King of the Unsightly (Tempting Trickery #1)

Reap What You Sow

I propped my elbow on the side of the car door and rested my chin on my palm. I fixated on how the moonlight peeked through the pine trees and reflected off the ground. I wished for it to clear my head, but a million scenarios crossed my mind, and none of them ended well.

I ignored the conversation between Lynne and Lucien once they chatted about trivial things like going on a hike this Sunday to Crescent Falls because the weather app said it would be seventy degrees with not a cloud in sight. Lynne turned around from the passenger side all giddy with sparkles floating in her irises asking me if I was interested.

When I would rather be pushed off Hades Cliff ... again.

That’s what I wanted to say but I held my tongue and told her a polite no, thank you . I already had my fill of hikes, and the thought of third-wheeling with them didn’t excite me.

And if I had to see Lucien act all cutesy with her any longer I might vomit.

I also had more pressing matters to worry about than stupid hikes. I needed to make sure my sanity survived the night and my life went back to normal.

I lifted Lucien’s hat off my head, brushed a few flyaways behind my ear, and put it back in place.

Given the time to reflect on my decision, the outfit Lucien gifted me didn’t seem all bad anymore compared to the shirt I snatched and put on in a hurry. I hadn’t done laundry yet—for obvious reasons—so the only clean clothes in my dresser were the absurd graphic tees I started collecting when I turned thirteen. I remember wearing them thinking I was so edgy.

What a joke.

Now I only wore them as pajamas, and without fail, they became a little ritual for me every time I went to bed. However, I regretted my decision to collect them. I looked like a freshman frat boy with a shirt that read “A dirty hoe is a happy hoe” with a picture of a woman gardening.

Honestly, how did I think this was my best option even if I was in a rush? I should have contemplated it more.

Maybe it did beat the shirt Lucien picked out, I guess. Now I didn’t have to walk through the front doors of the hottest nightclub in Hollow resembling Steve from Blue’s Clues . That was a plus, I think.

My whole body screamed in agony as I lifted my chin. A tad pathetic how sore my body felt from swinging a small pan around, but in my defense, I had swung like my life depended on it.

“Hey, we’re here,” Lucien said, bunching his forehead as he glanced back at me.

“Sweet.” I unbuckled my seatbelt and stepped out of the Jeep, avoiding his concerned expression.

Lynne walked incredibly fast and stood right by Lucien, locking hands with him, and shot me a glare as we crossed the street.

Did Lynne expect me to grab Lucien’s other arm? Why did she feel the need to act jealous if Lucien said we were siblings? Did she think some Game of Thrones shit went down here?

I smiled gently, avoiding Lynne’s dagger eyes and lifted my head at the building in front of us. Death’s Paradise’s massive black sign with purple stripes and white letters loomed over us and illuminated the entire block.

I cracked my knuckles, but it did nothing for my escalating anxieties.

The electrifying music vibrated the ground the closer we got to the entrance.

We only stood a couple of feet from the front doors when I wished Gren had come with me. Then maybe I wouldn’t feel so utterly alone. I didn’t mind if I looked like a cross between a frat boy and a pirate if it meant he could offer me his odd comforts.

But Gren required some time to grieve and process what he witnessed. Of course he was on edge after finding drops of blood and feathers a few miles out from my apartment. Thankfully, no crow bodies—which meant they could be somewhere. Alive . I tried to tell him, but he remained unconvinced and said he needed to investigate more and would find me later.

So I had to meet this man alone. Great. Nothing weird ever happens when a woman meets a sketchy guy alone. Totally safe.

I accidentally made direct eye contact with the intimidating bouncer who stood like a statue and gave him a graceless wave as I hurried past him.

Shoved awkwardly in the corner as Lynne and Lucien danced sensually, I watched from a distance as all the drunken idiots on the dance floor pushed me more into the wall. They synchronized their bodies to the thundering beats, and I wished I was one of them, forgetting all my worries. But I had an opportunity, and I wouldn’t let it slip me by. I also couldn’t rely on Raagini to resurface, and avoiding Valeria was the most logical plan.

“Oh my god! Addy!” a woman shouted over the music. She held a martini glass as she swayed to the song thumping over the speakers.

I pinched my whole face like it would magically make my vision better, but I still couldn’t recognize the voice.

The slender figure walked closer until I made out more of her features. Her black waves bounced with purpose as her floral romper exaggerated her long legs and complemented her stiletto heels.

“How have you been?” she asked, blinking innocently as her brown eyes glimmered back at mine.

Her smile exposed two gapped teeth, and it somehow made her seem more sincere.

I couldn’t help but grimace a little. Who was she? I felt like an ass, and it didn’t help remembering faces wasn’t a strength of mine.

I looked her over again, but nothing came to mind. “I’ve been good,” I lied through a masked expression. “How have you been?”

A coworker from a previous job I worked? School? Foster care? God, this might drive me nuts.

“That’s good at least. I heard what happened, and what the customer did to you. Outrageous. Tyler was wrong for firing you,” she said, shaking her head. She leaned down and brushed my collarbone. I jerked backward. “Oh, you had some dirt on you. Sorry, force of habit.” She grinned.

I moved my hand and impulsively wiped where she touched.

Oh, Tara. The girl who went on vacation for weeks when I first started working at Cosmo’s.

I rubbed the nape of my neck, uncomfortable with the topic. “Yeah, I didn’t think I’d get immediately fired for punching a customer after he grabbed my ass, but what can you do?” Actually, I didn’t have to resort to violence but goddamn it, I had a short fuse because of Jared. And the customer calling me angel face didn’t calm my nerves one bit.

“Shitty manager. The nasty pervert deserved it.” Tara nodded as if agreeing with her own statement. “Let’s catch up! Want a drink?”

My voice came out strained. “Sure.” The song ended, and Lucien wrapped his arm around Lynne’s waist as they swayed back over to my side. “Oh, by the way, this is my friend, Lucien, and his girlfriend, Lynne.” I gestured at the two of them.

My concentration went to the bottles of liquor on the wall as they all introduced themselves and I stood silent like always. Lynne and Tara clicked and talked about some name brand I never heard of. It was fine though; it would make it easier for me to disappear without them noticing.

I turned away, hoping to drown myself in some drinks before I met the man handing out deals like he was the devil.

A firm hand gripped my shoulder, and my breathing hitched.

I spun around.

Fuck, Tara scared the shit out of me.

“Yes?” I asked, a little confused. Why did she have to give me a heart attack? She could have said something first.

“This round is on me.” She smirked as she twirled the maraschino cherry in her empty glass.

“Oh, cool.” Only two leather barstools were left, and one practically screamed my name.

“Yay.” She perked up and clapped her hands together as her nails clinked around her glass. Then she grabbed my shoulder with a surprisingly strong grip as she said, “It was nice meeting you guys, but I’ll be stealing this little cutey for the night.”

Lucien and Lynne both nodded in agreement as he gave me a thumbs-up like I needed it.

Unable to protest, Tara dragged me to the bar, plopped me down on the empty barstool, and ordered us two Reapers. I never heard of the drink, but I hoped it had a strong whiskey flavor. But I doubted it and bet it tasted as unpleasant as it sounded.

I was still going to drink it.

I drummed my fingertips on the bar and took it all in. The stench of booze and smoke swarmed my nostrils as the dance floor overflowed with more people. The flashing neon lights chaotically darted across the place.

My eyes landed on a VIP Room sign written in silver letters.

“You will lose it all.”

I snapped my head back at Tara. “Excuse me?” I asked, unsure I heard her correctly.

“I like your shirt.” Tara pointed at me; her voice was barely audible over the pulsating music.

It was only paranoia.

No way she said that.

I glanced at the sign and back at her, smiling. “You’re teasing me, huh.”

“Never. It’s edgy. I like it.” Tara gave me an innocent wave.

The bartender placed the two drinks down in front of us, both with a deep crimson color and a cherry on top.

I chugged the whole drink and asked for another. After the second one, I would slip away.

“Oh!” Tara cleared her throat and set her drink down. “My aunt has an apothecary shop in Samsville about an hour away, and she recently lost her full-time employee. It’s not much but if you’re interested, I can put in a few good words for you. I know Tyler probably slandered your reputation here.” Tara trailed off, hitting her manicured nails on the rim of her glass.

I hadn’t thought about getting a new job but if my life was going to go back to normal soon, I needed to take all the help I could get.

My face softened. “Sounds great.” Money was money, and I was in desperate need of it.

“Okay cool! I’ll text you all the details when I visit her.”

I gave her a smile and watched the bartender drop our second round in front of us.

If only I could sit here and enjoy some girl talk, but that was a luxury I couldn’t afford.

So I chugged my drink again as it slid through my throat like lead, and I shifted toward her. “I’ll be right back; I have to talk to someone in the VIP room.” I pointed at the door behind her.

“Oh, sounds fun! I’ll come with you,” Tara insisted.

“No!” I launched up from the barstool. A couple glared in my direction, but I ignored them and wriggled out the tension in my hands. “It’s private. I’ll come find you when I’m done. I swear.”

Tara pouted but nodded and went back to eye-fucking the bartender.

Tara didn’t seem bothered by my abrupt response, but I should still make it up to her later.

I weaved through the crowd, bumping into a few sweaty shoulders before I stared at the door in front of me.

If I assessed the man’s vibe right in the short amount of time we talked, then he was the pretentious prick who owned this club and lounged behind this door without a care in the world.