Chapter 6

Nora’s POV

“Shut up!” I rolled my eyes, watching as she shrugged a sheer jacket on over her red bra, pairing it with a shiny red skirt that barely grazed her mid-thighs.

Hers was shorter than mine, and she undeniably looked hot. Gosh, she was pretty, her chest full and enviable compared to my own modest frame.

She stepped into a pair of red boots that hugged her ankles, then shot me a look to put mine on. Thankfully, she’d picked out a decent pair for me, too. They hit right beneath my calf joints, leaving only my mid-thighs down to my shins bare.

The real issue, though, was the plunging neckline laying my cleavage wide open, matched with a completely open back.

Her phone buzzed. She snatched it up, scanned the screen, and a bright smile bloomed across her face. My expression twisted in pure disgust.

“You’re grinning like that just because of a text?” I raised a brow, entirely irritated.

“Well, yeah, because he’s got something huge that happens to fit my hole just right,” she shot back, gesturing vaguely down toward her core.

“Fool,” I muttered, rolling my eyes as I sat back down on the edge of my bed.

“And why the fuck are you sitting? Get your ass up. Let’s go party!” she shrieked, a laugh practically cracking out of her throat.

I rolled my eyes, standing up to yank the hem of my dress down. She slapped my hand away and shoved me toward the door.

“Our ride is here,” she said, popping a piece of bubblegum into her mouth and chewing loudly. Could this girl survive a single hour without gum? I seriously doubted it.

Stepping outside, a sleek car was waiting at the curb. Matilda hopped right into the front seat. I pulled open the passenger door and climbed in, only to find Matilda and some guy behind the wheel practically swallowing each other's faces.

“Hello?” I called out, deeply irritated. Could they not find a shred of shame?

They untangled themselves, both staring at me like I’d suddenly sprouted a second head. The guy faced forward and threw the car into drive, while Matilda casually flipped me the middle finger out the window as we pulled away.

I rolled my eyes and stared out the passenger window. I never thought I’d end up dragged to a party like the one Mally was taking me to. Mom had always warned me against this sort of thing.

I didn't always understand her reasons back then, but now it was pretty obvious. She just wanted a better life for me. She wanted me to have a future, which was why she drilled it into my head to stay inside, study, and read. Read.

My phone suddenly rang. Glancing down at the caller ID, my stomach plummeted, it was the police department. My thumb swiped the green icon, bringing the phone to my ear as sudden, cold terror gripped my chest.

“Miss Brown?”

“Yeah? Noon,” I greeted, hating how easily fear paralyzed me. Why couldn't I be strong? Was I born completely weak?

Was it because I spent my entire childhood locked indoors, leaving me utterly clueless about the real world and terrified of my own shadow?

“Your parents' case has been officially closed. All signs point to gang involvement, but there’s no concrete evidence, and due to circumstances best kept confidential, we’re shelving the investigation. Feel free to reach out if anything new comes up.”

The line went dead with a sharp click. I slowly pulled the phone away, staring blankly at the screen as if it had transformed into something alien.

A gang? What gang would my parents ever cross? If they did figured out it was a gang, why close the case? Why didn't they question them? Are the cops genuinely too terrified of street gangs to do their jobs?

“What’s got you frowning so hard?” Matilda called out from the front. I sighed, opening my mouth to tell her, but cut myself off as the car rolled to a stop in front of a sprawling, chaotic house, and she reached for the door handle.

“Never mind,” I whispered. I wasn't about to ruin her mood with this depressing news.

I grabbed my bag, climbed out, and nervously tried to adjust my dress. Matilda slapped my hand away again.

“Would you stop doing that?” she glared, marching up the driveway with her guy. I rolled my eyes and fell in step behind them.

I winced as a thick wall of heavy bass, stale alcohol, and sweaty bodies slammed into my senses. Jesus, what is this stench?

Looking around, the living room was packed with couples making out, people smoking in corners, and strangers lingering everywhere. Worst of all, a few people were staring right at me, and I hated every second of it. This dress was way too revealing.

Matilda caught my hand, dragging me through the chaotic sea of bodies toward a quieter alcove. A cluster of chairs sat in the corner, occupied by a group of people who definitely didn't look like ordinary college kids. They carried a distinct, effortless bad-boy-and-girl aura.

“You actually brought her, huh?” one of them drawled, eyeing me.

I sat down stiffly beside Matilda, who just shrugged the guy off and reached for a bottle of dark liquor, pouring generous amounts into two plastic cups

.

She handed one to me while taking a sip from her own. My eyebrows shot straight up. “Not interested.”

“Just take a shot, Nora. Stop acting like a nun,” she forced the cup into my hand.

I brought it to my nose, instantly coughing at the harsh chemical scent. Jesus, what is this poison? How do people willingly drink this?

“Fuck’s sake, did you grow up in a literal convent Who doesn't drink?” a girl sneered. She was the absolute polar opposite of me, wearing virtually nothing besides a brazier and an ultra-short skirt, with a sprawling butterfly tattoo winding up her thigh.

“You’re into pussy? That’s why you checking me out?” she laughed. Into pussy? Eww!

“Wrong! I was wondering why you have so many tattoos,” I shot back, rolling my eyes.

“Oh, too many? I actually have one right on my tits. Want a peek?” She flashed a wicked smirk.

“Athena, stop teasing the poor girl,” one of the guys chuckled, setting off a wave of laughter from the rest of the group. It felt entirely like they were mocking me.

Spurred by a sudden flash of anger, I tipped the cup back and swallowed the liquor in one burning gulp. It felt like liquid fire sliding down my throat.

“Okay, guys, back off. Let her be,” Matilda finally intervened. Oh, look who remembered she brought a guest.

Rolling my eyes, a sudden, urgent pressure hit my bladder. “Where’s the washroom?” I asked, leaning over.

“Down the hall on your left,” She replied, adding, “You’ll be fine, right? It gets crowded.”

“Yeah, sure,” I muttered, standing up.

I froze dead in my tracks the second I saw who was walking straight toward our group.