Page 59 of Made in Malice

She lifts her hand, exposing empty palms. “I don’t know what he wants or what I can give him. I even tried not arguing with him, but it’s impossible. He makes me crazy, and I can’t just sit there and let him talk to me like I’m garbage. I don’t even know why I care that he thinks I am. It infuriates me.”

“He doesn’t think you’re garbage, Nova. I can promise you that.”

“We will have to agree to disagree.” She glances down, and it’s probably the first time I’ve seen her truly vulnerable.

“I’ll get him to leave you alone tonight,” I promise, uncertain how I’m going to make good on it but knowing I’ll find a way, even if that way is kicking Lucian’s ass for putting those thoughts in her head. “You have to do something for me though.” Nova lifts her eyes, and a little of the fire she gives Lucian is in her gaze. “You have to tell me if anyone tries to fuck with you again.”

She clicks her tongue and waves her hand dismissively. “I can take care of myself from the run-of-the-mill mean girls.”

“Do we have a deal, Nova?”

“Fine, whatever. If you’ll keep your unhinged brother in check, I’ll agree to just about anything.”

“Oh, Nova, don’t tempt me. While I may not be as unhinged as Lucian, I’m still no saint.” She blinks those pretty blue eyes at me, reminding me of the sea off the coast on a clear day, momentarily stunning me stupid.

“I’ll text you later so you’ll have my number,” I tell her over my shoulder while walking away.

“Hey, I never gave you my number,” she says, which makes me laugh. She really has no clue how easy it is for us to get whatever we want.

NOVA

It took me a long time to relax during my shift. I kept watching the door, expecting Lucian to come stalking in, but Nox was true to his word and Lucian never showed up, but now that I’m about to walk out to my car, the nerves are back. I’m hesitant to walk out alone, yet I don’t want to ask someone to walk with me. If Lucian is waiting for me, there’s no point in bringing someone else into the drama. It would just embarrass me and put the other person in his sights.

“Night, Mickey, see you next week.” I wave, hoping he can’t tell how stiff my posture is.

“See you Wednesday, darlin’.”

The reminder of having several days off is welcome. I can’t wait to sleep in tomorrow. I push out the backdoor, then search the lot. My car is parked in the back row, as usual, but that’s not what I’m looking for. I’m looking for a hulking shadow or his black SUV, only I can’t tell the difference between his vehicles and the countless other black SUVs parked nearby.

When none of the shadows move, I finally let go of the door and head straight for my car. My headlights flare when I get close and hit the unlock button, but I should have waited. “Nova,” comes a soft, feminine voice, startling me.

I spin with my keys between my knuckles, ready to face some of the girls from school, but it’s not anyone familiar to me. It’s a woman who looks like she’s around the age my mom would be, but she’s lingering in the shadows, so I can’t see her that well.

“Yeah?” I don’t release my grip on my keys.

“I hoped it was just a rumor that you were here.”

“Sorry to disappoint you,” I snark. “And who are you?”

“Who I am isn’t important.”

“Okay, so what is important?” I open my car door, and the light from the interior cuts off my view of her even more, but I want to be able to get away if this lady decides to do something crazy.

“That you shouldn’t have come here. Your parents sacrificed everything so you’d never have to be here.”

“You knew my parents?”

“It’s dangerous for you here.” She doesn’t answer my question.

“Why did my mom leave? Why is it dangerous?” I step out from behind my car door because I need to know what she has to say, but the rear door to the bar slams at the same time, pulling my attention away from the woman, and when I turn back to look at her, she’s gone.

“Wait, come back,” I call out, searching the darkness, but all I can hear is a few of the other staff members yucking it up as they head to their own cars.

“Nova, is everything okay? Is somebody bothering you?” Mickey asks.

“No, there was a woman I was talking to.” I look around again, knowing she’s gone.

“Well, be careful. Sometimes, they send a girl out to run a scam on tourists,” he says, searching the parking lot like I was.

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