Page 19 of Kissing the Villain

“We’re a team. If you insist on breaking the law, I will go down with you.”

“You didn’t have to come. I would have rather you stayed home and focused on your next exhibition.”

“Stop chasing ghosts, and I won’t have to follow you.”

He tugged on my hand and sighed.

“Where are we going?”

“Marcello showed me the back way.”

“To where? Our deaths? You can’t trust Marcello. He’s a Salvatore!”

“He’s not Luca,” he challenged.

“Marcello isn’t as bad as Luca, but I still don’t trust him.”

Aiden stopped walking and leaned against the brick wall. “Do you trustme?”

“With my life.”

“Go with the flow. Okay, Lexie? Can you turn off your brain and do that for me?”

I would have done anything for Aiden, so I nodded, gulping down my fear of dark and creepy places. My brother was always my fierce and loyal protector. He wouldn’t let anyone hurt me.

“Are you okay?” I asked him, noting the dark circles around his eyes. “You seem a little off tonight.”

He rubbed his tired eyes with the back of his hand. “Nah, I’m good.”

“Are you sure? Because you don’t look like yourself.”

“How do I look?”

“I don’t know.” I stared at his eyes, which looked droopy on one side. “Are you high?”

Aiden groaned and turned away from me. “Didn’t I tell you I would stop doing that shit?”

“Yeah, but?—”

“But nothing. I’m fine. Stop worrying about me.”

“That’s all I do is worry about you. If you keep taking risks, you’ll get into real trouble.”

Aiden reached into his pocket and offered his car keys. “If you want to leave, I won’t stop you. You don’t have to come with me.”

“Yes, I do.”

We slipped through dark, narrow alleys, exploring the underbelly of Beacon Bay. I could see why the Salvatores didn’t want us living here. The mansions were on the north side of town closest to the bay. But on the south side, we were surrounded by dilapidated buildings, factories, and old, dingy houses.

Aiden stopped at the side entrance to a rundown bar on a dimly lit street corner. Written in red letters, a black sign that readThe River Styxhung from chains above the door.

A shiver rolled down my back. “Why are we here?”

My brother flashed one of his boyish smirks. “You know why, Lexie.”

I scanned the desolate street, checking both ways, hoping no one murdered us. “This place gives me serious serial killer vibes.”

My brother snorted. “We’re just checking the place out. Act normal.”

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