Page 9 of Siren's Salvation

I take one more hit of my joint before stubbing it out and pocketing the remains.

Time to put the kibosh on this shit.

As I march toward the group of them, my boots crunch on the gravel.

Noelle takes a long swig from a bottle before passing it to Aggie.

Yep, just like I thought.

I can’t even be mad at them.

I was doing the same shit when I was around their ages.

I call out, my voice cutting through the night air. "Do your parents know you're drinking?"

The girls jump, startled by my sudden appearance.

Noelle nearly drops the bottle, fumbling to hide it behind her back.

Aggie and Davina exchange panicked looks, their eyes wide with fear.

Noelle tosses her blonde hair over her shoulder, a move I've seen her mother pull countless times.

God, she is Ashley’s daughter through and through.

The confidence in her stance is pure liquid courage. "Of course they do. It's New Year's Eve. Relax, Siren. It’s not like we’re thirteen sneaking a drink."

I arch an eyebrow, studying her face.

The slight sway in her posture, the glassy sheen to her eyes—she's already had more than a few sips.

I slip my hand into my pocket, fingering the joint I've just put out.

The irony isn't lost on me.

"All right," I say, keeping my voice level. "Well, you won't mind if I go have a chat with your mom then, will you?"

Noelle's face doesn't betray her, but I catch the slight twitch in her jaw.

She's good, I'll give her that.

But Davina?

Ha. Not so much.

The younger girl starts visibly shaking, her eyes darting between me and Noelle.

I turn my attention to Aggie and Davina, Natalie's girls. "Or maybe your girls' mom?"

That does it.

Davina crumbles like a house of cards. "Please don't tell her," she blurts out, her voice cracking. "She doesn't know and we were just trying to have a little bit of fun."

I shake my head, a heavy sigh escaping my lips.

Christ, how many times was I in their shoes?

Sneaking booze, thinking I was invincible?

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