A Devious Descent (The Deviants #1)

CHAPTER 1

Frankie

“N athaniel! Turn that shit off!” Throwing on my old ratty robe, I stomp to my brother’s bedroom and pound on the door. I have half an hour before I need to get ready for work, and I fully intend on spending that time dreaming of Bradley Cooper.

“I’m serious, Nate! I will shove that stupid alarm clock up your ass if you don’t turn it off!” It’s probably hard to take my threat seriously when I say it through a yawn, but his alarm has been blaring for thirty minutes already, and I’m tempted to make good on it. He might be my only family and my most favorite person in the world, but I really want to throat-punch him right now.

I knock again. Nothing. Guess I’m going in.

With shielded eyes, I burst through his door, preparing for anything I might interrupt. Last time I entered his bedroom uninvited, I found him licking whipped cream off some girl’s boobs whose name I’m sure he didn’t know. Nate looked up just as I tried making my escape. All I saw was a beard full of cool whip, making him resemble a perverted mall Santa. It almost would’ve been funny if he wasn’t my brother.

Uncovering my eyes, I get ready to make a smartass remark but stand gaping when I realize I’m alone. Nate must’ve gone to work early and forgot to turn off his alarm. Why doesn’t he just use the one on his phone like everyone else?

Reaching for his alarm clock, I knock over one of the half empty Busch Light cans littering his nightstand. Stale beer spills over the cheap laminate surface.

“Shit!” I sigh, rushing to grab the stack of rolling papers before they get soaked, quickly shoving them in my pocket. I clean up the mess, noticing a generous amount of used paper towels by his bed. “Ugh, gross!” I mumble, pretending not to know what he used them for as I put an end to the incessant blaring of his alarm.

Shuffling across the hall, I return to my bedroom and set the rolling papers next to the jar of green buds on my bookshelf. Dino stares at me with one eye as I crawl back into bed. His other one popped off years ago. The pink, matted dinosaur has gotten me through some tough times as a kid. Pulling him close to my chest, I burrow underneath my sage green comforter.

I try conjuring the image of Bradley Cooper, naked, confessing his love for me, but it’s useless after discovering Nate’s nasty cum rags. Thanks a lot, Nate, wherever you are.

Instead, I study the Devils Ivy hanging from the ceiling, trailing down both sides of my bed. The leaves are starting to droop a little, the edges slightly curling. I guess I should get up and water them. Throwing off my covers, I decide to bid farewell to Brad and start my day.

I load a variety of starter plants into the back of an old pickup truck before turning to Ms. Anderson. “Remember to plant these deep so you get more roots. Your tomatoes will thank you.”

She smiles at me. “Thanks for the tip, kiddo. You really know your stuff.”

My cheeks heat from her praise as I slam her tailgate shut. Ms. Anderson waves at me before driving away, eager to plant her garden. Returning her wave, I leisurely stroll back to the greenhouse, enjoying the warm sun on my face.

Grass Roots Greenery is where I spend most of my time. I’ve worked here since I was sixteen, picking up extra shifts every chance I get.

“That old bat get everything she was looking for?” Dave grunts. My grumpy old boss scares away all the customers with his sunshiny disposition. The man doesn’t have the patience to explain the difference between heirloom plants and hybrid ones. I don’t know why he thought working with the public was a good choice for him.

I roll my eyes. “Yes, Ms. Anderson got everything she was looking for. You really should start being nicer to the customers, Dave.”

“That’s your job,” he grumbles, walking back to his office. “And stay off the phone Frankie! I mean it.” I swear a smile pulls at his lips as he slams the door.

Walking to the back of the greenhouse to take inventory, I grab a rubber band off the bench, braiding my hair as I go to keep it off my sweaty neck. Just as I finish, my phone rings making me jump.

Ripping it from my back pocket, I quickly silence it before Dave hears. He wasn’t kidding when he told me to stay off my phone. Making sure I’m completely hidden between the cucumbers and zucchini, I bring the phone to my ear.

Jess’ high-pitched squeal pierces my eardrums. “Frankieeeeee! I’m so excited for tonight! What are you gonna wear?”

Jess has been my best friend since elementary school despite our different personalities. She thrives in social settings thanks to her bubbly, outgoing personality, whereas I would rather stay home in my pajamas and watch Gilmore Girls .

Before I can even give her an answer, she says, “Don’t you dare bail on me! We’re going to dress up and dance our asses off. You owe me.”

She’s right. She didn’t complain once during our Lord of the Rings marathon last weekend, even though she thought Gandalf and Saruman were the same person.

“I know, I know. Tonight will be fun. I was thinking of wearing a white tank top with those cute pants I bought last week.” I know she won’t let me get away without showing some skin, but I try anyway.

Jess huffs. “I knew you would say that. I’m grabbing some clothes that will show off your goods and will meet you at your house. Seriously, Frankie, what would you do without me?”

I open my mouth to give her a smartass reply when Dave’s door bursts open. “Frankie, you better not be on the phone.”

Shrinking farther between the carts I whisper yell, “Shit!”

Giggles come through the other end of the phone line. “I swear he’s going to fire you someday.”

Grabbing a cucumber, I wave it over my head like a white flag. “Nope, just taking inventory like you told me to,” I yell in Dave’s direction, before whispering into the phone. “I’ll see you at my place.”

“Have fun with the inventory,” Jess says before hanging up.

Pocketing my phone, I look up to see Dave standing over me with his usual scowl. “Cucumber inventory?” He looks at me with an arched grey eyebrow.

“And Zucchini!” I defend, giving him a guilty smile.

Shaking his head, he turns back to his office. He really should fire me, but he won’t because the customers love me.

I stop at the liquor store on my way home before pulling my rusty 2002 Chevy Malibu into my driveway.

Jess is already at my house, carrying more clothes than I have in my entire closet. We met in the third grade when a group of boys were cornering me at school, teasing me for my dirty clothing and unkept hair. I started having a panic attack, but Jess came to my rescue with a group of fifth graders. They swooped in and Jess whisked me away. When I asked her how she convinced the older boys to help, she just shrugged stating, “Anyone will help if you know how to ask.” We’ve been inseparable ever since.

“Can you grab the bag of shoes from my backseat?” she yells over her shoulder as I exit my car.

“You brought an entire bag of shoes for two people?” Chuckling, I grab the bag, Diet Coke, and Jack Daniels before following her into the old rambler Nate and I are renting.

It’s not much, but the owner gives us a discount in exchange for Nate doing repairs around the place. It’s surrounded by acres of trees and corn fields, so we have plenty of privacy. The small stream behind our house brings in all kinds of animals. Especially this time of year when the snow has melted, the trees are budding with new leaves, and my hostas serve as a delicious treat for the hungry deer and rabbits.

It’s significantly better than the house we grew up in. Actually, anything without a lock on the pantry door is better than the house we grew up in. I shudder thinking about all the times my mom locked me in that damn pantry. I’m thankful those times are behind me.

We spend the next hour getting ready with Olivia Rodrigo blaring in the background. Jess rolls over on my bed, groaning as I change for the third time. “Dude, you look hot. Stop being self-conscious.” That’s easy for her to say with her silky red hair and body that looks photoshopped.

“Are you sure it isn’t too short?” Being a couple inches taller than Jess makes her clothes look extra scandalous on me. I stare in the mirror, tugging the bottom of the dress down, only to make my cleavage more pronounced. Damnit!

“Hell no,” Jess says, mindlessly scrolling on her phone. “Show off those sexy legs.”

She’s wearing a black sheer top over a black bra and matching miniskirt. Reaching into her bag, she pulls out a pair of strappy heels before throwing them at my feet.

I glare at the torture devices, reaching for my old trusty converse instead. “I love you, friend, but not enough to sacrifice my toes all night.”

Jess shrugs her shoulders. “I figured I’d try,” she says before leaping off the bed. “I’m raiding Nate’s room. We need to do shots before our ride gets here.”

A minute later, she returns carrying two shot glasses. “Grandpa G needs water. He looks like shit.”

Grandpa G is a plant we stole from our grandpa’s funeral. I was too busy this morning cleaning up spilled beer and trying to get back to Brad, so I didn’t notice he had been neglected.

“Ugh, I told Nate I could take better care of that plant than he could, but he insisted on putting it in his bedroom. He said, and I quote ‘chicks dig plants.’ I’m gonna be pissed if Grandpa G dies because Nate needs help getting laid.”

Jess applies another layer of mascara. “Where is Nate anyway? I thought he was coming out with us tonight.”

I look in the mirror and shrug. This is as good as I’m gonna get. “He wasn’t home this morning when I woke up, but I’m sure he’ll be there.”

I send Nate another text message before Jess and I down our shots.?

Where the hell are you? Are you coming out tonight?