Page 12 of A Twist of Poison

“You’re not the girl you once were to us. You’re nobody, just another legacy kid. So, keep that pretty mouth of yours shut and expect nothing from me,” he told me emotionlessly. “Fromus,” he amended, eyes hard.

“Aww,” I said airily, letting his comments slide off me. “You think I came back for you… that’s presumptuous,” I taunted with a smirk.

I hoped it hurt a little and I got under his skin, I was aggravated with his reaction, and with the response he could still dig from me even after all this time.

“The thing is, I don’t care about you or the others anymore. Time changes us, I’m sure you can agree…” I told him truthfully, because they all failed me. Every single one of them, in one way or another. I refused to forget that.

A surprised, disbelieving laugh cut through the tense atmosphere that engulfed us. “Preston was right. Youreallyare a little bitch now,” he drawled, like he was half impressed, and half surprised. “Though I just think you’re a straight up cunt.”

“I am what I am. I make no apologies for that. As I said, I don’t care what you and your little band of merry men say or do. I’ve moved back here with as many rights as you do, deal with it.” My voice was firm.

Seemingly, the message I delivered to them on campus in front of their little gang didn’t exactly do the trick and they were trying to warn me away, keep me away. East Bay was as much my home as theirs and I deserved to be back here. I was owed it.

No one was pulling me from this state without a fight on their hands. I may have willingly moved before, but that was for good reason. For now, I was here to stay and if I kept having to deliver the simple message, I was going to get frustrated. More so than I already was.

Surely, within their pretty boy heads, sat a brain which would latch onto this information and store it away appropriately so not to repeat it over and over again?Dumb boys. Men… dumb men.

Exiting the car, I left him with those words hanging in the air and made my own way to the front entrance. Flood lights highlighted the house and driveway. The aesthetic of the house hadn’t changed a bit, and it felt like walking years back in time. I’d always loved the foreign look of this house, with terracotta colouring that matched those of traditional villas in Spain. Thick, dark brown wooden doors and window panes matched the doors of the double garage that was situated on the right side of the house. It had small windows on show allowing you to see the old-fashioned cars that never left those garages, or they never used to. No one would ever be foolish enough to steal from the Penn family.

The expansive house had many large windows on display, especially from the second story. Approaching the front door, which sat towards the left-hand side of the house, I took in the humongous glass window which jutted out. And promptly noticed the large gathering inside.

Taking a deep breath, I entered through the wooden door, which sat slightly open allowing guests to easily make their own way in. I glanced around for someone I would recognise and within seconds the smell of vanilla perfume and baking enveloped me, squeezing the life out of me. I grasped back just as hard; I’d missed this woman who was like a second mom to me. A genuine smile crossed my face as she pulled back with my face in her hands and checked me over.

“Oh my! Always a beautiful girl but now you’re all woman,” she said with that slight twang in her accent showing she originally wasn’t from around here.

“Thanks, Valerie,” I told her kindly, accepting the compliment at face value.

“Come, come,” she ordered, holding my hand gently and dragging me along with her. She paused suddenly, looking over her shoulder. “You didn’t escort this lady in? You are a disgrace, my son,” she tutted, shaking her head, pulling me in the direction of the drawing room.

I heard a mumbled apology from Texas himself, making me snort in a very unladylike manner, bringing a sneaky smile to Valerie’s face. That woman was smart as hell, and she still chastised him like a little boy putting him in his place in her home, even when he was a grown man.

“Can’t have these men thinking they run the world,” she whispered mischievously. We made our way into the drawing room to reacquaint me with everybody I hadn’t seen in years. Well, mostly everyone.Never truer words spoken.

Fixing a fake smile on my face, and hoping it deterred people, I approached some of the elder legacies with Valerie as support by my side, getting the first talks over with. It was going to be a hell of a long evening and I honestly contemplated painting a random wall just to watch it dry. I sincerely hoped the interest in me being back home was a passing phase.

Chapter5

Texas

Milla had gotten better looking, I wasn’t going to dismiss the obvious. A few years away and she’d turned into a stunning woman, making men turn their heads to take a double look at her.Yeah, that’s right. Our little Milla had grown up, with tight curves in all the right places, an ass for days, and tits you could slip your dick through nicely.

Those eyes, though... she’d changed. I got it; we hadn’t been around. Her expressive violet-blue eyes, which used to flicker with her emotions were now guarded, dead lifeless orbs locking down secrets. Secrets which I’d get, it was my speciality after all.

“You were born to spill blood, boy. Just like me.”My dad’s voice echoed through my mind, reminding me of the day where my life took a three-sixty turn. A change for the better. He saw the destructive nature I harnessed and he knew how to channel it into something that wouldn’t get me locked up within a supermax prison.

I was introduced to the programme earlier than most but it was no surprise given where my dad sat within the organisation. That day I learned he was not only a secretive bastard, but also from where my fire evolved. I was a younger version of him, much to his amusement but also his concern. I was born with an insatiable appetite for destruction; the need to cause chaos ran thick through my blood.

Supposedly, this was just a legacy meet up but there were enough in the elite high society circles to rival a party. Of course, it couldn’t be simple, and it would have to be our turn to host and invite those we didn’t want in our private home inside.Keep your enemies closer.

“She seems different,” my dad commented offhandedly, observing Milla from the other side of the drawing room where we’d stood and smiled politely to those who passed.Fucking mingling.

It was way worse having to entertain in your own house, when all I’d rather do was stick my head in a heated oven just to be able to serve myself up for dinner, to give people blood filled nightmares. Now that would make a lasting impression and keep the circling vultures at bay.

“What are you saying?” I questioned, peering at the older version of me. I had to admit if I looked like Chris Penn in twenty years’ time, I wouldn’t be complaining. My old man was good looking for someone in his late forties.

“Bad feeling,” he informed me.

A foreboding shiver rolled down my spine. His gut feelings had steered us in the right direction countless times, given us heads up, and gotten us out of situations where death was knocking on our door more than once. They weren’t to be ignored.

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