The Ascendant Shadow

Chapter 16: In the Rearview

Valentina's POV:

I blinked my eyes open, the unfamiliar hum of the car engine beneath me pulling me from the fog of sleep. For a second, panic gripped me. Oh my god, did I get kidnapped? But before I could spiral, the memories of the party came rushing back, grounding me. My head was resting on Chris' shoulder, his arm wrapped around my waist in a way that felt protective—almost too comfortable. I looked up, meeting his gaze. He smiled down at me, that lazy grin of his, and for a moment, everything felt fine. Normal, even. I realized then—yep, I was still tipsy.

"Christopher, where were you?" I asked, my voice lighter than usual, laced with leftover excitement from the party.

His smile widened, and he gave a small, almost bashful chuckle. "I was just taking care of something, baby, but I'm here now."

I smiled back, relaxing against him again, my head finding its place on his shoulder as if it belonged there. Xander was behind the wheel, steady and focused, while Ron sat in the passenger seat, humming along to the low music playing through the speakers. Jason was to my right, and I suddenly noticed that his hand was intertwined with mine. His thumb was slowly brushing over my knuckles, an absentminded gesture that sent a gentle warmth creeping through me. It felt... nice, a little too nice for comfort.

"You still want me to take you to our place, doll?" Xander's deep voice cut through the quiet, pulling my attention.

I nodded without hesitation. "Yes, if you don't mind, I don't want to—"

"Don't worry, Vale. I don't mind," Xander said, his tone soft, yet firm enough to leave no room for argument. His reassurance was like a balm, easing the tension I hadn't even realized was building.

"Thank you," I whispered, offering him a small smile that he caught in the rearview mirror. He gave me a slight nod in return.

I turned my gaze back toward the road, but I couldn't ignore the way Jason's thumb kept moving back and forth over my hand, like he was tracing invisible lines there. That small, simple touch left me feeling unexpectedly warm, a feeling I wasn't entirely sure how to handle.

But then something else hit me. A scent—familiar and unpleasant—clung to Chris. My stomach twisted, recognition dawning on me as memories flooded in. It reminded me of Rogelio. Rogelio always smelled like this after a night of partying, a mix of sweat, sex, and alcohol. And now, that same scent was all over Chris.

I pulled my head away from his shoulder, my brow furrowing as the realization sank in.

Chris noticed, his expression shifting to confusion. "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice soft but unsure.

I didn't sugarcoat it. "Why do you reek of sex?" The words left my mouth sharper than I expected, cutting through the quiet in the car. From the front seat, I heard Ron stifle a laugh, the sound dripping with amusement.

Chris didn't respond right away, but Ron, of course, couldn't resist. "He had to take care of something," Ron teased, his tone playful but knowing.

"Oh," I said, my eyes widening slightly as the pieces started to fall into place. "You have a girlfriend?" I asked, pulling away from Chris even more, a chill creeping into my chest that I couldn't quite explain.

Chris shook his head quickly, glancing behind me like he was searching for backup before turning back to face me. "No, I don't have a girlfriend," he said firmly, but I wasn't convinced. Not yet.

"Then why do you smell like that?" I pressed, my voice coming out more accusatory than I intended. It wasn't fair, I knew that, but I couldn't stop the edge from creeping in.