Chapter 6
VANESSA
Ilounged on my oversized sofa, one foot tapping to the beat of the radio while I hunted online, my phone inches away from my face.
There she was. ‘Cami’ Harrington, pouting at me from the tiny Instagram circle that was her profile photo. I scrolled down, seeing her bio linking to her Facebook account, and clicked there.
Cami was actually Camilla, and she worked at a strip bar.
Classy.
There were photos of her downing shots with her friends, dancing on tables, and generally being a full-time party girl.
Hot pants and tight tops, an obvious lip job and the sort of body that left nothing to the imagination.
And her hair extensions were shoddy, to say the least, and I should know, I was a hairdresser.
An idea formed in my mind, and I texted Enzo.
Vanessa: Wanna come out with me to a bar tonight? I wanna see this bitch.
Enzo replied instantly.
Enzo: I will not be an accessory to a crime.
A smile played at my lips as I rolled my eyes, texting him back.
Vanessa: I won’t say a word. I just need you to come with me.
Enzo: It’s not your words I’m worried about.
I scoffed and sent him the bar location and an angel emoji.
Vanessa: See you at seven?
Enzo sent the thumbs-up emoji, and I slid my phone into my pocket, grabbed my keys from the counter near my front door, and headed outside. The skies were overcast, the air thick with rain. A robin hopped over the fence to my right before disappearing.
I’ll make Cami wish she’d disappear.
I slid into my dark blue Mazda, flicking on the heated seats before heading to Lila’s house. I wanted to tell her I’d found the whore who’d helped ruin her marriage, maybe give her the opportunity to come with me to destroy her.
Or maybe not. Lila wasn’t like that.
Not like me. I smiled as I navigated the light traffic to Lila’s, even stopping to give way to other drivers which I very rarely did.
I hated the March weather. Rain started coming down thick and fast, my windshield wipers trying to keep my view clear as they fought it furiously.
I eventually arrived and dragged an umbrella out from the back seat so I didn't get soaked.
I hurried up her driveway and knocked on the door. I heard her footsteps padding to the door, then the lock twisting.
The door swung open to reveal a woman I barely recognised; with bags under her swollen eyes, her skin paler than I’d ever seen it, and her hair scraped into a messy bun. She was wearing pyjamas, and it was two in the afternoon.
But I wasn’t judging.
“Hi,” she said in a small voice.
“Hey, girl.” I reached forward and pulled her into my arms, wincing when the smell of stale wine greeted me. “No work today?”
Lila stepped out of my embrace and waved me inside, leaving me to close the door.
“No. I’m not in for the rest of the week. I called Ian and explained…” Lila’s voice trailed off as she stared at the wedding canvas on the floor, now ripped in two.
Okay, maybe Lila was a little unhinged.
I raised an eyebrow as she continued talking.
“He said to take the rest of the week off.”
Ian was her supervisor, and he should be thanking his lucky stars he’d looked after her in her time of need, or he’d be getting a visit from me too.
My gaze swept around the normally pristine home, taking in the dishes stacked on the counter and the empty wine bottles beside the sofa. Then I spied the documents on the coffee table and the words on them.
Petition for Divorce.
I sucked in a breath and lifted my gaze to Lila’s.
“You filed?”
Lila hugged herself and nodded. “I met with an attorney yesterday. I had to—how can I stay with him now?” Her eyes filled with tears, and mine did the same.
Even though I hated his guts, I’d never seen two people in love like these two. Seeing the divorce papers made my cold, black heart freeze that little bit more.
“Oh, honey,” I whispered, striding over to her and taking her in my arms. “Come here.”
Lila let me hold her, and together, we cried. For everything they used to be, and for everything they could’ve been. For every goddamn conversation we’d ever had about how we’d leave any man if he cheated on us.
But my brother? I’d seen the way he looked at Lila, how he always looked at her. Like she was the only star in his sky. So how the fuck had he sunken so low?
“I know who she is,” I told Lila as we broke apart, both dabbing at our eyes.
Lila’s eyes widened, and I watched as a coldness seeped into them that made me hesitate for a second.
“Cami?” Lila spat the name, and I couldn't blame her. I really couldn’t.
“Yeah, she’s a bartender in a strip joint downtown.”
Lila stiffened, and I took it as my cue to continue.
“She’s one of those party girls, no class at all.” I tried to make her feel better, but Lila held her hand out expectantly.
“Show me.”
“Okay…” I hummed, scrolling through my phone. “She’s not a patch on you, girl.”
I brought up the Instagram profile I’d found earlier and handed it to my best friend.
Lila pinched her fingers on the screen, zooming in immediately. Her lip curled in disgust. “That’s the bitch.”
I nodded, wincing when I remembered Lila had seen her on the video with my brother.
“She looks happy,” Lila commented, tilting her head. “I should change that.”
I blinked, unsure I’d heard her right. My best friend was the yin to my yang—the water to my fire—you got the idea.
“You want to change that?” I echoed, peering at Lila who was still staring at the image on the screen. “Um, how?”
I decided not to tell her about my little planned jaunt downtown tonight with Enzo—because something told me not to, and I always listened to my gut.
Lila didn’t answer me for a hot minute, and it made me sweat. I didn’t know what to do with this version of my best friend.
“They both need to pay,” she said, like she was stating the weather. “I refuse to let either of them get away with what they’ve done to me.”
I baulked. “Okay…”
“I don’t want to drag you into this, Ness.” Lila looked at me, tiredness circling her eyes. “So don’t ask any questions.”
“Lila,” I said, turning to her. “Are you planning on murdering my brother? Because, I have to say, as much as I fully support him getting his karma, I don’t want to see him dead. My mother isn’t strong enough.”
Lila chuckled, and it felt so good to see her smile again, even for a second.
“I promise he won’t die.”
I wiped my brow dramatically then frowned. “Wait, what about this hoe?” I jammed a finger in the direction of my phone. “I’ll help you bury her body, no questions asked.”
I would too. Fuck the law.
Lila’s lips turned up slightly. “Hmm, I’ll let you know. I’ve got the realtor coming over shortly; I better get dressed.” She stared down at herself and frowned. “God, I’m a mess.”
“Honey,” I said, leaning forward on the sofa to scoop her into my arms again. “You’ve been betrayed horrifically. You’ve already filed for divorce, and you’ve got a realtor coming over. Not to mention you’re busy planning a murder. Give yourself some credit.”
Lila smiled, but her eyes gave away how devastated she was. It’s like someone had extinguished the light from her pretty green eyes. Like an ocean without waves.
“Can you stay?” Lila asked, looking at me hopefully. “I need to shower and tidy up…”
“Say no more,” I told her. “Go shower, I’ll get this place sorted.” I forced a bright smile on my face, eyeing the ripped wedding canvas behind her. “I’ll get a trash bag for that, shall I?”