Page 69 of Pretty Little Lies

Another worthless andextravagant walk on the beach, to where if I ever had an ounce of peace, it’d probably kill me. My phone is going off the hook, my mind is elsewhere, and I could put a bullet in my head rather than spend another moment in Vivian’s presence because, if I didn’t know any better, she has a tracking device implanted in my body.

The only thing I have going for me is that she’s pissed.

Apparently, she saw me on top of the yacht with Bay the other night and disappear without so much as an SOS signal or tossing her life preserver while she was flaying around in the water. The bitch could’ve drowned, and I wouldn’t shed a tear.

In fact, I’d rejoice.

She’s done nothing but make my life a living hell and ruined another’s with her manipulation and lies. I could give a shit if I didn’t watch her die.

“How many times do we need to go through this? We’ve been doing this back-and-forth for years, Cairo, and I’m tired.” I lengthen my stride, hitting the wooden sidewalk that leads up to the parking lot because I’m just so beyond tired of hearing her mouth. “She’s going to try to take you guys down. Youknowthis.”

“Shut the fuck up, Vivian,” I grind out, aware of it all too well. It doesn’t matter how many times I warn Reeve. It also has no bearing on Torin. I see how much he’s battling with himself, but he’s losing. He wants her just as bad as my best friend does, and I don’t know how they plan on doing this, but it’s going to end up bloody and with lives lost.

“Someone needs to keep reminding you, apparently. My dad is trying to nail down Levi Wallace, but he’s been MIA. If you tell me what you’re planning, I can help.”

I don’t stop moving.

The time and multiple attempts of telling her that she’s never going to know a thing has been played out a million ways over.

“I love you, Cairo,” she pleads, her voice hard and desperate. “Why can’t you see that? Everything I do is for you. Forus.”

“Go home,” I mutter, diving into the crowd of adults and kids trying to enjoy the last bit of the sun before heading out.

“Your home,” she retorts evenly, keeping up with my pace. “Iknowyou like her.”

It’s amazing what a woman’s intuition can do.

She can sense the way my cock twitches at the sight of that girl, and I barely looked at her on purpose because ofthis.

“Like who?” I challenge, allowing her the decision to make a fight about this or to shut her fucking mouth. She keeps it up, I’m going to sew her lips shut.

She bristles next to me, the deep V from her floral sundress not doing a damn thing.

Nothing Vivian will ever do will ever be enough for me to forgive her. And once upon a time, I had wished we were exactly here, right where we are now, about to get married and allegedly spend the rest of our lives together.

It’s a pipe dream idea now. Not even something that makes my heart pound or butterflies to actively flee wildly in my chest.

Vivian is as dead to me as she’s gonna be for what she did to my brother. For using him for her own selfish, fucked-up ways and sending him to prison for years.

She knew he wasn’t normal. That he was socially awkward and lacked any love from a woman since his mother tragically died. And when she showed him compassion and care, it only made me love Vivian more.

Until she sent him to kill a guy who she fucked behind my back to keep him quiet.

Funny how shit works out.

Tenderness and empathy aren’t in Vivian’s DNA. It’s malice, jealousy, selfishness, and power. The latter, I can relate to, being brought up in the world I’m in, but I’ve never stepped on someone who didn’t deserve it. I’ve never bullied someone because they were less or yearned for something and would do anything to obtain it.

She’s a fucking disease, and I can’t wait to be rid of it and her.

“I asked you a question,” she snaps, as if she has any authority over me. As if she’s entitled to an answer because she’s still my girl.

I should just listen to Reeve and put a bullet in her.

“Maybe you should ask less,” I answer calmly, passing the double-sided rows of food trucks. “You’re not gonna like the answer.”

Her hand finds my forearm, and she yanks me back, demanding I talk about this right now.

Meeting green eyes, I solicit, “What can I do for you, Viv?”

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