FLAWLESS

CHAPTER 7

Shanelle's POV

I woke up to the soft rays of the morning sun peeking through the curtains, casting a warm glow upon the unfamiliar room. It took a few moments for my groggy mind to recall the events of the previous night. Vincent's safe house. The place that offered refuge from the dangers that pursued us. Beatrice and Kayleen had their own rooms, but despite being alone, I couldn't shake off this unsettling feeling that lingered within me.

I stretched my limbs, feeling the stiffness in my muscles dissipates. Slipping out of bed, I made my way to the bathroom, yearning for a refreshing shower to wash away the remnants of yesterday's chaos. The room was neat and tidy, lacking any personal touches. It was clear that this safehouse was a temporary solution, a place to stay until we were ready to face our next move.

After the shower, I stood before the mirror, observing my reflection. Dark circles shadowed my eyes, evidence of the restless night I had endured. I brushed my fingers through my tousled hair, attempting to tame the wild strands. As I applied a minimal amount of makeup to my tired face, I couldn't help but wonder what awaited us beyond the confines of this safehouse. 

With a deep breath, I left the room, navigating the corridors to the sound of my own footsteps echoing through the silence. As I approached the living room, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee greeted me, mingling with the scent of bacon and toast. Vincent and Dan were already seated at the dining table, engrossed in their breakfast.

"Good morning," Dan said, his voice carrying a warmth that contrasted with the unease I felt. 

"Grab a seat, we were just discussing our next move."

I returned his greeting with a slight smile and took a seat beside Vincent. His eyes were fixed on his plate, his gaze distant and avoiding mine. Dan leaned forward, his eyes bright with determination. 

"We believe Kaden might be at a frat party tonight," he began. "He used to be a part of our gang, and his job was to sell drugs secretly during those parties. It's possible he's still up to his dirty work."

My interest piqued at the mention of a frat party. I felt a little worried that the girls and I might get recognized there and it would complicate what we were actually there to do.

"So, we're going to the frat party?" I asked, my voice tinged with both curiosity and apprehension.

Dan nodded. 

"Exactly. We need to gather as much information as we can. It might lead us to Kaden or give us clues about his whereabouts. It won't be an easy task, but we're running out of options."

I glanced at Vincent, hoping for a sign of reassurance, but he remained focused on his breakfast, his expression unreadable. Silence settled over us, tension threading its way through the room. It was a stark reminder that the road ahead was treacherous and fraught with uncertainty.

With a resolve that matched the gravity of our situation, I met Dan's gaze. "Then let's go to that frat party. We can't afford to waste any more time."

Dan smiled, a glimmer of mischievousness shining in his eyes. "That's the spirit, cupcake. Don't worry, you'll be back on time for that fashion show, only if you do what we tell you to do and stick to the plan."

Just as I was beginning to accept the solitude, the sound of footsteps reached my ears. I looked up to see Beatrice and Kayleen making their way toward the table. Beatrice, her face etched with worry lines, took a seat beside me, while Kayleen, her eyes darting around nervously, sat across from us.

The three of us ate in silence, the clinking of cutlery and the soft rustling of clothing providing the only audible soundtrack. It was as if we were held captive not only physically but emotionally, unable to bridge the chasm that had formed between us.

Amidst this stifling atmosphere, Kayleen leaned toward me and whispered, her voice barely a murmur, 

"Has Kaden called you in the past few months?"

I was taken aback by her question, my confusion evident on my face as I shook my head in response. Why would Kayleen ask such a thing? Kaden had become a distant memory, someone I had reluctantly pushed to the depths of my mind.

But before I could voice my bewilderment, a chilling voice sliced through the air. 

"Why would Kaden be calling her?" he spat, his tone laced with venom. 

"What are you two not telling me?"

The weight of Vincent's gaze bore down on both of us, and I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. Reluctantly, I turned to face him, my voice wavering as I revealed what I had long kept buried within me. 

"Kaden and I... we used to date a few months ago," I admitted, my words barely audible.

The revelation hung in the air, the tension thickening like an impenetrable fog. Vincent's eyes narrowed, and anger flared within him. 

"And you didn't think that was something I needed to know?" he hissed, the fury in his voice sending a chill down my spine.

The room seemed to shrink, the walls closing in as Vincent's rage consumed the space. A tempest of emotions churned within me, fear intermingled with frustration. 

How was I to know that my past connection with Kaden would have any bearing on our current predicament?

As the argument intensified, harsh words were exchanged like fiery arrows. Vincent accused me of withholding valuable information, while I defended my actions, pleading my ignorance. The air crackled with tension, threatening to ignite into something far more dangerous.

Beatrice watched the exchange with wide eyes, caught between the wrath of Vincent and the turmoil of my confession. She tried to intervene, her voice gentle yet tinged with desperation, but her words were lost amidst the tempest of our heated argument.

Vincent angrily walked out of the room and I stared after him in confusion and anger.

"Is he always like that?" I asked Dan, who was eating his breakfast in silence.

"Yep, that's Vincent. I forgot to remind you all not to get on his bad side, he's a bit on edge lately so if I were you, I would watch my mouth for the next few days I'd be living with him. That guy can pull the trigger on you in less than a second not caring who you are or how important you are to us. He tends to forget about that and only realizing it after the damage is done."

Dan stood up with his empty plate after explaining and then walked over to the kitchen leaving all of us shocked at what he just told us.