Page 120 of Reckless Hearts

“Clearly not with you,” I smile back, relishing the way she bristles.

I love it when people think they can bully me or hit me with that mean girl bullshit.

Yeah,just try it. I was raised by the most badass woman I know with the second most badass woman I know as an aunt and a literal crime boss as an uncle.AndI went to private school.

But something’s wrong. Raquel doesn’t seem the least bit fazed by my comment. Instead, she starts to smile wider.

“I mean, not at this very moment, no. But only because he’s probably still trying to catch his breath.”

Something vicious and green stabs into me, making me wince, but it’s also painfully obvious she’s merely trying to get a rise out of me. So I just exhale and shake my head.

“Look, I don’t even know you,” I mutter. “And I don’t have any issue with you—”

“Well, I have an issue withyou,” she snaps back.

“Great,” I shrug. “Take a number and get in line. I don’t know what to tell you. But we’re in the middle of something important, so, like, bye?”

I turn away from her, rolling my eyes at Elsa. Suddenly Raquel is grabbing my arm and yanking me back around.

“Are you serious?” I blurt. “Don’t touch—”

“First, I let him chase me,” she hisses, leaning in so that her lips are close to my ear. She laughs quietly. “You know how he likes to play, don’t you?”

I bristle.

“Then I let him fuck me as hard as he wanted, and oh myGodwas it good.”

“Please, you’re embarrassing yourself,” I growl.

“And afterthat? Well…”

I tense up as she brings her mouth super close to my ear.

“Let’s just say, if you and I kissed right now, you’d taste somethingveryfamiliar.”

Cold bile rises in my throat. I can feel myself clenching up as green jealousy swirls in my chest.

“Okay, that’s enough!” Elsa snaps, grabbing my arm and pulling me away from Raquel. “Look, I don’t know who you are—I don’t fucking care. But you need to get the fuck away from us before you really do find the trouble you seem to be so hell bent on stirring up. Are we clear?”

Raquel laughs. “Down, girl. I was just telling little Dahlia here about running into her boyfriend at Club Venom. Without her. Awkward much?”

I frown. “What the hell is Club Venom?”

When Elsa is silent behind me, I turn. My brows pinch together when I see the look on her face.

“Oh,sheknows what Venom is,” Raquel laughs coldly. “Why don’t you ask your friend, Dahlia. She’ll tell youexactlywhat goes on there.” I flinch as she leans in close to me again. “Think of me the next time he fucks you,” she hisses. “I canpromiseyou that he’ll be thinking of me.”

I don’t realize I’m shaking with my hand balled into a tight fist until she’s walking out the door.

“Dahlia.”

I swallow the sudden lump in my throat.

“Dahlia.”

With an exhale, I turn back to see Elsa peering at me, bewildered. “Who the hell was that?”

“Just a cunt,” I mutter. My lips twist as I glance up at her. I’m almost afraid to ask. But I do. “What’s Club Venom?”

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