Page 63 of The Vipers and Their Vendetta

Dance as if nobody’s watching? Something like that, anyway. Someone is watching me now. I sense it.

I feelhisstare on me. It warms my tingling skin and makes me burn. My movements falter, and self-consciousness sets in. I’m anxious for the song to end so I can escape the dance floor and hide again in the corner. When it finally does, I tug on Faith’s sleeve.

“I’m heading back. I’m thirsty.”

She nods and happily follows me back to the table. Faith really is an easy girl to hang around with. I’d like to hang out with her without the other two around. I’m not sure whether asking her would cause trouble. Taking my seat, I pick up my straw and suck down more of the sugary cocktail. At least it’s not strong. It might give me diabetes, but it’s not going to give me a hangover.

AsWaterfallsby TLC fills the room and the three girls sing along to it, I begin to feel something that I haven’t experienced in a long time. It’s bubbling inside me, and I realize it’s happiness. An uncomplicated, simple kind of happiness. The kind you get on a summer’s day, walking on the beach, or sitting with friends in a bar listening to music. It’s a completely different kind of feeling than what I experience in the Vipers’ company.

With them, I’m always on edge, anxious and unsure. Screw them for messing me up so badly. I pick up my straw and drink more of the cocktail, and then I join the girls in singing.

Soon, the four of us have our heads thrown back and are giving our full-throated appreciation to the awesomeness that is TLC.

CHAPTER 23

Vani

My mouth feels weird,almost numb, and my throat is dry, despite the amount I’ve had to drink. The bowl is empty, and so is the additional drink Angelica bought for me a while back. Saint has moved and is now staring at me from his new seat, which gives him a good view of our table. Still, he can’t hear us, and he hasn’t come over, thank God.

I’m buzzed. Too buzzed to care about Saint.

“How much of that fishbowl did I have?” I ask Angelica. “I thought it was weak.”

“It is, babe,” she says, smiling. “Maybe it’s just because you’re tired.”

“Tell us more about Reagan,” Jarena says, taking me by surprise.

Immediately, tears fill my eyes, and the table in front of me blurs.

“Babe, I think there’s more to it than you’re saying,” Angelica says softly. She takes my hand again. “You can tell us. We are your friends, right? You’re in tears about someone from your childhood?”

A knot tightens in my throat, but my tongue has been loosened by all the booze. I have to be able to trust someone inthis place. Also, I want more information, and these girls aren’t stupid. I’m damn well almost crying over a supposed long lost friend? Shit. My head is so foggy, it’s hard to know what to do. I swallow and nod.

“She was my sister.” Fuck, I’ve said it now, no going back.

Angelica’s eyes widen. “Oh, my God.” Then a couple of fine lines appear between her brows. “But the two of you look nothing alike.”

“Well, my half-sister.”

Her confusion deepens. “So, Jarl Olsen is your dad? Holy fuck.”

I shake my head and swipe at a tear running down my cheek. “God, no. I’ve never even met the man. He was with my mom before my mom met my dad. I didn’t even know Reagan existed before my mom told me everything on her deathbed.”

Jarena leans forward, her mouth open. “That’s so dramatic. And then you came here looking for her and found out she’d already died. No wonder you were so upset.”

Faith squeezes my arm. “I’m so sorry for your loss, Vani.”

I think it’s the first time anyone has said that to me, and it only makes me cry harder. Itisa loss, even if I never knew her. My heart also breaks for my mom, the loss she had when Jarl took her newborn daughter away from her. I hate that they were never reunited, and now they never will be, unless they’ve found each other in the afterlife. It’s a tiny hope I cling to.

A male voice comes from over me. “Why the fuck are you crying, Vani?”

My whole body tenses. I know who it is immediately.

Saint.

I palm more tears from my cheeks. “Go away, Saint.”

“Did you bitches make her cry?” He glares daggers at the three girls.

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