I don’t think someone can piss in this city without him knowing.”

I frowned, considering their words. It wasn’t anything I hadn’t already thought of myself. It was both nice to hear my suspicions confirmed and a little terrifying. “But why help me?”

Peyton blew out a harsh breath. “That’s the question of the hour, isn't it? I don’t get his stake in all this. Your family doesn’t have anything that would benefit him, not even a bowl of sugar. No offense.”

“None taken,” I assured him. “It’s not like I haven’t noticed. What can I do, though? Grandma is old. My parents are gone. My uncle Slim and his son are gone. My uncle Luis is here but I’d be better off making nice with a snake than trusting him. The Castello lineage is practically non-existent. I’m beginning to feel like me and my sister are the only two left.”

As I finished speaking, Peyton abruptly sat straighter, his gaze sweeping over our surroundings. “What is it?” I looked around but didn’t spot anything that caused alarm.

“Do you see something?” Melody slid closer, angling her body towards mine as if it could be a shield.

“Oh, shit. No. I was making sure we were good. No one eavesdropping or paying too much attention.”

“Goddamnit, Peyton.” Melody deflated and grabbed her drink.

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