Insatiable (The Edge of Darkness, #1)(66)

I stop drinking and set down my cup. “You and Stacey are coming out with us? Since when?”

“Base asked me earlier,” she replies, shrugging a shoulder. “And I said yes.”

I don’t want to go out with fucking Stacey tonight. I already have plans, and I need to complete the contract by three in the morning.

“I could straight-up ask her how she got bruised,” she says, biting into her pastry.

“Don’t put her on the spot like that.”

She arches a brow and looks at me until I feel itchy. “Why are you so concerned anyway? I thought you two couldn’t stand each other.”

“I don’t care. It was just an observation. No one likes to see another person looking beat-up.”

She hums in agreement and finishes her drink. “I’ll keep an eye on her,” she says, then her eyes widen. “Oh, the cashier said there are loads of paps outside apparently. They must’ve found out we were visiting Dad.”

“Awesome,” I say sarcastically. “Where are we going later?” I ask. I know Base has already planned it.

I’ll just make sure I leave, complete my job and get back without them noticing.

“The place across from the casino near the promenade. Begins with an M?”

I inwardly scream. This day cannot get any worse.

Of all the clubs we could go to, they pick the one whose owner I need to fucking kill?

“Your dad wants to speak to you.” Mum has appeared at the entrance of the cafeteria. She tips her head to the corridor. “Alone.”

I sigh and follow the signs back to visitation while taking deep breaths.

As soon as I walk in, Dad pins his raging gaze on me. “Sit the fuck down.”

Without flinching, I do as I’m told.

“From the beginning.” I try not to look away from the intensiveness of his gaze. “Tell me what the fuck is happening… From the very beginning, Kade.”

I shrug. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t play dumb.”

“Nothing is happening.” I shake my head, looking at him with a serious expression. “Don’t bother yourself with my life.”

Darkening eyes stare at me like I’m the villain. “Are you on drugs?”

I’m certain the whites of my eyes still have a tint of red, and I absently sniff and look at my bouncing knees beneath the table. “No.”

The way I reply means there can be no doubt it’s the biggest lie I’ve ever told him. I don’t have time for any of this.

“I’m going to ask you again. Are you on—”

I abruptly stand from the table. “I’m not fucking doing this,” I snap as I walk towards the exit.

Dad yells something at me, but I block him out and gesture to the doorman to let me out.

He knows I’m on something, which means my mum will soon know. And then my plan of staying under their radar is fucked.





24




STACEY

Ilove Luciella, but with the number of dress shops she dragged me into before we headed back to the hotel, I contemplated pushing her in front of a speeding car.

Apparently, the club we’re going to is fancy and expensive, so she wants us to mix in with the glamourous girls by wearing the skimpiest goddamn dresses I’ve ever seen.

You’d think she was trying to get me naked with the scraps of material she’s picked out. She’s never been one for flaunting her body, so why tonight?

I said no to every dress she threw at me, settling on the one with the most material.

I’m not in the mood tonight. Spending hours with Base while he listed all the reasons Luciella and him should get married has given me a headache.

And I don’t want to spend any time with Kade. Even seeing his face annoys me.

He had another argument with his dad earlier, and Lu told me he stormed out. It was the first time they’d seen each other in two years. They’ve talked on the phone briefly, but Tobias apparently wasn’t happy when he saw his son.

I lie on the bed reading while Luciella takes hours in the bathroom. I message back and forth with Tylar, tell Kyle that I’m having fun and might need picked up at Glasgow when I land, and delete the usual texts from Chris and his half a dozen numbers.

I received two an hour ago, and I refuse to respond.

Kade: You out your mood yet?

Kade: I take that as a fucking no.

The guy can get fucked. He literally told me to forget what happened between us, and now he’s annoyed I’m ignoring him?

The door clicks open, and I quickly come off the messages as my best friend walks out with a grin. She’s wearing a navy dress that contours every curve on her body, accentuating her chest, her blonde hair curled and pinned back. She looks beautiful. Even though she and Kade are twins, they aren’t identical – she’s taken after her mother, and Kade – obviously – took his looks and personality from Tobias.

Luciella’s smile falls to a frown, her hands now on her hips. “Why aren’t you ready? ”

“I need to shower.”

She groans dramatically. “You could have showered in my mum’s or Kade’s room.”

I’ll pass on the latter.

By the time I’m washed and ready, Lu stares at me like she hasn’t seen me dressed up millions of times. “Damn, you look sexy. We need to wingwoman each other tonight.”