𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐎𝐒

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟒𝟕

ALESSIO
KINGSTON

"One, two, three! Down it!" Grayson's voice sliced through the air, sharp and commanding, his eyes gleaming with mischief. The challenge was clear, and as if on instinct, I slammed the shot down, the sharp burn of the liquor searing its way down my throat, leaving a lingering heat that spread through my chest like fire. We were in the cabin, surrounded by the chaos of too much alcohol, too many laughs, and reckless decisions. The night had barely begun, and already, it felt like it could spiral out of control. But in that moment, I didn't care. We were alive, and we were free. At least for tonight.

"God damn it, this burns!" Stella shrieked, her voice high-pitched, the sound of it a sharp contrast to the throbbing tension building in the room. She tossed her hair back, the wild movement a reflection of the storm brewing in her eyes. Only she and Avery dared to take on the challenge, both of them daring each other with every shot, while Liliana and Marcella stood back, hesitant, as if they knew what kind of demons we were awakening with every drink. They didn't need to. We were already too deep.

Avery gagged, her face scrunched in disgust, her hand flying to her mouth as she struggled to hold back the nausea. "This is disgusting," she spat, her voice tinged with the bitterness of the liquor. "No matter how expensive these shots are, they're always a fucking waste of money."

I smirked at her, leaning in closer, a rush of heat flooding my chest. Before I could claim her lips, Grayson, the ever-volatile force in our group, stepped into my line of sight, effectively blocking the moment. His presence was like a shadow, looming between us.

"Enough PDA," Grayson commanded, his voice low and sharp, laced with a dark edge. "Today, we enjoy the day as a group."

I raised an eyebrow, barely holding back a laugh as Damon shot back. "You say that, and a second later, we'd find your tongue down Stella's throat. Isn't that a bit hypocritical?"

Damon's words hung in the air, a sharp jab that sliced through the tension like a blade. Grayson's jaw tightened, the muscles in his neck twitching as if he could snap at any moment. "We're supposed to target Jaxon, not me. He's the one who's responsible for half the shit that happens here," I said, my voice dripping with mock innocence. "I'm just here for the ride."

Jaxon, already on edge, turned to Grayson with a scowl. "Oh, shut the fuck up, you pervert. You had to drag your girlfriend to a whole beach to shove your dick in her," he snarled, his words dripping with venom.

Gray's face twisted with rage, his fists clenched at his sides. The tension between him and Grayson was always like fire and gasoline. One wrong word, and it could all explode. But that was the point. We thrived in the chaos.

"Dude, mind your own fucking business," Grayson growled, eyes narrowing as he shot a glare at Jaxon. "We can fuck anywhere we want, but you don't have to be so obsessed with it. Unless, of course, you want to join in. But I'm sure that would be a disaster for Liliana."

Stella let out a laugh, flipping Jaxon off with exaggerated flair, her tone a sharp retort. "I'm good, I don't need to see you—or Grayson—naked. That's a fucking nightmare."

"Stella's body is sexy," Liliana said without hesitation, her voice cool and confident. "If I were a guy, I'd be obsessed with her."

The remark was casual, almost like an afterthought, but it made the air thicken, as if everyone was holding their breath for something more. It was proof of the trust we had in each other, but it also hinted at a darkness simmering just beneath the surface. The kind of trust that could turn dangerous in an instant.

Grayson shot a look at Stella, his jaw clenched in possessiveness. "No, I'm the guy here. She has me to obsess over her." His words were a low growl, dripping with ownership.