Page 30 of Pretty Poisoned

"No."

"No? Then what is it that you want?"

I meet his eyes and surprise myself when an honest answer leaves my lips. "You wouldn't understand."

I cross my arms and slouch in my seat.

"Whoa, what's this?" Alana asks as she comes downstairs.

"Teagan is reading us a story," Declan says.

"Well, okay," she says. She shrugs, seemingly indifferent as she walks past me, then settles into Declan's lap.

It's going to be a very long three hours.

SEVEN

It's already dark, and I'm an overstimulated nightmare by the time we begin winding up the driveway to the secluded mansion in Idaho. I knew the De Rossi brothers came from money; I've driven through the Hollywood Hills, and I've seen the homes on the cliffs overlooking Laguna Beach, but still…the sight of it takes me by surprise. Even without the context, I think the home would seem ominous. Why would some wealthy international businessman choose such a secluded location? What would it be like to grow up here?

How did they turn into this?

The driveway ends in a loop in front of the main entrance which is already lined with cars and maybe fifty people waiting in the yard.

"The welcoming party," River says to me. "Gotta get it over with. Hope you're ready for this."

"What is this?" I ask. "Locals? Fans?"

"Mmm…maybe a little of both. But mostly, like-minded individuals. They'll be gone by tomorrow for the most part."

I want to ask what that means, but before I can, the bus pulls to a stop, and she gets up and walks toward the bedroom to gather her things.

"The bus won't stay here, so make sure you get everything," she says. "Unless you don't want to see it for a while."

"Right. Okay."

I grab the last of my things and toss them into my bag, then throw it over my shoulder and follow River and Hazel out of the room.

"Phones," Declan says. He opens one of the cabinets, which is actually a safe, and everyone hands over their phone on the way out.

He holds out his hand as I pass, and, reluctantly, I set my phone in his palm. "It's for your own good," he says.

"I'm sure it is." I turn and gesture to the crowd of people in front of the house. "What about all of them? Are you going to take their phones, too?"

"They know the rules," he says. "If they try to bring a phone into my house, I'll take a lot more than that."

Somehow resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I step off the bus, joining the crowd around the door. I finally see Luca for the first time since this morning, making his way through the crowd, embracing friends, smiling.

I haven't seen Layla since last night, either. She passes in front of me now, before stopping in Declan's path as he steps off the bus. I watch her lips move but can't make out what she's saying. Whatever it is, Declan isn't interested. He dismisses her wordlessly and steps around her.

She watches him leave with those eyes again—those cold, sad, lifeless, dark blue eyes. All I can do is stare until I realize the crowd around me is moving.

Luca opens the door, and, slowly, the sea of people makes their way inside. When I get closer to the threshold, I realize why we're moving so slowly.

He's slicing palms. Each person wipes their bloody hand against the back of the door before entering the home. I watch the girls do the same, appearing unfazed, before I'm the one standing in front of Luca.

"This doesn't seem sanitary," I say.

"They're all as clean as you are, or they wouldn't be here. Do you trust me?"

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