Page 150 of Pretty Poisoned

I wonder if his reaction is like mine. Visceral, carnal.

"Colleen called," Declan says.

"Yeah? What did she want?" Luca asks.

"You're trending again," he tells him. "Jessica had some things to say about you."

Luca's brow furrows. "Jessica?"

"From high school," Declan clarifies.

"Oh…like what?"

"Do you want me to tell you in front of Teagan?" he asks.

Luca shrugs. "She's heard the worst of it now anyway, hasn't she? She'll hear whatever this is, too."

"That you were a sadistic stalker, and she spent years terrified of you. Her words, not mine."

"Awesome," Luca says.

"And now Layla's family is starting up again—about how we brainwashed her and are holding her hostage."

"Yeah, well…they've been doing that for years," he says.

"Except now, she's not here to go on online and tell everyone she's fine, and they're just assholes. They haven't seen her with us in months…because she hasn't been here. And before that, she was…not herself."

"So? Post an old pic," Luca says. "I'm going to get another drink. You want another drink, Teagan?"

"Um, yeah. I'll take one."

"All right, I'll be right back. I'm so fucking glad this leg of the tour is almost over—it could not come at a better fucking time. Then, it's you and me, baby." He takes a few steps away from us before turning back and adding, "Don't slice her up while I'm gone."

"If you think I'm letting him take you abroad alone, you're fucking crazy," Declan says once he's out of earshot.

"What? Why not?"

"Because," he says, "he can barely take care of his fucking self—he can't take care of you."

"Hedoestake care of me," I tell him. "And I can take care of myself. I can take care of him, too."

"What are you going to do if he loses his shit?"

"I can handle him. I'm not scared of him."

"No," he says.

I don't bother arguing. I put on my sunglasses, fold my arms across my chest, and look the other way.

"Teagan, you're not going to cry again, are you?" Declan taunts.

"No…"

But the truth is I want to—that was the only thing I was looking forward to. I feel that tightening in my chest, and I'm not so sure I won't.

"What are you thinking about?" he asks. "Huh? Tell me what's going on in there."

"I don't think I should."

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