✔Vengeful Valentine

Twenty One: Everly

Everything that held me together before came undone. Getting high only unraveled the perfect life I thought I'd created for myself. Maybe I was more like Emmett than I thought I was. I bottled my feelings deep inside and pushed everyone away. I tried to repress my sadness and fear and anger. Look where it got me.

Mascara and eyeliner streaked down my cheeks. The glittery eyeshadow no longer seemed beautiful on me either. I felt so exposed in that tight dress, especially in the shoulder that they ripped. I wasn't sure if the shakes that overcame me were from coming down off the high or the cold air. I just wanted to go home.

The countryside flew by in a blur. Twinkling stars lit up the pitch black sky as Charlie drove us down the zigzagging roads. Vomit still lingered in my mouth from when I barfed all over Charlie's shoes earlier, just before we headed out. I felt bad about it after he'd saved me and almost expected him to be pissed off, but he surprisingly, just abandoned his vomit shoes and drove barefoot instead.

Kazimir controlled the radio and got a hold of Adam to inform him of what happened. He couldn't spare any nitty-gritty detail either. He'd been at work when Kaz called. No surprise there. My phone vibrated in my pocket a few times after Kaz ended the call with him, but I ignored him. I wasn't in the mood for another one of his lectures on how dangerous the gang life could be.

"You doing okay?" Kaz asked, peeking back at me. His brows knitted in a slight frown.

"Never better." I lurched against a sudden sharp left turn. My stomach still hadn't settled yet. My head kept spinning like a warped merry-go-round too. "Hey, Kaz. You got anymore coke left on you?"

The muscles in the artist's face tightened. "No, why?"

"Come on. I've given you soo much coke. The least you can do is share a little bit with me. I don't want a lot. Just a teeny tiny bit," I replied. "It helps me clear my mind. I know Adam's gonna be super duper pissed and it'll help mellow me out."

"I'm not helping you become an addict, Everly. Stay away from hardcore drugs. They're not good for you."

"I'm with Kaz on this one, princess." Charlie drummed his fat fingers against the steering wheel. "You got really fucked up back at the club. Emmett's gonna kill those guys who grabbed you. You're lucky we showed up when we did."

"Maybe I just wanted to let loose for once," I snapped. "I've been through hell and I wanted to enjoy myself tonight. Sorry if that's asking for too goddamn much."

"You wanna be whore? Fine. Guess we should've let those men fuck her in that alley, Kaz. No telling what diseases they got. Whatever, though. You wanna have fun, right? You can share your new STD's with your boyfriend waiting at home for you," Charlie said.

I rolled my eyes. "Shut up, Charlie."

"Keep this shit up and Adam will find another bitch to screw around with. You can be like your friend, Layla and sleep around with whoever you want," Charlie scoffed. "If it's all for fun, then I'm sure you won't mind making some money from it too."

"Charlie, leave her alone," Kaz intervened. "You're not helping. She's had a bad night and coming off the high."

"A-Adam loves me. He'd never do that." I sniffled.

"If you're gonna act like a little cocaine whore, then why would he treat you like anything else?" Charlie asked. "I can pull over here right now and let you fuck Kaz for practice."

"That's enough." Kaz swatted the larger man's arm, frowning at him. "You don't need to slut-shame Everly. She made a mistake. We all make them. But she's learned from it. You'll stay away from coke, right?" He looked back at me pitifully, like a dirty abused puppy.