Filed To Story: Pretty Poisoned Novel by Elle Mitchell
“I get how you would see it that way, but I don’t.”
“You hurt me,” I cry.
“I’ve been good to you,” Declan says. “I took you home and gave you a family. You’re free nowisn’t that what you wanted? What’s the problem?”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I told you the truth. I didn’t have to do that.”
“Well, I’m glad you didfor both of us. Because you’ll never get what you want from me, and I’ll never get what I want from you. Now, we both know.”
He places his hand on my cheek and traces my jaw with his knuckles. “Teagan, you can have whatever you want from me. Say the word and it’s yours.”
His dark eyes look into my own in the way that usually has me throwing all logic out the window. I shrug him off before it works.
“I agree with you. I don’t think we should tell Luca about this, either,” I tell him before I storm out the door. Unlike his brother, he doesn’t chase me; he doesn’t grab me and hold me down and beg me to stay.
He doesn’t tell me he loves me because he never will. Which is finebecause I don’t love him, either, and I don’t need him to.
I crawl back into bed with Luca, close my eyes, and pretend I don’t recognize that unfamiliar ache in my chest for what it is, but I do.
It’s my heart. Breaking.
“The bus is here; let’s go.”
They were right. When I woke up this morning, the entire thing with Heidi had pretty much blown over. The magazine printed an apology along with a statement from Heidi that she was under the influence of drugs when she disappeared and will be seeking treatment at a facility in Houston. Luca will play with them tonight, and that’s that.
Next stop is Albuquerque. It could be worsethe drive isn’t that far, it’ll be warmer. Declan will probably go upstairs, and I won’t have to look at his fucking lying face or listen to his fucking lying mouth.
But I’m starting to feel the same sentiment as the rest of the family when I first met themI’m getting tired of the shows and the parties and the clubs. Declan or not, I’m ready to go home.
“These are for you,” Declan says, handing me a shopping bag.
“Why?” I ask dully.
“You said you read the others already.”
“I don’t want these,” I lie. “Not really my thing.”
“You’re lyingthey’re all on your wish list. Let’s go.”
Beside me, Luca laughs. “What did I tell you about hurting his feelings?” he says. “It never ends well. What’d you do to him?”
“I didn’t do anything to him. He doesn’t have any fucking feelings.”
Declan scoffs. “That’s cute, Teagan. Keep it up and see what happens.”
I glare at him from behind the safety of my sunglasses. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I have an idea,” Luca says and slaps my ass hard on my way out the door.
“Ow! Fuck! That hurt!”
The brothers both laugh, and I punch Luca in the arm before we step into the elevator.
“Oh no, not Teagan’s tiny baby fists again! Whatever will I do?” Luca laughs. “You know what? I think I’ve got a knot right here, baby.” He points to his lower back. “You want to help me with that?”
I fold my arms in front of me and lean against the back corner of the elevator.
“Go ahead and laugh at methat’s fine. I already feel like a joke.”
“Aw, come on, Teag,” Luca says.
“I’m not laughing at you, Teagan,” Declan says. “There’s nothing funny about how red your little ass is right now; that slap was hard.”
“Fuck you.”
I’m the first one out of the elevator with both of them laughing behind me.
“When did you even find the time to piss her off like this?” Luca asks Declan.
“It was a quick turnaround,” Declan says. Then, he’s at my side with his hand on the back of my neck. “But she looks so prettyeven when she’s mad. I miss my kitten, though.” I hold my breath while he runs his hand down my back. “Don’t be mad. No one is laughing at you, baby. You’re not a joke.”
“I’m not mad,” I say to him. “I just want you to stop being nice to me.”
“You don’t mean that,” he says.
I push through the hotel doors and climb onto the bus with Declan and Luca behind me.
“Teagan! We’re making Bloody Marysdo you want one?” River asks.
“I want two,” I tell her. “One for each hand.”
I regret it as soon as the words leave my fucking mouth.
“Yeah, Teagan loves having one for each hand,” Luca says.
God damn it.
“Actually, just one is fine,” I say over everyone’s laughter.
“Go ahead and make her two, Riv. She’ll change her mind,” Declan says.
“No, I won’t.”
I take one Bloody Mary and sit in a space between Luca and Hazel. The Bloody Marys are actually bloody, and I should have anticipated that, but it’s been a while. The coppery taste on my tongue comforts me; it relaxes me. I take another drink and sink down into that space under Luca’s arm.
I am going to want that second one, too.
“So, what’d he do?” Luca whispers. “Ass-to-mouth?”
I laugh, choking on my drink. “Luca! Damn it.”
“What? Am I right?”
“No. I fucking wish it was just ass-to-mouth.”
“You wish it was just ass-to-mouth? Well, god damn. I have no more guesses.”
“Move,” Declan says to Hazel.
I place my hand on her arm. “Please don’t.”
She looks at me and shakes her head. “Sorry, Teagan. Declan is Daddy. I have to listen to him.”
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.