Three

BREA POV

FOUR YEARS LATER.

"Why are you just sitting here looking like the loneliest block on planet Earth?" Candice screamed in my ear as the loud music thrummed through the room, but I was too buzzed out to make out the words she was saying.

Even her features were distorted. Just how many glasses was it that I'd spent my night drowning?

"Hey, you're zoning out. Are you sure you're well? Do I need to get Brian," she screamed, and I blinked the dizziness away, groaning in irritation. If she kept screaming in my ear, she was going to be blamed for the outcome. My hands twitched, itching to pull out the little dagger I kept stocked away in my boot.

"Get out of my face," I managed to get out of my burnt-out lungs. At least now I knew drowning shots of vodka was not my strong suit. I was definitely not a heavy drinker, no matter how I wished I was.

Not being able to do something made me feel as if I lacked in a way, and that was why I overcompensated in other areas.

Candice shrugged and left me alone, a look of fear in her eyes. Maybe I should consider getting rid of her since she'd been a witness to one of my recent crimes. It was messing with me that I'd been so sloppy. 

I'd thought the coast had been clear before I tossed the body bag over the bridge, but she's been right there, her eyes blown wide as she watched a bloody hand plop out of the bag as it toppled over the bridge. It was a good thing that she had been drunk out of her mind, but I worried that if the body was found, she could start babbling to the cops about what she saw that night.

I groaned, pushing to my feet when the fog around my vision cleared for a bit. I wobbled as I got up. A warm hand gripped my upper arm and steadied me.

I didn't have to look to know it was Ana. Her sickening perfume made me want to puke. She was rich but her taste was so wack it made me want to scratch my eyes until they bled. 

"Are you alright? Candice said you didn't look too good, she said right into my ear and I winced, jerking my arm from her hold... I managed to stand straighter.

"I'm fine… it's just a bit of a dizzy spell. I didn't eat before I left home."

"Let's get out of here yeah. Brian's parties are always shit anyway. The drinks suck" she said as she grabbed me again. I let her, not having the strength to get into an argument while I wasn't thinking right.

That was what caused the last slip-up. The jerk deserved to die tho. I'd given him a chance to stop, and he didn't. He'd stopped once I plunged my pretty dagger right into his guts. He'd realized I hadn't been playing when I said I was going to kill him, but it was too late.

The cool breeze on my face made me realize that we were already standing outside. It had gotten a lot quieter too.

I watched the people milling around and grimaced as I took in some extremely drunk couples making a show of themselves.

"What's up with Brea? You look wasted" Brian's gruff voice reached my ears and I turned in his direction and staggered back a bit. Was I drugged? I'd never had it this bad.

"Woah... Easy there, Brea," Brian got out at the same time he moved towards me to offer support, but I shoved him off. I could never get rid of the memory of his grip around my throat but it seemed once Ana accepted me, everything before that was like it never happened. 

"Stop your freaking fussing. I'm fine ok," I gritted out hating that I was so out of it.

Candice soon joined us outside. "So are we going to ditch the party or what?".

"Seems so. I have to get Brea home," Ana said and the thought of going home drunk and uncoordinated made me want to throw up.

I couldn't go home this way, not when Markus was there. Waiting for me like the deranged child he was. 

Mom and Dad should never have adopted him. They should have seen him for the manipulative freak he was. He was two years younger than I was, but he was tall and strong, and he wanted me. He'd made two attempts recently, but I got away. 

Momma loved him so much which was why I hesitated in getting rid of him, but at this point, he was becoming too much of a bother and I would have to take care of him soon. 

He'd been following me too, so he had incriminating evidence against me. I should have known he was going to be an issue from the very beginning.

He'd recently threatened me to give in to him, or he was going to tell Mom and Dad all the dirty secrets he'd been able to gather about me, and then it would be off to an asylum for real this time. So it was not wise to offer myself to him on a golden platter when I knew how vulnerable I got when I drank.

"Let's go to your house instead, Ana. Yours is nearer anyway."

"I don't know Brea... My fiancé... We're supposed to meet up this evening after the party".

"Oh come on! Brea is the last person you need to worry about ruining your night. Just put her in a room, and she'll stay there for the whole day".

Candice nodded in agreement and Ana sighed. "Fine, let's go to my place then. Ryder has been wanting to meet my friends anyway".

Candice giggled. "I've seen him... This girl is one lucky girl. The guy is ripped, and he is freaking gorgeous".

"Your boyfriend is right here, Candice" Brian got out, the annoyance in his voice clear and sharp.

Candice snuggled into his side and licked up his throat. Brian cursed and shoved at her.

"Will you quit your craziness!"

"Thought you were being a whiny baby 'cause I wasn't giving you any attention. Well, you're having all my attention now, so don't freaking shove me..."

"Are we going or not?" I yelled as the throbbing in my head got worse.

Candice flinched. "Jeez! Keep your pants on, Brea."

Ana shook her head as she opened the car door and pushed me into it. "You're nasty when you get drunk", she stated and slammed the door close before I could reply. 

"Are you guys going to come with us or not?" Ana asked the two and even through the glass I could see Candice hesitate. Did she think I'd kill her in cold blood if she was somehow isolated with me? I mean I would, but she was so terrified of me that it made me want to get rid of her faster.

"We'll meet you all tomorrow morning," she said, her gaze darting to Brian who also nodded, a forced smile on his lips when my gaze met his. 

Did he know about that night? I'd convinced Candice she was drunk out of her mind, but that didn't mean she believed me. So did she tell Brian about it too? Ugh. My head freaking hurt. 

Ana shrugged. "Do what you want suckers. Remember to use a condom tho" she said and both of them yelled.

"Oh, come on... What is this!" Candice shook her head, even tho her face was starting to flame.

Ana winked, stepped into the car, turned on the ignition, and drove out of the parking lot.

The ride was quiet, but I couldn't think. Everything was a weird buzz.

"Candice has been a bit off for a week now but don't take it to heart ok. She keeps saying you're a killer, it's insane. She even went as far as saying she saw you throwing a body off the bridge... How crazy is that" Ana said glancing toward me in the back seat. I wasn't surprised to even hear that Candice had been running her mouth.

"I wish I could throw a body off a bridge." I groaned, blinking my eyes close as the glare from the street light got to be too much. "Don't listen to her, she's always saying crazy stuff when she has one too many," I said, and Ana nodded before accelerating. 

We soon arrived at Ana's Mansion. The house never failed to amaze me. It would look beautiful if it were to catch on fire and burn to this floor tho... I grinned just picturing it. 

The car door opening pulled me back to reality.

"You are really out of it. Are you coming out or not".

I managed an eye roll as I stepped out of the car, my feet trying to trip themselves.

The garage looked freaking insane and all my favorite brands of cars lined each section I looked at. They weren't all Ana's, but she had good taste when it came to buying cars.

"Just pick one. I'll let you have it," she said as she took my hand. She was serious too.

It was fucking belittling, but I smiled widely and pointed to one of the black Audis. "That one. I want it".

"It's all yours, best friend" She grinned and stirred me in the direction of the main house. 

We got to the door and Ana stopped.

"Shoot! I forgot my purse. Wait here" She got out and stepped away from me.

Sighing and rolling my eyes, I grabbed the doorknob intending to open it, when it was yanked out of my hand, the force of it propelling me forward. I landed against a warm hard chest. I looked up slowly as the man's hold tightened on my arm to steady me.

All I saw was his bright blue eyes and the gorgeous frown on his face.

I call dibs. I was going to make him mine.