Page 11 of Forever Filthy

I scoff and go about laying my towel out, then rid myself of my shirt and lay down on my stomach. I watch Nova, from the corner of my eye, mimic my move, neither of us saying anything as we watch Dawson and his friends play. A memory hits me then of the day we all ditched school after Nova beat up Nicole and we spent the whole day laughing and playing around, even had a bonfire that night.

“You thinking about the last time we were at the beach together?”

I exhale and nod. “Yeah.”

“That was one of the best days I have ever had, Vi.” I hate that there is this divide between her and me. She was my best friend before she was Vox’s. Nova isn’t like any of the other girls I know, she never tried to use me to get closer to my brother or the guys. She wanted to be my friend because of who I am. “I miss you,” she whispers.

I slam my eyes closed as guilt churns inside me. “I miss you too,” I whisper.

“Then why have you been avoiding my calls and texts?” The hurt is clear in her tone.

“Because I know who you share a bed with,” I answer bitterly.

“Vivian, I would never tell him anything. I love your brother so fucking much to the point I can’t even put it into words, but you’re my best friend… my only friend.” The reminder of what she lost has me turning to face her. Tears fill her eyes but don’t fall. She tries to smile but it doesn’t reach her eyes.

“How’s my mom?” I ask, changing the subject.

Nova smiles and this time it does reach her eyes. “She’s amazing. Mom, Olivia and Jane have been hanging out somuch. They’ve opened two new floral shops and they all seem… happy… ish.”

“Ish?” I push.

Nova’s eyes soften. “Jane misses you, Vivian. Every week she asks me if I have heard from you and it breaks my heart every time I have to tell her I haven’t.”

I inhale sharply. “It’s better for her this way.”

“What way? She is hurting, Vivian. She thinks you chose The Brotherhood over your family just like your—” She clamps her mouth closed and I narrow my eyes.

“Like my father and Ezekiel’s?” Her brows draw in. “Yeah, I know all about what my father and Edmund used to get up to. Virgil Hatchett wasn’t a saint like my brother painted him out to be, nor was Edmund. Sorry, Nova, but your dad was a piece of shit just like mine.” She reels back like I slapped her.

“Edmund and Virgil were trying to save you all from joining the Saints.”

I scoff and laugh but it's a bitter sound. Nova frowns as she stares at me. “Is that what he told you?” I don’t give her a chance to answer. “He was wrong, Nova. Our father’s weren’t heroes. They were power hungry bastards and only cared about getting richer. The Saints are thirsty for power and will stop at nothing to get it.”

“Then why are you leading them?” The confusion is clear in her tone and on her face.

‘Because I’m smart. I know their weaknesses and how they work. I just needed time to fix all the wrongs. They think they just have to survive another couple of months until Night Of The Saints where they can vote me out, but if they do, it will be their downfall.” She studies me for a solid minute before her eyes widen and she gasps.

“Holy fuck,” she breathes out. I smile darkly and shoot her a wink. “You’re fucking them over from the inside.”

I tilt my head side to side. “I refuse to confirm or deny your claim.”

“Why?”

“Because my father and yours tried to take our lives from us and so did the Saints. I won’t let them win. They will all go down. I told you a year ago that there is nothing worse than a woman’s scorn and I meant it. They will all burn in fucking hell for what they did!”

“Vivi, I say this with love, but you are a bad bitch and I am in awe of you.”

I snort. “Cut that shit out.”

“I mean it. You sacrificed your family for this and you gave up… your guys.”

There it is,the elephant in the room.

“They aren’t my anything, Nova.”

She pins me with a deadpan look. “Girl, I’ve known for a lot longer than you think that there is something there between you and the three of them.”

I shake my head, denying her claim. “There is nothing between me and them. At one time, maybe I thought there was something with each of them, but they all made a choice… so none of them are worthy of me or my time. Plus, it’s not like I could have all three.”

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