Chapter 52
Insolvency
Wyatt
Verity comes back from the bathroom on a mission. She bats her lashes and smiles coyly at me while I talk with Dante. When Dante moves away, she wraps herself around my arm like an octopus.
I glance down at her, trying to reel in my disdain. “Did you drink too much?”
“What?” She smiles like I’m this prize she’s been dying to win. “No, I just really enjoy your company.”
I arch my eyebrow, but then I notice an older man talking with Sara. Sara meets my gaze for a second and my heart skips. Something isn’t right. I can feel it. Before I can take a step in their direction, Verity laughs.
“You know, if I didn’t know better, I would think you were the one into Sara and not the other way around.” She widens her eyes and puts her fingers over her lips, pretending she made a mistake. “Oh, I shouldn’t have said that.”
Her eyes glow with determination. She knew exactly what she was saying. Is she trying to get Sara into trouble with me?
She bites her lip in a practiced manner. “When we were teens, you were all Sara would talk about. She used to have dreams about you. Watch you when you were in town. She’d find out where you were and drag us along with her to spy on you.”
Verity pets my tuxedo jacket. “I told her it was wrong. That she’d get in trouble. That you only saw her as a younger sister, but she never got it. I tried to warn her that everybody would worry she was a psychopath if she didn’t stop.”
My insides burn. “Is this what you did back then?”
“I’m sorry what?” She blinks up at me like she couldn’t help that vitriol spilling from her mouth.
I disentangle my arm from her and step back.
She smiles softly and steps after me. When I move back again, her smile fades.
“Why are you looking at me that way?” she asks.
“You hurt her.” I straighten and glare down at Verity. “You took away everything and left her a shell of who she had been.”
Verity shakes her head. “I don’t know what you’re—”
“Yes, you do.” I step closer and she shifts back, wary. Good. “Maybe you were jealous. Jealous that you could never be someone like Sara. She thought the world of you back then. Was amazed you were even her friend. And you took that and warped it. To do what?”
“You don’t understand.” Tears gather in Verity’s eyes. “She had everyone fooled. Even me. She’s not normal.”
Verity steps closer and I almost growl, but she blinks up at me like she’s the wronged party.
“She’s a psychopath, or at least a sociopath.
She doesn’t feel emotions like us.” Verity’s act could convince someone who didn’t know Sara.
Maybe. All they’d have to do is open their fucking eyes.
“She used me to get closer to you. To make friends. Sara struggled to make friends before I reached out to her. I took her under my wing. I tried to help her.”
Verity tentatively puts her hand on my chest. “I know you’re a good man. But you don’t see her for the monster she is. She hides it so well. The things she made me do… ”
A tear slips down her cheek and she presses the back of her hand against her mouth.
I tilt my head. “Does any of this actually work?”
Her teary eyes flash up at me in anger. There’s the crack.
“You projected who you are onto Sara because you thought she was weak and wouldn’t even see it coming.
” I grab her hand on my chest and step in, leaning in close so only she can hear.
“You needed someone to blame so no one would look too closely at you. Do you think I didn’t look into you when Sara told me the truth about you? ”
Her wide eyes lift to mine. There’s a little horror in them.
“How many times do you think you can get away with ruining girls and women until someone finally realizes the monster is you?” I shake my head. “Sara was young back then. Maybe she was one of your firsts and you’ve perfected this whole poor me victim attitude. But you made a misstep with her.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” The tears run down her face freely. “I’m trying to save you. To show you that she’s out to get you. I wouldn’t be surprised to find her over your bed, holding a knife.”
When I smile, it’s not kind. “I’d prefer her to you any day. You just don’t know when to give up.”
“Wyatt.” She digs her fingers into my lapel. “If I hurt Sara in the past, why would Tom ask me to be your date? Don’t you think her own brother would want to help her in her quest to be with the man she claimed to love? If I’m so horrible, why would your best friend set you up with me and not her?”
I chuckle darkly. “I’m no prize. You might think Tom is protecting me from Sara, but you’re wrong.” I lean down and whisper in her ear, “He’s keeping her out of my hands.”
She turns like she’s going to kiss me and I straighten.
“Tom’s reasons are his.” I brush her hand off my suit and straighten the wrinkles. “Maybe he just wanted to get into your friend’s pants and you were the easiest way to convince her to come with him.”
“No one can get to Natasha.” Verity smirks. “Not without going through her father and getting permission.”
“You said she was Tom’s date for tonight.”
Verity grabs a napkin from the table and wipes at her tears. All fake. “He asked. She said yes. But neither of them is here, so obviously he didn’t ask her daddy. You know, you and I could be useful to each other.”
She glances over her shoulder at where Sara now dances with Drew. I look around to find her previous dance partner, but he’s nowhere to be found.
“Sara is taken. I have something you want. I know what you want. I’m friends with Talia.”
That draws my attention. Talia had been a means to an end and she knew it. We fucked. She let me be as rough as I needed to be. I cock an eyebrow at Verity. She’s grasping at straws. Meaning she really wants to have me for some reason.
Even a fool could see she still wants to hurt Sara. Fuck Tom and whatever plan he concocted.
“You think you could handle what I need?” It’s my turn to smirk.
She smiles, thinking she has me, and steps in close. “I could be everything you need.”
I lean down to her ear. “Do you really think I’d want a vapid whore like you?”
She sucks in a breath.
Straightening, I smile like I didn’t say anything. “Can I refresh your drink?”
Her eyes narrow, but she says, “Thank you.”
Sometimes I love society’s trappings that make bitches like Verity behave. I walk away from her and the table. It’s time to find the gentleman Sara was talking to.