Page 364 of Vicious Saint
“I love you, Hendrix. But the stakes were too high to bet on your temper. Your mom taking that money from the government put her back on the map the Salvinis have been hiding you from for years. The Ivanovs never knew Luca had a daughter with your mom. They were convinced her brief relationship with him was strictly a fling.”
Archer’s swift judgment, along with him journeying through the timeline of my existence as if it’s some history lesson in a book, has my anger boiling over into tears.
“Your lack of trust, and expert ability to look me in the eye for months knowing all of this, speaks volumes on where I stand in our friendship.” Glaring between both Archer and Bex, I add, “Since day one I’ve had your guys backs through everything. I kept your secrets, soldiered your battles, even chose your wellbeing over my own. I did it all without hesitation…you know why?” The rhetorical question is for Archer, which I answer for him with a poke to his chest. “Because my love also plays a big part in my fucking temper.”
Archer speaks words that symbolize an attempt to reason, so I hold out a hand for him to quit while his tongue is still intact.
“I may want to kill you right now, but I’m not as unhinged as you seem to think. I hate that you lied to me, Arch, but the rational part of me gets it. Everyone has secrets, but I would never,everkeep such a vital one from either you or Bex. No matter how much the truth may hurt.”
Something about what I said makes Bex start crying, which makes zero sense since she isn’t the one who’s been lying to me.
Whatever her issue is, though, will have to wait, because my emotional meter is running hot—and the only thing I have to cool it down has been waiting months for me in my nightstand drawer.
So, with nostrils flaring, I make my way over to it.
“Where are you going?” Archer asks.
“For a smoke…not that it’s any of your damn business.”
Bex swipes a hand across her cheeks, attempting to perk up as I retrieve the unopened box of Newports. “I’ll come with you.”
“No. Both of you stay here.” I shrug. “Or get out, I don’t care as long as you leave me alone.”
Neither of them dare to argue. Not even when I reach the door.
“I love you, Hen,” Archer says just as I twist the knob. “And I really hope you’ll forgive me for my part in this.”
Forgive his part?
How could I when I haven’t even forgiven myself for mine?
A sharp glance at Archer is all I can manage before pulling open the door. Where the last person in the world I want to see is greeting me at the pass, proving once again that the universe isn’t done torturing me yet.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here…?” Annalie says, popping her gum. “A slightlylessfat pig crying.”
My knuckles ball to iron fists, and I’d love nothing more than to take out the rage blazing inside me on Annalie’s face. Again.
She’s not worth proving everyone right, Hendrix.My conscience reminds me.So control your temper and keep moving.
It takes me a few to get fully convinced, but when I do it’s followed by a pitiful scoff. I attempt to sidestep Annalie, but she blocks me with one of her own. Then, with a devious smirk, looks over my shoulder.
“I see your royal skank highness is crying too.” Annalie tilts her head. “Tell me,Rebecca, is it because Hendrix found out you fucked her boyfriend junior year?”
It takes me a few blinks to register what she said, and I want to cackle at the outrageousness of it. Or even better, sit back and watch Bex beat the shit out of her.
“Wow. You really are one desperate, insane bitch.”
Annalie narrows her eyes at me. “Am I, though?”
I narrow mine right back. “Certifiably.”
“Then turn around and see for yourself.”
I listen, because after everything that just happened, maybe a good laugh at the enemy’s expense will balance my emotional scales.
The only problem is, when I find Bex, it’s the enemy who ends up laughing.
I was wrong about shock…it isn’t as old as I thought it was.
