“Why the fuck are you here?”
“I was coming to you,” she whispers, pausing mid-sob to say it. “I saw your concert, and I wanted… I wanted—”
“She wanted to let you know that she’s a dirty little trailer whore who doesn’t deserve you.”
The addition of a new voice takes me completely off guard, and I whirl around to see a somewhat familiar face lurking in the doorway.
Platinum-blonde hair. Dark, almond-shaped eyes.
A sneer I’d love to smack off her smug little face.
The girl I met at the art gallery walks into the room, grinning maniacally at the two of us. Fuck, what was her name? Moira, Molly, Michelle?
Keeping her hands behind her back, she enters the room slowly, her gaze volleying between Riley and me.
I shift so I’m positioned more in front of Riley’s face and chest and turn to glare at the intruder. “Didn’t you two used to be friends? Why have you tied her up and beaten her?”
“Not my fault you couldn’t finish your job.” She moves to lean against the full bed on one side of the room, and when she does, she folds her arms across her chest, brandishing a giant kitchen knife.
My eyes widen, my posture stiffening at it casually rests against her hip.
“Sometimes, people get distracted on their journeys,” she says, lifting a shoulder. “You’re lucky you have me to help finish things, Aiden.”
The way my name rolls off her tongue, smooth and heavy like whipped cream, makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. People I’ve never met knowing my name and using it in conversation is something I had to get used to over the years, but the attempt at adding a layer of seduction is something most people don’t really do.
Usually, they’re too starstruck to really flirt, or my general disposition puts them off. But this girl is clearly trying, and it almost keeps her words from registering as I try to dissect her tone.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
She laughs, her face tipping toward the ceiling. “You were supposed to ruin her! It’s what all the correspondence between you and your father stated up until you came here. Expose her for the lying snake she is, tell the world she faked her death because she felt guilty about accusing you of raping her, and turn the entire public against her. That was the plan.”
When I glance at Riley from the corner of my eye, I notice hers are closed. Unease cramps my gut, and I scoot so there’s less space between us, hoping the warmth of my presence is enough to counteract our ugly reality.
Taking a deep breath, I nod at the girl across the room. “How do you know that?”
“I’m your soul mate, Aiden James Santiago. I know everything about you.” A strangled noise comes from Riley’s throat, and the girl cocks her head, pushing off the bed to make her way over to us. “Is there a problem, little girl? I don’t think I was fucking talking to you.”
“You’re not his soul mate,” Riley mutters, her cheek pressing into the floor and garbling her words. “You’re just insane.”
The girl’s dark eyes flare, unkempt fires blazing as she angles the tip of the knife in Riley’s direction. “Shut the fuck up, or I’ll carve the other side of your mouth so your scars match.”
Swallowing, I keep my gaze on the blade, watching for the slightest movement. My fingers find the iron handle beside me, and I inch my way around them, trying to determine how quick I’d have to be with the brunt force before she lashed out and nicked me.
“Look, M—” I trail off, cringing hard when her name still doesn’t come to me.
Her face twists up, horror flashing across her features. “Mellie.”
“Yes, right. Mellie. I have to admit I’m out of the loop here, could you help me understand? Did… did my father put you up to this?”
When she laughs, it’s so high-pitched and squirrelly that I almost have to cover my ears; it echoes in my skull, the way nightmares begin.
“Your dad? No. As if that man would ever dare speak to a fan. Like we’re somehow beneath him, and not the entire reason for your career and success.”
“Well, then I don’t—”
“It was supposed to be me that night!” Her voice raises, sharp and grating. “In New York. The whole trip to the charity auction was my idea, I placed a fake name on the ballot, I was supposed to be the ticket you bid on. But the incompetent gala aide got the buzzers mixed up, and when I saw you walking toward the bar… toward her, I knew there’d been a mistake.”
I frown, confusion creasing my forehead. “I bid on Riley, though.”
“Oh, I know.” She scoffs, hatred pouring off her in waves. “I was behind the ticket counter when your friend placed your bid, and I switched up the buzzers. Or, at least, I thought I did. But somehow, you still found your way over to her.”
Her nose turns up as she bends, poking the back of Riley’s calf with the knife. “Riley. I couldn’t understand what you possibly wanted in her, so I followed you to see. Figured maybe if I learned what you saw in this freak, I’d be able to mimic it ten thousand times better. Who would choose scars and shyness over perfection?”
Perfection seems like a bit of a stretch, but sure.
“Imagine my fucking surprise when little miss agoraphobia lets you go down on her in a tattoo shop.” Pressing harder as her words get angrier, the blade pierces the material of Riley’s pajama bottoms, making her squeak in protest.
“You would’ve done the same,” Riley mutters. Her voice is weak, faded, and I glance at the blood pooling beneath her side again, fear creeping into my bones.
“I would’ve done more. Anything to get Aiden to see we belonged together. You left him! Opportunity of a lifetime, and you bolted.” Mellie’s eyes flash to mine, something wild and unhinged reflecting back at me. “She didn’t deserve you, darling. Trash like her doesn’t deserve anything but to be taken out.”
Nostrils flaring, I clench and unclench my jaw, her words slowly processing in my mind. “So, you started the rumor.”
She grins. “Started the rumor, made sure it spread through every online platform, leaked names and pictures. You guys did a good job trying to scrub the evidence away, but the Internet is forever, baby. I knew once people heard, they’d never stop talking about it.”
Nerves somersault in my stomach, flipping over and over as the realization sets in. I can barely process what this stranger is saying, much less the fucking gravity of what she’s done—what she’s ruined.
Three years of our lives, completely wasted.
All because some bitch thought she deserved my time.
Tilting her head, a wicked smile spreads over her mouth as she looks at Riley. “I sent the envelope, too. Knew it’d freak you out. Didn’t think you’d kill yourself, but hey, that was a nice little bonus.” Her face stiffens, mouth mashing into a firm line. “Although, I was surprised to find out it was just another lie.”
My hand whips out as she begins sliding the knife down Riley’s leg, causing her to cry out in pain. I move to knock the weapon from Mellie’s hand, bringing the iron up, but she spins just out of reach, cackling as she points at me.