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I’m a terrible drunk. One time, when I was nineteen, I had way too much to drink at my parents’ swanky event and made a fool out of myself. They never let me drink again until my wedding day. That’s the last time I saw them. And I know that if they could, they’d drag me back to Eric and watch while he strung me up and tortured me. My parents are bad people, as is the man they sold me to.
“I’ll warn you, I’m a clumsy drunk.”
Eva laughs. “Aren’t we all? Don’t worry, just don’t smash my parents’ prize vase.” She nods at an ugly-looking vase on a dresser.
My brow furrows. “If it’s your parents’ prize possession, why didn’t you hide it?”
She laughs. “I was joking. They both hate it, but my grandma got it for them, so they feel obligated to display it.” She shrugs. “If you broke it, you’d do them a favor.” She tugs me toward a table set up with punch and spirits.
“Vodka?” she asks.
I grimace. “If I must.”
She laughs. “Come on, you need to loosen up a bit. You’re too tense.”
It’s true. I’m too tense. But I’ve got a good reason to be. My life has been full of danger, and I always expect the worst. Eric will find me. When he does, I’ll move on again before he can get me. At least, I hope I get the chance. The problem with such a small town is that it has fewer hiding places. “Okay.” I hold my shot glass up and meet Eva’s eyes as she excitedly watches. Her smile is infectious.
“To new beginnings,” she toasts, and we clink our paper cups together. The vodka burns on its way down. And before I can refuse, Eva is pouring me another shot. “Three should do to start,” she shouts over the music.
I throw back the next one, bracing myself as she pours me a third.
A shiver races down my spine as I get that same sense someone is watching me. Glancing around, I don’t see anyone looking at me.
“Last one, Madison, don’t chicken out on me now!” Eva’s voice brings me back to the present.
I smile and nod. “To new friends,” I say, knocking back the hot liquid. The burn isn’t as bad now that I’ve gotten used to it, but the room spins slightly.
I shake it off, forcing myself to stay grounded. I can’t afford to let my guard down, not even for a moment. Yet, as the laughter and chatter fill the air, I can’t help but feel a sense of temporary security in this small town. As if perhaps I’ve finally found somewhere to belong.
Which is a dangerous feeling as it can only lead to heartbreak. It’s why I normally keep to myself.
“I’m going to go and say hi to some of the other guests. See you later?” Eva asks.
I nod, although the thought of mingling alone makes my stomach churn. However, I plaster on a smile. “Sure, see you later!”
She walks to greet a group of guys near the corner. Suddenly, I feel a hand on my waist and spin around to find Jack behind me.
“What do you say about getting out of here and going somewhere quieter?” he asks, clearly drunker than earlier.
I smile. “I’m sorry, I’m not feeling like it right now.”
His eyes darken. “Come on, don’t be a prude.” He yanks me by the wrist and tries to drag me out of the room.
I yank it away. “I said no, Jack.”
He glares at me and is about to grab me again when a huge figure moves from a dark corner. My heart accelerates in my rib cage as the man wears a mask. “She said no, douchebag,” he growls.
That voice.
Dante.
I swallow hard, realizing it’s why he’s wearing a mask.
What the fuck is he doing at a party like this?
If anyone recognized him, there’d be a scandal. A priest can’t be partying with young adults drinking alcohol.
“Yeah, what’s it to you?” Jack asks, but when he turns around, he pales.
