Page 60 of Pretty Poisoned

I guess they know what happened to Layla.

Luca turns toward the kitchen, and I practically run to the couch and sink down next to River.

"I'm sorry," I tell her.

"Are you okay?" she asks me. "Brady said you saw it happen."

I shake my head. "No. Not in any way."

"Declan said it was beautiful and peaceful," River says, smiling through her tears. "He said he spent the night in the forest with her."

"Did she seem happy, Teagan?" Hazel asks.

"I don't…I'm not sure. I couldn't tell."

But I guess she did seem happy, didn't she? She smiled.

Alana scoffs and shakes her head. "I can't fucking do this."

She stands and kicks over the coffee table, sending a porcelain vase flying until it shatters on the marble floor. "This is just too fucked," she says before storming out of the room.

"Alana…" Brady calls after her.

"No, Brady," she says, looking back over her shoulder. "Just…no."

It's quiet as we watch her go, her footsteps echoing throughout the obscenely large space. No one tries to stop her again. They don't go after her.

"How's Luca?" River asks quietly.

"Umm…"

My mouth gapes. I don't even know where to start with that question.

"I told you he was intense," she says.

"Intense!?" I hiss. "I could have used a more specific warning than that. He'sunhinged. He's like the Jekyll and Hyde of sex. He told me he loved me and made me sleep in handcuffs becauseIscaredhim.And you don't look surprised byany of that."

She covers her mouth to stifle a laugh.

"And you're laughing!"

"Why are we laughing?" Luca asks, walking out of the kitchen. "What's funny?"

Brady and Hazel laugh, too.

"Nothing is fucking funny," I reply bitterly.

He sets a turkey sandwich and a water bottle down in front of me.

"I didn't know if you'd want coffee or water, so I brought you water, but I started some coffee," he says. "Do you want both?"

"Um, yeah. I do," I tell him.

He kisses me on the forehead. "Okay."

He walks back to the kitchen, and I chug half of the water and devour almost the entire sandwich before he comes back. I realize I probably look like a fucking animal; I can feel them all just watching me, but I don't give a fuck. I haven't eaten in almost twenty-four hours.

He sets a cup of coffee in front of me and sits down with his own food. "River, I need you to do me a favor," Luca says.

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