“I’m still waiting for an answer,” he repeats his earlier words.
I can’t help glancing at the bandage covering the base of his neck.
That’s the reason I bathed that asshole Landon in pig blood a few days ago, and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
“I’m still waiting,” Nikolai says again in his usual gruff, but now completely irritable voice. I swear he has the patience of a toddler.
“For what?” I sign, wearing my innocent face. “And rude, by the way. Didn’t I tell you not to bother me when I’m meditating?”
“Blah fucking blah. You’re not deflecting.” He gets even closer so that I’m breathing mint off his breath. “Where did you take your sister the other night, and why were you laughing like evil maniacs after you came back? I know an adrenaline rush when I see it, and you two definitely had one. So out with it.”
I play with the dozen blue ribbons in my hair, pretending to fix them. “What makes you think I took her somewhere? Maybe she’s the one who took me.”
“She’s malicious, but you’re the brains behind every disaster you two plan. I don’t have all day, Mia. What the fuck did you do, and do I have to maim someone?”
I point a proud thumb at myself. “Your baby sister took care of it. Just rest assured, Niko.”
He narrows his eyes and it looks maniacal, scarily so. He’s not the type to be deterred from his inquiries, especially when Maya and I are involved.
Besides, although we live in a flat close to the mansion where he resides with the Heathens, he doesn’t have access to us all day long.
Yes, there are bodyguards, but Maya and I made it clear that they were only for outside and would never come inside the house. Or, God forbid, follow us around.
We were unlucky the other day, because when we came back, we found Nikolai waiting for us.
He definitely didn’t believe our lie that we were with friends. One, we don’t have those. People have always been either scared or wary of us, so Maya and I became each other’s best friend.
My sister has a huge following on social media and is in a clique with people who are similar to her, but even she wouldn’t call them friends. She used to be super close with our nanny when we were growing up, and she often called her a friend, but that ended after the nanny left the state to be with her family.
Two, despite my and Maya’s abilities to come up with an imaginary scenario on the spot and finish each other’s lies effortlessly, Nikolai has been with us all our lives, and while he likes to pretend he can’t differentiate between us when we dress the same, he actually can.
He can also tell when we’re acting.
“What happened that night, hmm?” he asks, completely undeterred by my answer. “And don’t tell me nothing, because I call bullshit.”
“It’s really nothing,” I sign with a sweet smile.
I learned early on that I have a cute face. Maya does everything to make hers sexy. I’m using this shit to my benefit.
If you’re cute and you smile, people will easily fall for your charms.
I just have to appear gullible until I find the chance to kick or punch them in the face. Like I did to Landon King.
A shudder snakes down my spine at the image of his manic smile that night. I actually had a nightmare about his bloodied smirk and the ‘I’m watching you’ sign.
He couldn’t possibly know it was me. I never removed the mask, and I technically wasn’t invited to that party.
My ally, the one who provided those invitations and let me in the Elites’ mansion, wouldn’t sell me out.
In fact, Brandon, Landon’s twin brother and my ally, sent me a picture of his brother covered in blood with a text.
Brandon: Did you do this?
Mia: If I say yes, would you hate me?
Brandon: No. I actually like you more now. I’m impressed.
Mia: You’re not mad that I used the invitations you gave me to do this?
Brandon: Not really. I figured you were up to no good when you asked for them.
Mia: What if you get in trouble with your brother?
Brandon: I know how to deal with him. Don’t worry.
So it was a win on all accounts. I get to keep my fresh, new, and completely unsure friendship with Bran, and I also got revenge for what his psycho brother did to mine.
Still, I’ve been unconsciously watching my surroundings the past couple of days, expecting Landon to jump me from behind.
Or worse—drag me into some dark corner, where I would definitely be defenseless.
“Okay.” Nikolai rises to his full height.