Page 17 of Cruel Charming Psychos (Necessary Evils 2)

ChapterEight

Nick

Our ride drops us off at the front of the manor, but there’s something on my mind that needs to be addressed before we head into the lion’s den. I gesture for Addison to step to the left, to meet me at the bottom of the steps that lead up to the front doors of my parents’ house. She’s wearing a red dress with matching red heels, embodying the very definition of a temptress. I know that she’s bad for me, that she’s the devil in disguise, but I want to devour her.

Diamond earrings dangle from the lobes of her ears. I flash back to the first time I saw her in person, sitting at the bar that used to belong to her father. She wore an oversized hoodie and jeans on that hot June night. It’s amazing how a little bit of money can change the appearance of a woman.

I catch myself staring for a little too long.

“Did you need something?” she questions softly.

“Yeah.” I scratch the back of my head nervously, knowing I probably should have chosen a better time to talk about this. Unfortunately, I have an inkling that my father isn’t going to be too happy that Addison is here, especially after he went to the police with the accusation. I very seriously doubt my mother warned him that Addison was coming, either. “We need to talk about the disks.”

“You don’t need to worry about that anymore.”

“Did you get rid of it?”

“There’s no point in keeping this a secret anymore. When I abruptly left the apartment the other day, I took the disks with me. They were in a lockbox, but I was attacked in the stairwell and whoever that was, they took the box.” She shrugs. “So, I don’t have it anymore.”

“You were attacked?” I question, my voice raised.

“It isn’t the first time and I’m sure it won’t be the last. I have a bad habit of attracting trouble.”

“How do you have such a nonchalant attitude about this?” I grab her and pull her out of the way of incoming guests. I question with a whisper, “What about the baby?”

“The baby is fine,” she says softly.

“How do you know that? Did this man hit you?”

“He threw me against a wall and choked me a little. I’m fine. The baby is fine, I promise you.”

Nah, I’m not buying it. She’s being too chill about this. I know that she’s not exactly mother of the year material, but any woman would be concerned about their pregnancy if they were attacked. Even someone like Addison. “You need to go get checked.”

“I already did,” she says. “That’s what the emergency was when I told you my mother was having a crisis.”

I grab her by the shoulders and offer her a squeeze. “Do you know who attacked you?”

“No, but I can only assume it was a random person who saw that I was carrying a lockbox and assumed there was something valuable in it.”

I’m reminded that she’s never been honest about what’s on the tapes, and I only have myself to blame because I made it very clear that I didn’t want to know what was on them. Things are different now because someone else, a complete stranger, could potentially have access to them. “I know I always said I didn’t want to know what was on them, but I think it’s time that you tell me so I can help protect you.”

She gazes upwards, her eyes steely. “Can we just get through this party first and then we can talk?”

“That’s fair.”

I place my hand on her back and guide her through the open double doors of the manor. The last time I was here, I stood in the very same foyer as I told my mother goodbye. We did not leave things on good terms and by bringing Addison as my date, it ensures that we will stay on bad terms. That’s the whole point. At the end of the day, I will always be controlled by my stubbornness and penchant for spite.

The guest list looks to fit the bill of the usual Callaway party. That is to say that, for the most part, everyone is older. No stranger would walk into this mansion and guess that it’s a party for an eighteen-year-old. That’s my mother’s M.O. Every party is always about her. It’s always about appearances and obscene displays of wealth and power. The only way my sister would know anybody here is through my parents. It’s not like the extended family ever comes around. The last time I saw my aunts, uncles, or cousins was at Carter’s funeral.

I spot Emily at the top of the stairs, looking down over the railing above. She’s so out of place, wearing a pair of jeans and a button-up plaid shirt. Either she didn’t get the memo about the dress code, or she didn’t care. I wager it’s the latter.

“I’m going to go talk to my sister,” I say to Addison. “Do you want to come?”

“I’ll stay right here. Trust me, Emily doesn’t want anything to do with me right now and I’m okay with accepting her wishes.”

“She’s stubborn,” I point out. “Just like her big brother.”

I make my way up the stairs, half expecting Emily to bolt before I can even reach her, but she stays still. She continues to look downward and I have a suspicious feeling that she’s watching Addison. I join her at her side, wrapping both hands around the railing for support.

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