Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Lexi
Some days, even the Devil has no clue what to do with the sinners.
There are days where you don’t know whether or not you should be on this planet. Days you wonder if life is worth living, or if people give a shit.
Today is not one of those days, though, because I definitely know I shouldn’t be on this planet, life is not worth living, and people honestly do not give a shit.
Funny.
Well, it would be if they weren’t holier than thou religious nut jobs that say we should love everyone and respect those above us.
I can’t fathom the way they made it this far with kids. I mean, I guess they didn’t. I recently got out of a mental hospital and my brother, Dax, has been gone for two years now. Don’t remember where he is, and I’m pretty damn sure that he is MIA on purpose.
He hates me.
Join the club, brother.
“Lexi Sommers!” My mother screeches. My brain decides to implode at that moment, a migraine threatening my entire being.
Unacceptable. I have a party to get to, friends to tolerate, and drugs and alcohol to consume.
I lace the last bit of my corset up, and pull my ‘pretty’ white cardigan over myself, before walking toward my bedroom door. Opening it, I peak my head out and look both ways. My father has been silent today, and he’s never fun when he’s silent.
That’s when “God” talks to him. “Lexi Sommers!” Mom screams again, and I quickly shut my door, making my way down the hall.
“Lexi, I swear if you don’t answer your mother, I will bend you over my knee until you learn to be more respectful to her!”
Ah, there’s my father. He exits from the bathroom at the end of the hall, adjusting his belt before fixing his suit jacket over his pudgy frame. “Lexi, did you hear me?”
“Yes, father,” I squeak out, then cough and repeat, “Yes, father.”
“Good girl. Go downstairs and apologize to your mother and then—” He stops mid-sentence and looks me up and down, his eyes widening and his nostrils flaring in clear anger. “What on God’s green earth are you wearing, girl?”
I don’t mean to flinch, nor do I want to, but I do anyways. It’s a reflex at this point.
Grabbing the hem of my dress, I give a tiny curtsy and smile sweetly up at him–like a good little church girl. “It’s a dress, daddy.”
“I see that it’s a dress, Alexis. I’m not deaf, dumb, or blind, child.” He scoffs and waves his hand at my outfit, scrutinizing it. He knows me far too well, and I haven’t tried too hard to hide tonight. I don’t have it in me.
Clearing my throat, I smile up at him demurely, tilting my head and looking up through my lashes. “Daddy, it’s a little get together with friends. It’s Halloween and–”
“I know it’s Halloween. We do not celebrate that Holiday, Alexis Sommers.”
“Daddy–”
“Alexis,” he sighs, walking forward and lifting my chin with his finger, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Baby girl, I cannot handle you getting into trouble again. Your ol’ dad’s heart will break if you have to leave me again.”
“Please, daddy?” I plead with him, sticking my lip out in a pout.
His eyes flare, and I know it has nothing to do with anger and everything to do with feelings a father shouldn’t have for his daughter. He tilts my head up higher, leaning closer to me. My heart rate picks up and I panic. Under no circumstances can I allow him to have me like this again.
Backing up, I pretend to trip, intentionally falling on my ass and hissing out in pain when the hardwood floor connects with my tailbone. This pain is better than the alternative, Lex.
“Sweetheart,” my father shouts, rushing toward me.
Holding up a hand to keep him at bay, I push to my feet and dust myself off. “I’m fine, daddy. Promise. See?” I smile at him, twirling around to show him that I’m unscathed.
Narrowing his eyes, my father backs away a few steps before nodding his head once. “Alright then.”
“ALEXIS!” My mother shouts again.
I jump a foot in the air and nearly stumble into the wall before I can right myself. Looking down the stairs, I see my mother standing at the bottom with her hands on her hips and a large scowl on her lips. Someone should tell her that her face has been stuck like that for years, since she hasn’t shown any other emotion.
“I’m coming, mommy.”
“I need you to run out and grab some bread for the house,” she orders, “and for Heaven’s sake, please clean up. You look like a right little tramp.”
“Now, Susan,” my father starts, but she holds her hand up.
“Not now, Whitaker,” my mother replies, a fire of a thousand suns blazing in her eyes.
My father turns his full attention toward my mother, an anger taking over his face that not a single soul should ever bear witness to. He descends the stairs, straightening his suit jacket as he watches her. Once at the bottom, he reaches out to grip my mothers jaw. Her eyes immediately fill with tears, and yet, she stands her ground.
Leaning in close enough that their noses smash together, my father’s voice comes out low and dangerous. “You do not disobey me, woman.”
“Whitaker,” she squeaks out, a whimper escapes her when he grabs her jaw tighter, his fingers leaving obvious red marks.
Slowly, the world around me becomes chaotic. Instead of allowing myself to get caught up in another war inside of what is supposed to be my safe place, I simply back up into the upstairs hallway. My footsteps are silent as I make my way toward the window at the end of the hall. It’s as if God is finally on my side when the typically squeaky glass opens without a noise, and I’m able to slip out of it and onto the waiting rooftop.
It’s been a while since I’ve had to use this as an escape, and yet, as I make my way closer to the edge of the roof and toward the waiting lattice. Daddy just asked me to clean it of the beautiful vines yesterday, and it’s easier for my hands and feet to keep their grip while I carefully make my way to the ground. Unfortunately for me, the motion sensors turn on the moment I’m noticed in the yard.
With a loud squeal, and bubbling laughter, I rush off of the true Devil’s property.
My friends are waiting for me down the street in a sparkling white Lamborghini. It belongs to Liliana’s mother, and is so brand-spanking new that I’m surprised she’s allowed to drive it anywhere in this part of town. When I reach the car, I remove the white cardigan from my torso, revealing the black leather corset underneath.
“Girl, you look like...,” Liliana starts, and Ashley and Amara are laughing at me while they meet each other’s eyes, having their silent twin conversation.
“Yeah, yeah,” I spit out, slamming the passenger door closed. I rip the cardigan off of my head to reveal the sexy corset underneath, smirking when the girls’ eyes flare wide.
“Holy mother of demons,” Amara whispers, her green eyes flared wide as she takes in the black leather and lace covering the top of my dress.
I may have chosen this with the intent to push my tits up and gain attention. Hopefully by an older billionaire with lots of money and an island to take me to. I need an escape from this fucking reality.
You commit one homicide and everyone hates you all of a sudden.
Shame.
“Lexi,” Ashley mutters out, and I grin wide at her, raising a brow in question when she blushes. “You might need to put the cardigan back on. It won’t...you won’t look right for dinner.”
“Agreed,” Amara says, and I sit back with a huff in the seat, rolling my eyes and crossing my arms.
“I mean,” Liliana starts, turning down toward the strip mall where we made dinner plans. “If she wants to look like a slut, let her. It’s Halloween, girls!”
Stuck up bitch.
“Where are y’all’s costumes?” I question, looking out of the window and keeping my voice as steady as possible. They’re starting to piss me off, but they’re the only friends I’ve been allowed to keep.
“I’m Britney Spears, of course,” Liliana states.
I look toward her and notice her outfit for the first time since getting in this death trap. Sure enough, she’s wearing a pleated skirt, a white shirt, and a nice little jacket to round it out. Her hair is in pigtails, too.
“Of course,” I mutter, turning my head toward the twins and then groaning.
“We’re Thing One and–”
“Thing Two?” I interrupt before the other twin gets a chance.
Amara glares at me for a second before turning toward her twin and having another silent conversation with their raised and badly penciled in eyebrows.
“You know, Alexis, you don’t have to be such a bitch,” Liliana states, and I whip my head around until I’m looking her dead on.
She parks in the front spot where Mike and Carter are waiting, both dressed to the nines. All three of my friends are staring at the boys with wide eyes and flushed cheeks.
I’m not looking at the typical Twos-days in front of me. My eyes latch onto the ice blue ones behind them.
What would be a dirty mop of hair above anyone else’s head looks utterly ruthless atop his. Paired with the square cut of his jaw, the light stubble, the guy liner, and one long earring is dangling from his right ear, he’s a damn sight to behold.
If I didn’t believe in the Devil before, I do now.
God wouldn’t have created this masterpiece of sin.
Liliana gets out of the vehicle, giggling loudly and half-fake when Mike comes around to her, wrapping her up in a too-tight bear hug. The twins fight to see who can get to Carter first, but, like always, he wraps them both up under his arms and smiles big.
He hasn’t.
I struggle to get out of the car, my eyes still locked with tall, dark, and broody.
Now that he’s not blocked by the other two, I’m able to take in his Preacher’s garb. Except, a rosary with a pentagram on the end of it dangles from between his fingertips. I try to stifle my laughter, but can’t hold it in. I let it free and earn looks of disgust from the other people in our group.
Finally stepping out of the car, I shut it and keep my storm-gray eyes downcast, watching my own feet to make sure I don’t stumble.
Dark and broody takes this as innocence, and I won’t correct him.
Yet.
He clears his throat, and holds out a hand for me to shake. I let my eyes trail up his black converse, taking in the rips in his skinny jeans, and the preacher’s collar around his neck. I have to bite my lip when I see that he’s wearing a chain necklace, a blush creeping its way along my skin.
“Alexis,” Liliana snaps at me, “shake his hand and stop being a dweeb.” She scoffs, and I hear the group move toward the entrance of the restaurant.
I finally look up and take in the way this guy’s jaw is clenched, his ice blues narrowed at my friends. Before I get a chance to turn my head back down, or walk away, his gaze snaps to mine and our eyes clash, hard.
My heart rate picks up, and I’m lost in that ice blue sea, wondering if I could freeze to death in it.
“Xavier,” he says, and oh how his voice rumbles through me. It takes me over, and captures me more than his eyes.
“Huh?” I mutter dumbly.
“My name,” he says, humor in his voice. “It’s Xavier Hayes.”
“Oh,” I say, my eyes still caught in his.
He chuckles low and deep and dirty, reaching out to grab my hand that’s been hanging limp at my side. His skin is warm and inviting, the callouses rough against my flesh. I bite back the tiny whimper that wants to escape before removing my hand from his and clearing my throat.
“I,” I start, furrowing my brow in frustration before heading toward the front door. “We better get inside. Dinner plans and all that.”
“But you didn’t tell me yours, Storm,” he says.
Right as we reach the door, and I’m about to open it, he places his hand on my shoulder gently. I jump nearly a foot in the air, scrambling to get away. When I realize it’s him, I sigh and rub a hand over my forehead, grateful for sweat-proof makeup.
“Shit,” he says, eyes wide while he takes me in. His hands are held up in surrender, and he looks truly panicked about having hurt me.
“S’okay,” I respond softly, turning toward the restaurant.
I don’t tell him my name.
He doesn’t need to place me with last year’s...events.
The restaurant is annoyingly loud and hot, the smell of fresh burgers and fries permeating through the place. My stomach decides to make itself known, and I’m grateful that no one else can hear me.
“When’s the last time you ate?” Xavier says, and I sigh in response, shaking my head.
“Dunno, I was mostly holed up in my room to avoid the evil’s of the world,” I say, a bit of snark in my tone.
“Ah,” he says in response.
We sit down next to each other, between our friends who are currently in the process of ordering. Liliana shoots me a glare before she shakes her head.
Fuck you, too.
“Who’s choice was it to come here?” Amara whines, her frown overly dramatic as she leans into Carter’s side.
He brushes her brown hair from her face, a grin stretching his lips and his hazel eyes glinting in the light right above the table. “I think it was Lexi’s idea. She was just aching to come get some meat–burned, preferably.”
He thinks he’s so fucking funny.
I glare at him while the rest of the table erupts into laughter, sans Xavier and I. Reaching out, I unwrap my napkin, taking out the knife there and flipping it between my fingers as I contemplate another murder. Wouldn’t be hard to get away with this one, either.
Though, I guess the world would miss him, so...
I sigh and toss the knife back down, shaking my head and picking at my nails. Once it’s my turn to order, I ask for a double bacon cheeseburger and fries with a coke.
Xavier places his order and asks for his to be burned, smirking at me when I look at him wide-eyed.
The table goes silent while the waitress finishes writing the order and then leaves. Everyone erupts into stories of this and that, and I tune them all out. It’s all I’ve been doing since I got home.
“So, Lexi, then?” Xavier says, turning and looking at me with a small smile playing along those gorgeous lips. His cupid’s bow is so pronounced, women would die for him.
Maybe some lucky girl will.
“Yeah, I guess,” I answer, looking down at the table and biting on my thumbnail.
“I like Storm better. Your eyes are full of one, anyway,” he grins when I look up at him beneath my lashes, a blush crawling its way up my cheeks.
“So, Xavier, how’s your dad doing?” Ashley says, her voice coming out in an almost whine.
I hate these people. I really fucking do.
“Fine,” he grits out, shooting his eyes toward her before meeting mine again. He winks at me and I chew my thumb once more.
“Didn’t he leave town again?” Mike cuts in, removing his hand from Liliana’s as our food finally makes its way to our table.
“Yeah,” Xavier says. He’s not that talkative, it seems. At least to our mutual friends.
I dig in to my burger the moment it’s in front of me, nearly moaning at how good it is. Spending six months in an inpatient facility was fundamentally brutal on the diet. I missed the greasy food that comes with being an American. I think it would be the only thing I’d miss if I went to another country.
“Maybe,” Carter says, drawing out the word, “we should go out to the boathouse, then?” His eyes flick across the table to me and I look down swiftly.
Carter is the typical church boy. My father would have me marry him, I just know it. But when my boyfriend and I split last year, he pronounced me damaged goods, and now daddy has been pushing Carter towards one of the twins.
He still leers at me across the church hall, though.
Xavier’s ice blues flit between us, narrowing slightly when he sees the anger in my expression. “Dunno. The Alpha Mu house is in the opposite direction.”
“Aw c’mon!” Ashley says, her smile wide and as fake as her personality. “We could go swimming...naked.” She whispers the last bit, snickering with her hand over her mouth.
“Ashley!” Amara and Liliana screech, giggling.
“What? Skinny dipping isn’t a crime so long as we don’t get caught, right?” She says, leaning over the table and keeping her voice low.
“It’s not like any of us here are virgins, either. We’ve all seen naked bodies,” Carter says, his eyes trailing up and down my frame.
“I don’t want any of you seeing my naked butt, though,” Mike says, laughing uncomfortably.
Yeah, we all know what your dad does to you at night.
“Oh, Mikey,” Liliana says in a sad tone. She winces when he leans toward her, lightly pinching her side.
He smiles, and hers grows wider in response.
Gotta keep her in check, I suppose.
I sigh, finishing up the bite of my burger, before stuffing one last fry in my mouth. As I chew, all three of the girls look at me in disgust. They ordered salads, of course. Can’t eat anything greasy so that the guys think we’re prettier, right?
“Jebus, Alexis,” Liliana snaps, “Save some food for the rest of the world, yeah?”
“Excuse me,” Xavier says, shoving away from the table so quickly his chair nearly falls over. He places his hand on my shoulder and gives me a meaningful look, a small incline of his head toward the door.
A clear invitation to leave this shit hole.
I look back to the table, chewing thoughtfully on the fry for a moment before grabbing my drink and chugging it. I smirk once I set the glass down.
“I’ll be back,” I tell my so-called friends, standing and heading out of the restaurant.
I’ll meet them at the party, while leaving them with the check. They can cover with their parent’s money.
