Page 15 of Pretty Poisoned

What's that supposed to mean?

Did I get this wrong? Is Luca the one killing women?

"When was your last period?" she asks.

"What?" I ask, confused. "I don't have them."

"Hmm...that works," she says. I watch as another needle goes into my arm, and she pushes the plunger down.

"What the fuck was that?" I ask.

"Relax," she says. "It's just birth control."

"I already have an IUD," I tell her.

"Well, now you're on the shot, too," River says. She removes her gloves with a snap and tosses them into the trash bin on the other side of the sofa. "Can't forget it, can't be removed—house rules. What do you want to eat? I'd kill for some fucking queso."

She takes out her phone and starts scrolling—looking for restaurants, I assume. And I just sit there, wondering if maybe I'm still asleep because I don't understand any of this.

"Are you a doctor?" I ask.

"No, I just play one on TV," she says. "Oh, here's a place right around the corner."

"What?"

"I was a nurse before I left and became part of the family. I guess I'm still a nurse. Are you ready? Make sure you grab everything—I doubt you'll be coming back here."

"The family?" I ask.

"Yeah," she says. "We're a family."

As I process that, her light blue eyes search mine. I want to know more about this supposedfamily. I'm pretty sure they're all fucking each other; most families don't do that. They don't kill each other, either.

"We love each other," River says. "We're bound in blood. We know and accept every part of each other—of every member—for who they are at a basic level. There's no judgment, no questions. We're there for each other; we'd do anything to protect each other.That'sa family."

She reaches out and runs her fingers through my hair in that soothing way again.

"Do you have a family, Teagan?" she asks.

"Yes," I tell her. "Of course."

"I don't believe you," she says.

"I…I'm going to go get my stuff."

"I'll be waiting."

Lightheaded and a little unsteady, I walk to the bedroom and close the door behind me. I start picking up clothes from the floor and throwing them back into my bag. Then, I grab my phone from the charger and check my text messages.

MOM I can't believe your sister went out of her way to get you a job interview, and you didn't even bother to show up.

MOM You're in for a rude awakening. We aren't going to support you forever, Teagan. I won't let you moveback in here without a real job. It's time for you to start living in reality.

I close the messages without replying and click on Blakely's name.

BLAKELY Where are you?

BLAKELY You aren't actually with the band, are you? lol

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