Page 53 of Lilies from Hell

“To hook up with you? I don’t know. Aren’t you two supposed to be dating?” I glance at him with a hint of confusion. He shakes his head.

“Not anymore. She got back together with her ex.”

“Her ex?” I repeat, over-enunciating with an incredulous look on my face.

“Yeah. Matthew. Matt.” He shrugs dismissively. “It was good while it lasted. At least I got to see her tits,” he says, closing his eyes and resting his head on my shoulder.

I start moving my knee in a nervous tic with an unknown rage traveling down my skin. Thousands of thoughts race through my head so quickly that when I get up from the chair, I feel dizzy.

I walk over to my mother, ignoring Jason’s complaints, and tap her shoulder with my finger to get her attention.

“I’m going home. I don’t feel well,” I lie, putting on my best sick face. My mother’s eyes immediately widen with concern. The receptionist moves aside as she puts her hand on my forehead.

“What’s wrong? I bet it’s because you’re eating junk food with your brother. Stay here, I’ll call a nurse.”

“No. I just have a slight headache. I’ll go rest.”

“Are you sure?” I nod and kiss her cheek. “I’ll ask Lance to take you.”

“It’s okay. I’ll call a taxi.” She frowns. “It’s only twenty minutes, Mum. If anything happens I’ll call you.”

“Call me when you get home.” I curl my lips into a short smile and nod.

I glance at the chairs where Jason now sleeps peacefully before leaving, my anger becoming more noticeable with every step I take. If Romina thought she could lie and discard my brother like he was nothing she was dead wrong. She must know something about the real destiny her shit-bag of a boyfriend had. I know she is waiting for the best moment to throw it out in my face, but I will not give her that.

As soon as the automatic doors open and the warm air hits my face I hear a male voice behind me.

“Going somewhere?” I turn around to find Sergei’s face with a raised eyebrow.

His presence only makes my anger grow, reminding me of the reason why I now have a second bloody bodyguard. I could argue with him, but right now I need someone to take me where I know she might be. Sergei doesn’t seem like the type to give up easily, so I swallow my pride and insults, put on a friendly smile.

“Yes. I’d like to go somewhere, but your boss can’t know about any of this, okay?”

“Whatever,” he says, opening the door of a black armored van I hadn’t seen before.

Something tells me he’s not going to stick to the deal, but I don’t care. Right now, I’m focused on smashing someone’s face in.

Sergei’s face remains impassive throughout the journey. The air in the car is charged with a tense silence that is broken by the brakes as the car stops in front of a park that looks abandoned.

I get out of the car, slamming the door behind me. My eyes scan the spot, until I spot a familiar head of hair in the distance.

“Be careful with the car, girl. It’s not a toy,” Sergei mutters behind me.

Ignoring his complaints, I walk over to the small crowd of boys wearing leather boots, piercings decorating their faces and beers in hand. My nails dig into my palm until the skin is about to break. Adrenaline rushes through my veins, making my blood run fervently.

“Lena!” Josh, one of the group, exclaims with a smile, his voice standing out above the voices and rock music.

I nod my head in a kind of greeting, my eyes locking with Romina’s. She crosses her arms with a defiant look that makes me want to jump on her and pull out every strand of hair.

“We weren’t expecting you. Do you want anything?” asks the same guy from before.

“Where’s Jas?” asks another one of them with a confused look, surprised that came alone.

Romina doesn’t take her eyes off me, waiting for answers that never come. I walk up to her until I’m standing in front of her. The difference in height isn’t much, but I have to crane my neck to get a better angle on her face.

“I thought you’d be with your ghost boyfriend. That’s what you told my brother. Right?” I mutter under my breath. My attempts to stay calm and not end up lunging at her threaten to fail at any moment.

The voices quiet down, sensing the tension between us. Romina takes a step forward and her lips curl into an annoyed pout.