Alamort

51. Malice

P riya freezes in my arms, her breath hitching before she pushes herself away from my chest, hastily smoothing down her skirt to conceal the fresh addition of my name. Everything I had been working for was within my grasp. Tonight was the turning point. She would have no choice but to embrace the idea of me.

“Priya?” River’s voice grates on my nerves, disturbing our bubble of contentment. She’s far enough away that we still have time.

“Stay with me.” I tell her. Priya glances up at me with her doe eyes. The faint smattering of freckles on her face seemed to blend into the reddish hue of the light. Catching her bottom lip between her teeth. I can’t fathom a reason she wouldn’t immediately respond with an enthusiastic “Yes”. When I pull her lip free from the abuse she’s inflicting, my brows crinkle in concern.

“There’s nothing or no one who could keep me away from you, Priya. Not even you.”

“Priya?”

Always lurking around the corner. I wouldn’t put it past her to have waited for the perfect opportunity to intervene. River has always been adept at manipulation, effortlessly playing the innocent card even when the evidence is stacked against her. I don’t buy that coy act she puts on, having everyone wrapped around her finger.

She turns the corner of the red draped maze, coming to a sudden halt. Her body freezes, and her eyes widen when she spots the closeness between me and Priya. A black dress from the 50s adorns her, lending an air of vintage sophistication to her appearance. The detailed cracks drawn on River’s skin, mirror the shattered pieces of her past. Exposing the hidden ugliness that still lingers within.

She put her hair into rollers to achieve that big wave girls do with their hair. Fixated on Priya, her eyes hold a certain intensity, mirroring the way I often find myself staring at her.

If I could kill her without jeopardizing my relationship with Saint or incurring the wrath of the Demons, I would do so. She’s a nuisance.

“Priya? Is everything okay?”

My eyes narrow on her. I growl, letting my lip curl up at her insinuation that she wouldn’t be safe with me. I’m not the only one who has been hiding things from our Little Monster. I can practically taste the bitterness of her words in the back of my throat. But Priya is quick to intervene.

“Uh yeah. He was just going to show me the way out.” My jaw clenches as I stare at the side of her perfect profile, concealing her affections like she didn’t lick her own blood from my lips a moment ago. I adjust myself. Fuck, are blue balls a thing? I haven’t encountered this situation before, but I suppose there’s always a first time for everything.

River’s eyes, wide and observant, capture the area where I’ve cornered Priya, along with the lone mirror behind us. Then, her gaze locks onto me, her eyes sparking with recognition. She knows.

“I think I’ve got it figured out.” She summons Priya by extending her arm. Spots dance in my vision when she effortlessly goes to her side.“Just keep going straight. I’m going to have a word with the… worker.”

My monster’s body tenses before I hear her suck in a breath and release it through her nose. She throws me a look over her shoulder at me, smiling shyly, “Thank you for everything.” I keep my eyes locked on her until she fades away from sight.

My arms spread wide for a hug and a faux welcoming smile stretches across my face. “River!” I say with Saint’s American accent that I’ve learned how to perfect over the years for when it suits me. “I’ve missed you.”

“Really, Malice ?” She hisses, taking a step towards me. “I’ve already threatened Bennett. She’s off limits. I know you abide by your own laws, but please. I’m begging.”

I roll my eyes, “What are you on about?”

“You!”

“What gave it away?”

“I know my brother.”

I hum, tapping my chin. “Last I heard, you abandoned the family.” It’s not openly talked about. The abandonment issues River has developed over Saint letting her go live with a good family after the Demons ‘killed’ their father. The Demons and Elijah Cox decided to let River live out the normal life she deserved. Unfortunately, River followed the boys here. She wasn’t about to be left behind. She wanted in on whatever they were planning. The twins refused to have her involved in their little agenda to do with Priya Carter. So, River weaseled her way in the only way she knew how to. By befriending the object of the Demons’ obsession, putting her right into the thick of it.

“You guys are still my family, Mal.”

This is manipulation perfected into a form of art. Attempting to manipulate me with emotions when she had already confessed that I only adhere to my own principles. If I killed or kept Priya, it wouldn’t have anything to do with her request.

“I’ll pass it along.” I won’t. It wouldn’t matter. They all have a soft spot for her. “I’m being summoned. See you around, River. And if I were you, I’d keep my mouth shut.”

“Please, not her.”

“We’ve already chosen.” I shrug.

“Did you forget what happened to the last girl who was in your guys’ orbit?” She lets out a laugh that lacks humor. “Megan Riley is dead because of you.” Despite the red lights, her brown eyes remain piercingly dark, unable to hide the fiery anger within them.

My nostrils flare as I step into her face, bending slightly to put us at eye level. At 5’7 she thinks she can intimidate me. It almost makes me laugh.

“Let’s not forget why I had to do it, River.” I spit her name. “It was either her or you. Saint wouldn’t have been able to live with himself knowing what your father was going to make him do to you, so I shouldered the burden for him, like I always do.” She recoils away from me. “I. Saved.You.” I punctuate each word, so it sinks in. Her eyes drop to her feet, unable to meet my eyes. As she should.

I don’t feel guilty for being the bad guy. Someone has to be. I nonchalantly wiggle my fingers in the air, dismissing her.

A gasp sounds from the end of the hallway. I freeze at the small audible sound from the corner where Priya Carter disappeared around a minute ago. With a slow irritated blink, I direct my glare to the new source of issues. River running her mouth for Priya to hear.

That’s something I’ll have to deal with later.

River swiftly takes off to follow our Monster down the hallway, disappearing into the red-carpeted abyss.

Me and Saints phones ping one after the other with notifications from the twins, letting us know that Priya’s father made an unexpected appearance. This night just got a lot more interesting.

With our hood and mask firmly back in place, I make my way towards the red and white tent I last left the twins in. Off the bat, I spot Bennett dressed in a ringmaster costume fawning over a woman with a beard. Inches away from petting it. He says something and instead of laughing, she rolls her eyes. The closer I get, I overhear him asking about her tips for a full beard. This bloke can’t grow one for the life of him.

“For fuck’ sake, Ben. Leave the poor bird alone!”

“Malice! Where have you been?” He hiccups.

“Are you taking the piss?” I rip the clipboard from his hands. On it is a drawing of a beard. I can only imagine why he drew that. With a nod to the bearded lady, she dips out of sight.

“Where’s your brother?”

“He was asking the same about you earlier. Where’d you slither off to anyway?” Bennetts jab about being a snake isn’t as subtle as he thought it was. They haven’t seen me since Saint spilled the beans.

“He left after we ran into Robert Carter. Then poof. Gone with the wind.” He giggles at his joke. My teeth grind against each other, giving me comfort in the pain. Leave it to Bennett to fuck up a simple task like finishing the checklist Crew left him. It’s out of the norm for Crew to leave his irresponsible brother in charge of something so big.

“I know that look and I don’t need to be babysat, Malice. It’s you everyone should be worried about.” He attempts to poke me in the chest but misses.

“Let’s go find your brother, you wanker.” There’s something off about him disappearing and we’re going to find out what it is. “Which way did he go?”

Bennett points towards the back of the massive tent, the flaps fluttering in the light breeze from outside. “Now that I think about it, that’s the same way Priya’s dad went.” He burps and doubles over. “I don’t feel too good.” Fucking lightweight. “I wanna talk to you about something real quick.” The asshole sits down on the ground crisscross apple sauce and pats a dirty spot next to him. Time is of the essence and he’s wasting it.

“I know what you’re thinking and I’m not moving until your grumpy ass shits down.” He laughs, “I mean, sits down. Same thing.”

Taking a deep breath, I play along with his shenanigans. I won’t get far otherwise. “All right, Ben?”

“No. You really hurt my feelings. Our feelings.” I blink slowly. He’s joking? This is going to be a long night.