Not good. She quickly started to pull her dress down to cover more of her legs then grabbed her top to make sure her cleavage was concealed. She started to blush when the big friend of Vincent’s eyes roamed over her.
Lake noticed Adalyn fixing herself until her big mouth opened. “Why the hell do you think?”
Vincent’s face started to contort.
Really not good! She held up her hand and blurted out her confession. “I begged her to come dancing with me. It’s my fault. The only way we could get in was going with those guys. We didn’t do anything with them, though.” Lake turned her eyes down to the pavement, unable to meet his baby-blues.
She heard Vincent take a deep breath. “Good. You can’t date boys until you graduate. I don’t care if it’s only a few months away. I won’t say anything, but I better not catch you two again.”
Lake felt some relief and began to nod. Thank God. Looking over at her friend’s defiant stare she hit her arm, making her nod in defeat, as well.
Hearing the jingling of metal, she watched Vincent hold out his keys. “Go get in the car. I’m taking you both home.”
As soon as Adalyn snatched the keys from Vincent’s hand, they both took off running.
Lake wasn’t dumb; she knew when the hell to run away. Especially from crazy. She knew Vincent had a dark side from all her years of constantly being around Adalyn. But holy shit, he is a lunatic!
“You’re burning those fucking dresses when we get home!” Vincent screamed over the clicking of their heels hitting pavement.
Lake guessed he had said that since Adalyn was desperately trying to keep her purple baby doll dress down. She instinctively went to pull her own dress down, though she was unsuccessful because of how fast she was running.
She heard his voice again, much calmer that time. “Actually, give them to me. I want to get rid of them.”
Lake and Adalyn looked at each other in confusion. What the hell? Why?
They were able to spot Vincent’s car quickly, and Adalyn hit the unlock button. Closing the distance, Lake threw open the door to the backseat on the driver’s side as Adalyn went to the passenger seat in the front.
“Wait, I shouldn’t sit in the front, should I?” Adalyn whispered.
“Uh, no!” Lake quietly yelled to her friend as she jumped into the dark car.
A second later, she was joined in the backseat, thankful Adalyn had taken her advice.
When they were finally enclosed, Lake felt free to talk. “Adalyn, just keep your mouth closed unless it’s to say sorry. Our dads can’t find out about thi—”
Adalyn rolled her eyes. “I know, I know. Sheesh, we aren’t allowed to date. Come on, though; that was so much fun!”
Lake had to admit she hadn’t had that much fun in a long time. Okay, never. Then Vincent had come out of nowhere and ruined it.
“Yes, right until your crazy-ass brother—”
The door to the driver’s seat flew open…
Chapter Four
Born To Be Made
In literally twenty minutes, Vincent’s entire night had taken a nosedive. However, his rage was finally calming—or trying to, at least.
What the fuck was Adalyn thinking?
As he grabbed his car door handle, he heard Lake’s muffled voice through the car.
“Yes, right until your crazy-ass brother—”
No, what the fuck was Lake thinking?
Well, his rage had been trying to calm.
* * *
Oh, shit. Did he hear me?
Vincent started the car. “What were you saying, Lake?”
Oh, shit. He heard me.
Lake tried to steady her voice. “I-I wasn’t saying anything.”
“Yes, you were,” he said matter-of-factly as he drove off.
“N-no, I wasn’t.”
“Nope, she wasn’t,” Adalyn agreed, trying to help her friend out.
Vincent looked at Lake through the rearview mirror. “So, you didn’t just say ‘your crazy-ass brother’?”
Lake’s eyes met his scary ones in the mirror which were daring her to lie.
Lie. “N-” Don’t lie. “Yes.”
She wished she could change her answer as she looked at him.
Wait, did he want me to lie?
His face read, do not lie to me.
She had talked to him countless times throughout most of her life, but she had no clue how to handle the new Vincent. Playing truth or dare with him was one game she wasn’t brave or experienced enough to win.
“Well, you kind of did go a tad crazy there when you shattered his hand,” Adalyn said.
And, just like that, Lake saw him switch back to normal.
“Too much?” Vincent laughed.
Oh, my God. He is crazy.
“Yep, just a little over the top. But, hey, he kind of deserved it.” Adalyn shrugged.
They both are crazy.
“I can’t believe Nero was actually dating a girl,” Adalyn said in shock.
Lake looked over at her. “Which one was Nero?”
Adalyn smiled. “The hot one.”
Should’ve known the gorgeous one would have a name like that. Lake couldn’t help smiling back. “Ohhh. And the big one was…?”
Adalyn rolled her eyes. “Amo.”
Of course it was.
Lake saw Vincent’s anger return when his eyes flew up to the mirror. What the hell is wrong with him now?
She decided to ignore him.
“Are they in”—Lake lowered her voice to a whisper—“the mafia?”
Vincent burst out laughing. “Why did you just whisper?”
“Because I didn’t think that was something you could say out loud!”
He is seriously giving me whiplash.
“Lake, no one is even around. Your own father is in the mafia, for fuck’s sake.” Vincent still sounded amused.
She turned her head to look out the window, feeling a little embarrassed. The truth was she didn’t know much about the mafia. But I know enough to know I don’t want to know anything else.
Lake knew a so-called family man led to nothing except trouble. Her dad had turned into a gambling addict, most likely from the terrible things he’d had to do. Almost every made man was divorced. If they even get married in the first place. Most mob wives were made widows. If they’re lucky enough not to get used as collateral themselves. So, yes, she was ignorant on the subject because she never wanted to learn a damned thing about the mob.
Thankfully, she had an out. And I’m sure as hell not marrying into it.