Chapter 7
MIA
T he building literally says Bones’s Garage on the side. I stand out front, feeling awkward and overdressed in my tight black dress and heels. In the middle of nowhere, the garage lights up the woods like a beacon. Loud music pours out, adding to the eeriness. There’s something off about this town. I can feel it.
I almost chicken out until I see Villette. She waves at me from the doorway, beckoning me forward.
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath as I plaster on a fake smile and amble forward.
I almost break my ankle when my pointy heel gets stuck in the mud for a second. I recover quickly, though, and I don’t think anyone notices.
“You made it!” Villette grabs my hand and pulls me inside.
She looks gorgeous in tight black jeans, black boots, and a purple cropped sweater that shows off her diamond belly button piercing.
I try to pull back. “I should go change. ”
Her eyes widen. “No fucking way. You look hot.”
“Um, are you sure? I feel like people are staring at me.” I look around the garage and find more casually dressed people sandwiched in between the muscle cars, motorcycles, and mechanical equipment.
She giggles. “Only because you’re gorgeous. Relax, Mia. Let’s get you a drink, then I’ll show you around.”
I nod even though I want to run deep into the woods and offer myself up as a sacrifice to the fashion gods. I couldn’t be any less cool if I tried.
A twinge of envy sparks up when I see how effortless it is for Villette to mingle. She’s beautiful and nice, which is a rare combination. People genuinely like her. I can see it in the way they look at her.
Having grown up in an orphanage, I’m not used to social situations. Even the art gallery parties were awkward for me because I didn’t have the experiences normal teenagers usually have. When I wasn’t spiraling into a sleep coma with Nox, I had my nose in a book in the orphanage’s library. There were no spring break trips, no weekends at the mall, and no boys to gush over. I’m basically a weirdo with zero social skills.
But Villette makes it look easy. I bet she had a great fucking upbringing. And not because her family’s rich, although I’m sure that helped, but she has the aura of someone whose parents love her.
I smile and nod when Villette hands me a glass of white wine. As I curl my fingers around the stem, I notice my chipped black nail polish. Ugh. I should’ve touched them up before tonight. That’s just another example of how ill-equipped I am for polite society.
After meeting several more groups of people equally as nice as her—rich and beautiful and also very polite—we take up a spot against the far wall next to a sleek black Mustang. It’s custom-painted with shiny chrome rims and windows that are tinted so dark you can’t see inside at all .
The hood is propped open to show off the car’s brand-new engine. “Wow. Your brother did all this?”
Villette nods. “Yup. He’s been working on cars since we were kids. Much to my father’s disappointment.”
The first crack in her perfect facade. Interesting. “Why? He’s really talented.”
She arches an eyebrow at me. “You know about cars?”
I shrug. “A little. One of the nuns at the orphanage was also a mechanic. She let me watch her work in the yard a few times.” I helped her restore an old Chevy Impala one summer, but Lettie doesn’t need to know all that.
Her eyes widen. “You are full of surprises.” She waves to someone behind me. “Bones, come meet my new friend. She knows more about cars than you do.” She winks at me.
My cheeks burn. “Oh, no. I don’t know anything, really. Please don’t tell him that.”
She laughs as I feel a draft blow past me, carrying scents of cedar, motor oil, and tobacco. The man, who I assume is her brother, throws an arm around her neck and gives her a peck on the forehead. “What are you yapping on about, Lettie?”
Holy hell, he is fucking ripped. Wearing a tight white cashmere sweater with the sleeves rolled up and low-slung jeans, his knuckles bandaged with blood stains seeping through, he’s a combination of sexy and dangerous. His chiseled forearms are covered in tattoos, and they don’t stop there. Black and gray ink peeks out from his collarbone, traveling all the way up to his jaw. He’s fucking gorgeous in a raw, unkempt way.
“Bones meet Mia. Mia, Bones. She just moved into Harker mansion. So be nice, big brother.”
My breath hitches when he turns to face me. His eyes… there’s something about them. His gaze is intense—alluring and haunting. I feel like my insides curdle, melting, as he stares back at me.
“Nice to meet you.” His tone is flat and cold. He gives Villette another quick peck on the forehead. “I gotta go take care of something. Enjoy the party, little sister. And stay out of trouble. You tell me if anyone here fucks with you.”
She rolls her eyes. “Everyone knows I’m your sister. They’ll only fuck with me if they have a death wish.”
He looks away, avoiding looking at both of us. “That’s because they’re smart.”
She playfully punches him in the arm. “ No . It’s because you’re you .”
Bones flashes her a wicked grin before ambling off without another word or glance back. Fuck. He has zero warmth toward me. Maybe that Draven guy has already told everyone not to be friends with me. Could one person really hold that much power over a town?
“Don’t worry about Bones. He warms up once you get to know him better. Sorry if he seems rude. That’s just his schtick.” Her eyes sparkle with obvious love and admiration for her brother.
I shake my head. “No worries. I’m the newbie here. He probably just doesn’t want to make his girlfriend jealous.” Okay, so now I’m fishing? I’m such a hot mess.
Villette almost spits out her drink. She chokes back a sip of chardonnay, wiping her mouth with her sleeve as some of it drips out. “Bones has never had a girlfriend. All he cares about are his friends and this shop.” She laughs. “Fuck, that was funny. My parents would sell their souls to see him settle down, but they gave up on that years ago. My oldest brother, Felix, finally met someone, so that is keeping them occupied.”
I nod, even more embarrassed than I was to begin with. “Gotcha. So he’s just a dick then?” I tease.
“Pretty much.”
We both laugh at that, but I can’t shake the feeling that I know him from somewhere. His brown eyes and long black lashes… I’ve seen them before. He was probably at Duff’s the other night. That’s the only other place I’ve been since I arrived in this strange town .
Villette excuses herself to go to the restroom after profusely promising to be right back. She’s too sweet for her own good. I assure her that I’m a big girl and can handle a few minutes of being by myself.
I’m admiring the Mustang’s engine when another beautiful man catches my eye. Fuck. Now this one, I know for sure. Aries fucking Thorn . Of course, he’d be at this party. With his designer suit and million-dollar smile, he’s the type of guy who parties were designed for.
I’m a little tipsy and sleep-deprived. But I don’t have time to talk myself out of it because I’m already charging toward him before I can think any other rational thoughts.
“Taking a little break from harassing helpless women? Or are you trying to get her to sell her house to you too?” I snarl.
The pretty blonde girl he’s talking to snorts into her drink before scampering off.
Aries widens his stance, a show of dominance, as he flashes me a wicked grin. “You’re far from helpless. Or so I’m told.”
I know it was him who sent the masked intruder, but hearing him allude to it, pretty much admitting guilt, fires me up. “You assholes are out of control. You can’t just break into someone’s house in the middle of the night and expect to get away with it.”
Aries licks his lips and bridges the short gap between us. He towers over me, his blue-green eyes sparkling with charm and malice. “Be careful, Mia. I don’t like threats.”
I take a step toward him, forcing him to inch back. “Neither do I.”
We glare at each other in a way where I don’t know if I want to slap him or fuck him. He’s beautiful and hot as fuck. But the way he looks at me… he’s more dangerous than the one he sent to scare me. He’s too controlled. Too fucking cold for my blood.
He hovers his mouth over my ear. “Just sign the papers, Mia. Then maybe we can be friends. I’d love to share another bottle of expensive wine with you. ”
I’m fucking fuming. “You can’t threaten me and flirt with me at the same time, asshole. That’s like… like not okay.” My cheeks are burning.
He chuckles. “You’re flustered. Your pussy must be so confused right now. I bet my cock can get her to relax,” he whispers in my ear.
I gasp. The fucking arrogance of this man . Without thinking, I step back and throw the last few sips of chardonnay at his face.
His eyes darken like he wants to murder me. He grabs my wrist, and the empty glass goes crashing to the ground. Luckily, the music is so loud only a few people hear it break on the cement. I look around to see the few witnesses turn away. No one fucks with Aries Thorn, apparently. Even if he’s manhandling a woman half his size. Good to know. Fuck.
“You wanna play rough with me behind closed doors? Well, I’m game, little lamb. But don’t you ever embarrass me in public like that again.” The tone of his voice sends a chill up my spine.
“Get your hand off me, and stay the fuck away from my house,” I bite back. I cannot let this man start to think he has any power over me.
“What is going on here?” Villette cries. “Aries, let my friend go, please.”
He drops my wrist immediately and steps away, slipping his mask back into place with a charming, albeit fake, smile for my beautiful host. “She stumbled, and her drink spilled. I was just holding her up. Isn’t that right?”
I shoot daggers at him before turning to Villette. “I didn’t fall. I threw a drink in his face because he’s an asshole who’s been harassing me for a week to sell my property.”
Aries rolls his eyes and lets out a deep, dramatic sigh. “It’s not harassment, it’s business. Your new friend here is confused.”
Villette’s mouth drops open. “Are you fucking for real, Ries? Is this what you all have been whispering about since I got back?”
“Lower your voice, Lettie,” Aries cautions .
“Don’t tell her what to do,” I snap a little too loudly.
He steps toward me again, his eyes murderous. “This is not your town, little lamb. And we are not your people. So sign the papers, take the money, and get the fuck out.”
“Aries Thorn, how dare you?” Villette yells. “I know your mother did not raise you to be a heathen. Apologize right now.”
From behind him, I see Bones charging toward us, his jaw clenched. “Que chingados esta pasando?”
“What the fuck is going on is that Aries is harassing my new friend,” Villette huffs out.
He sighs and gives Aries a death stare. “Lettie, you don’t understand the whole situation. It’s complicated.”
Her eyes widen. “Are you fucking kidding me? You’re a part of this too? I should’ve known.”
While I’m grateful to Lettie for sticking up to her brother and his friend for me, the realization of why he looks so familiar hits me like a ton of bricks. Oh, fuck . My palms sweat, and my stomach knots.
“It was you.” I jab my finger into his chest, cutting Lettie off.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Oh, he knows exactly what I’m talking about. That’s why he can’t look at me. I reach into my purse, pull out the lock pick, and chuck it at him.
“Bones, what did you do?” Villette is shaking now.
Aries steps in between us. “Calm down, Lettie. None of this concerns you.”
“I knew I’d seen your eyes before, but I couldn’t place you because you were wearing a fucking ski mask,” I grit out as I step back, shaking. “You-you broke into my house and…” I can’t finish my sentence because I catch another familiar set of eyes on me from across the room.
I tune out the screaming match that Villette, Aries, and Bones are having to drown in my mystery man’s eyes. My breath hitches as a flashback from the bathroom at Duff’s resurfaces again. That night that I can’t get out of my mind.
He walks toward us, and I can’t breathe. He’s more beautiful than I remember—tall, muscular, with black hair and golden honey-flecked eyes. His lips are thick. I never got to kiss him that night. We were too busy trying to get off as quickly as possible, determined not to know anything about each other. Convinced we’d never see one another again.
I want to run to him. To tell him what these people are doing to me. Would he help? Would he even care?
“ Mia ,” Villette says in a way that sounds like she’s called my name more than once.
I look back at her, breaking out of my reverie. Bones and Aries are still arguing behind her. “Who is that?” I jerk my head toward my bathroom man.
Her neck is flushed, her brow furrowed. I can tell how fast her heart is racing by the way her chest heaves between each breath. She’s just as furious as I am. But I need one sliver of joy tonight. “Please, Lettie. Tell me who that guy is.”
She shakes her head in frustration. “That’s Draven. Draven Blackwell. If my brother and Aries are tormenting you, then the odds are that he’s the one who put them up to it.”
No .
Please, for fuck’s sake, no.
The room starts to spin. My knees wobble. I take a shaky step back as my fight or flight response kicks into overdrive. How in the fuck is this happening? “I-I need to get the fuck out of here, Lettie. Like out of this fucking town.”