Sinners & Saints (Sinners & Saints #1) (25 page)

           
“It
matters on the question,” he says.

           
“I
saw on your chess game that I was in the same spot as Scarlett. Why is that?”

           
He
looks down at the joint in his hand and then at me. “Scarlett makes me do
things I never thought I would do. That’s how it started. She causes friction.”

           
“And?”
I ask as he pauses and looks away.

           
“And
so do you.” He looks at me again. “You annoy me… you annoy me to a point where
I actually think about certain things. Nothing more though, so don’t let it go
to your head.”

           
“I
won’t,” I say satisfied. “I won’t even rub it in your face.”

           
He
looks away and so do I. We both stare at the party. The people are drunk and
high, falling over the furniture. Laughing and dancing.

           
“Right
now…” I say to him. “Right now all these people are a blur and not just because
I am a bit intoxicated. But… because we
—
you and I
—
we are in a moment. Not a moment of
romance or whatever you want to complain about. Just… a moment of
understanding.”

           
He
doesn’t object, complain, or snap. I think he agrees with me.

           
I
see Scarlett entering the living room in a black cocktail dress and so does he.
I look at him and see the way he looks at her. He cares for her. Maybe even
loves her and I envy it. She doesn’t deserve his love. He doesn’t deserve her
pain or my love. What is a girl to do?

           
“Well,
moment terminated,” I say to him as Scarlett reaches us.

           
“Let
me guess,” she says, looking around at the crowd. “Poppy.”

           
“Of
course,” he says to her. I even envy their history.

           
She
looks at me. “Juliet.” She has that smug grin as always. The one that says
I own him
.

           
“Scarlett,”
I look at Hugo. “I’m gonna go have a look around, make sure things aren’t
totally broken.”

           
I
leave them and head upstairs where a guy runs, pushing past me.

           
“What
the fuck?” I snap as my head hits the wall.

           
“Hey,
you okay?” Cody asks coming up.

           
“Yeah,
was that a fucking thief?” I ask because why would he just run like that?

           
“No,
that was Kenny Martin…” Cody trails off, his eyes broadening.

           
“Cody,
what is it?” I ask

           
“He
was upstairs with Poppy. When Poppy leads a guy upstairs they’re going to the
bathroom and when Poppy goes to a bathroom with a guy, she’s usually…” He looks
up. “Oh fuck!” He runs and I follow. We go to the toilet in the hallway and the
door is wide open and so is Poppy, sprawled on the floor. Her nose is bleeding
and her face blue. I can’t breathe and my heart feels like it’s going to
explode.

           
“Oh
my God,” I mumble. “Go get help,” I tell Cody as I run to Poppy.

           
“Poppy!”
I yell, clasping my hands on her face. “Poppy, wake up!”

HUGO

Here we go again. Poppy is very
consistent when it comes to near death experiences with drugs. Scarlett was
telling me how our plan for my father and Kelly was working and on schedule and
how Janet Eaton was on board. Here comes Cody, panicking telling us Poppy might
be dead this time.
 

I follow Jordana and Cody to the
bathroom where Juliet is working on waking up a passed out Poppy.

           
“Move
out of the way,” I say calmly.

           
“We
need to call the ambulance,” Juliet says.

           
“No,
we don’t,” Jordana says as she helps me set her in the tub. “If her mother
finds out, she’ll freak.”

           
“If
she dies
   
”

           
“Juliet,”
Jordana’s voice is stern, “Hugo’s got it.”

           
“Poppy,”
I smack her on her face as the cold-water sprays on us. I lower my ear to her
mouth. She’s breathing, but faintly. “Hold her hair,” I instruct Jordana. I
take two fingers and make sure they’re wet. I press them together, opening up
Poppy’s mouth. I shove them as far as I can down her throat. She starts to
choke. Her eyes break open. I immediately remove my fingers before she starts
to throw up all over the tub. “You’re okay,” I say, rubbing her back.

I stand up and step out of the tub and
head towards the sink to wash my hands. “Cody, go tell everyone the party’s
over.” I wipe my hands on the towel. I sit back against the sink and watch as
Juliet and Jordana tend to Poppy who is still throwing up. Juliet glances up at
me. Her look of amazement and concern makes me worry what she thinks of us. For
the first time I begin to worry what a person thinks of me. I look at the
doorway as Scarlett comes in.

“I see Poppy is still partying hard,”
Scarlett says, amused.

When I look at Poppy I don’t see her
though. I see my mother.

SCARLETT

Hugo brushes past me, leaving out the
room.

           
“I’m
tired,” Poppy moans.

           
“No,
shit,” Jordana says.

“Everyone’s leaving,” Cody says coming
back in.

“Cody, can you carry her to her room?”
Jordana asks.

           
“Yeah.”
Cody picks Poppy up and heads for her room. Jordana follows them. I eye Juliet
who seems a bit shaken while she washes her hands.

           
“Interesting
witnessing people nearly die, isn’t it?” I ask her.

           
She
lets out a harsh laugh and faces me. “I’ve seen it, trust me. It just amazes me
how he did that with ease.”

           
“Gabriel
once told me that he and Hugo were always so scared of their father finding out
their mother’s unhealthy habit with medication. He had her committed to a
hospital before and it didn’t turn out so well. So they learned how to cover it
up. Gabriel taught Hugo the tricks of the trade.”

           
“That’s
horrible,” she says quietly to herself.

           
“Yes,
it is. It took Hugo days after meeting him to tell me that. When he did, I knew
he trusted me. Gabriel before him.” She looks at me, disapprovingly. “He has
always trusted me. He and I have a connection that could never be discouraged.”

           
She
laughs a little. “Let me guess… he told you about the kiss.”

           
“Yes,
it was a conversation for our own amusement.”

           
“Good…”
She walks up to me. “Because he told you because he felt guilty.”

           
I
smile at that ridiculous theory. “Guilty about what?”

           
“About
enjoying kissing me as much as he does with you.”

           
I
arch a brow and lean back. “You really like to play with fire, don’t you?”

           
She
shrugs. “I was never good at proceeding with caution.”

           
“Well,
I suggest you learn before you get your heart broken. A broken heart can be a
brutal death.”

           
“So
can egoism.”

“Only if you don’t know what to do with
it.” I narrow my eyes at her. “Have you ever read or seen
No Country for Old Men
, Juliet? It’s one of Patrick’s favorite
books and films. He’s forced me to watch it with him so many times. Usually I
don’t care for movies, but I really enjoy the sinister aspect of the film. The
book, I have to read it but there’s this quote Patrick loves. ‘It takes very
little to govern good people. Very little. And bad people can’t be governed at
all. Or if they could have I never heard of it.’” She stares at me and I think
she knows what I’m talking about.

“I view that as a sole message to all
the people out there that think they can change a person from their natural fruition
of pain and conquer. No one is born in hate, but those who let the dark in… the
dark is where they want to stay.” I smile at her as she frowns at me. “Always a
pleasure.”

I walk away proudly, satisfied with the
message and warning left for Juliet. Hopefully, she takes it into
consideration. I don’t want history repeating itself.

HUGO

My cell phone rings and I answer it,
knowing her number already. This was what I need.

           
“Hello,
Kelly,” I say to her. She waits a while to answer. I can hear her breathing
through the phone.

           
“Come
outside,” she says. I grab a condom before I go outside.

           
“I
see it’s working,” Scarlett says smiling, leaning against my door. “Wish I
could watch.”

           
I
smirk and walk past her, heading outside.

           
The
driver is already outside the car. He opens it up and I get in.

           
She
looks to have been crying a while ago. She bites her thumb, looking out the
window. I look down at the pictures of my father and Janet Eaton on the floor.

“My cousin told me that she’s been
fucking my husband. I got these pictures in the mail and then I went to her
apartment and confronted her. She smiled. Like it was nothing. Before that I
saw my husband with his hands all over some waitress.”

I say nothing
—I
only watch her, listening.

“I used to be happy. That’s how it
always starts. When we’re children. We are happy. We are innocent. We are
invincible. But then reality sets in and we are no longer the same, we are no
longer anything but hopeful that tomorrow will be better.” She finally looks at
me. Her drained eyes make my chest hurt. “Will tomorrow be better, Hugo?”

           
“No,”
I tell her the truth.

           
She
gives me the saddest smile I have ever received and without caution she leans
in and presses her lips against mine. I slide my fingers through her hair and
begin unbuttoning her top. She breaks the kiss and stares at me with desire and
sadness and it has to stop, so I make her feel better in that limo. I make her
feel alive even if it’s only for a moment. She will forget the tears and fears
and embrace the sin. Will tomorrow ever be better? No, it never will.

Part 3

“Let’s kill the
bitch.”

- Someone in this book

17

JULIET

Weeks pass, feelings get crazier.

That’s all I can say to sum it up. I
haven’t seen much of Hugo. He has buried himself more into the scheme he and
Scarlett created, whatever that is. I think it’s bigger than him just shagging
his father’s wife. I know he also wants to stay away from me. I should be glad.
Scarlett’s words the last time we spoke, the vindictive reflection from her
grey eyes, should have been enough warning for me. Hugo and Scarlett have this
deep bond
—
no matter
what originated it, it’s there. But it’s also there with him and me. I’ve been
here for six weeks now and already I’m falling for someone. That is so
romantically cliché. I was not meant for cliché moments in my life. It’s
massive. It’s bad and it’s lovely. I want to fall into the possibility, but how
can I fall when Hugo won’t be there to catch me? He’s clearly bad for me.
Clearly
. Yet, I can’t stop my heart from
getting anxious every time it’s a possibility I’ll see his face. And there is
always a possibility I’ll see his face.

“These things always suck,” Jordana says,
lighting up her cigarette. I don’t think she can smoke in this banquet hall,
but like she cares.
 

Right now we are at a charity function
hosted by one of the women of the Manhattan Elite. I can’t even tell you which
one. I just know that I’m at another one of the events on my mother’s list.

“At least they have good music,” I point
out the bright side, but I agree and it doesn’t matter what country, these
charity events are always the same. It’s filled with the same people spewing
out terms of endearment and emptying their pockets, sparring to see who could
give the biggest donation. If you give the biggest donation, you are the
richest person in the club. It’s amazing how karma bites selfish people in the
ass without them even knowing it.

“Oh shit,” Jordana mutters, her eyes
fixed on the crowd. I follow her gaze and see Margaret Jacobs with her arm
hooked around a man. He looks to be our age, brown hair brushed back, a plaid
shirt, dinner jacket with a gold patch on the right side, and white trousers on.
Margaret looks pretty in her conservative green flowered dress. It covers all
the right parts, not shedding light on how bare she can be.

“Who’s that with her?” I ask.

“Her cockfront.” I can’t help but to
laugh at Jordana’s term for Margaret’s apparent fake boyfriend. “Paul Maddison.
He’s in med school, studying to be a heart surgeon. She’s been seeing him for a
year now.”

“He’s cute.”

She gives me a face, “Cute for a
mentally retarded puppy, you mean.”

“Oh, I sense a hint of jealousy coming
from that tone.” She says nothing, only exhales the smoke from her cigarette.
“It’s getting harder, isn’t it?”

She huffs, “I used to could take it.
The secrecy, the bullshit ignorance, but now… it’s starting to really piss me
off not being able to just… I don’t know.”

“Be loved the way you deserve?” I state
it more than question.

“I suppose all that girly shit.” She
shrugs and I laugh a little.

“Jordana, all because you’re gay does
not make you immune to feelings. You’re still a girl at the end of the day.”

“I know, but usually I am rarely
bothered by this.”

“Babe, you flat out told me that you
were in love with her. What did you expect?”

“I expected the worse. Does not mean I
don’t get to complain about it, so let me complain without you giving your
opinion. You have Hugo for that.”

The mention of his name even makes me
feel something unsettling in the pit of my stomach.

“Hi, Jordana, Poppy.” A girl comes up
to us. Not just any girl. A real bitch. “Juliet, I heard you were in town.”

“Lovely to see you, Dominique.” Dominique
is this cunt I used to be mates with. She’s the daughter of a famous actress
and a former football player. When I decided to gain back my moral compass, she
said I became boring. Personally, I think I’m too witty to be boring. I don’t
miss her or her conversations about the alternative evil intentions of dwarfs
or her obsession with Prince Harry. Although, I do wonder which of the sons of
the great and amazing beautiful Princess Diana
—
still not over her death
—
are better in bed.

“I see you’ve gained a bit of weight,” she
says and smiles.

“I see the Gucci and highlights still
inhabit the place where your brain used to be.”

Her smile falters. She rolls her eyes
and glances at Jordana. “Anyway, is Hugo here?”

Of course
he shagged her too.

“He should be here soon,” Jordana says
then looks towards the doors.

I follow her gaze. Hugo walks in like a
damn Adonis per usual. He’s wearing a tailored maroon jacket and pants.
Probably Valentino. I love Valentino.

“Speaking of Diablo,” Jordana says.

“They’re serving Mexican food here?”

Jordana and I look at each other. I
think we are hoping she is just kidding. Even Poppy looks at her sideways.
 

 
Hugo comes towards us and Dominique stands
straighter, perking her tits up. They are huge.

“Hi, Hugo.” He nods his head towards
her and she kisses him on the cheek. I want to vomit at the sight of her lips
on his cheek. “I texted you a couple days ago, you never responded.” She says
it like she’s unbothered, but I think she fails to realize that not mentioning
it in the first place will make her seem more unbothered.
 
He’s not paying attention. He’s looking
around the crowd for someone. He’s looking for her.

“I’ll see you guys later,” he says and
coldly brushes past Dominique who gapes at him.

I don’t say anything, but my eyes meet
his as he tries to sneak a glance at me.

“What in the bloody hell?” Dominique
asks herself frowning and hands on her hips.

“Maybe you should push up your tits
more, love,” I suggest, a smug grin on my face.

“Still keep in touch with the jittery
bitch?”

My jaw hardens and my fists clench.
What I wouldn’t do but to sock her in her fucking mouth. I step closer and I
take a page from Hugo’s book.

“You remember that time during that
bloody holiday?”

Her eyes broaden. “Go to hell, you
hag.”

“I’ll see you there,” I say as she
walks off.

“Nose bleeds?” Jordana asks, looking at
me confused.

“Let’s just say it involved a famous
football player, video camera, and a lot of blood.”

“Soooo,” Poppy says, “Dominique had sex
with a football player while she was on her period and he freaked out, called
her a loser and lousy lay and it was all recorded?”

My eyes flutter at Poppy. “Um… yeah.”

Poppy giggles. “That’s funny.”

Jordana looks at me. “Sometimes that
brain of hers overly works.”

“I see.”

“Who recorded it?”

I wince and lock eyes with hers. “I
did.”

“Damn… you were a bitch.”

“I know.”

HUGO

“So, how are you with Kelly?” Scarlett
asks me.

“The usual. We do nothing but have sex.
When can I be done with her?”

She gives me a look. “What’s with the attitude?”

“I’m tired. I’m bored. I’m ready to
move on.”

“You have been MIA lately. What’s been
going on?”

“I just get tired of the same shit. I
thought you had Chad take the photos already.”

“I did. They’re quite tantalizing. Did
you get the video?”

“Yes… I’m thinking about going away for
the rest of the summer.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to. Why does there have
to be any other reason than that?”

 
“Where have you’ve been spending most of
your time? With Kelly? Do you like her?”

“Oh, please,” I scoff. “I am just
tired, Scarlett. Don’t you ever just get tired?”

She tilts her head. “No.”

“Hurry up,” I tell her.

“I already have everything I need,
Hugo.”

“Then what have you been waiting on?”

“For her care for you to sink deeper.
The more she cares, the worse she’ll get.”

She walks away smiling. I make a
mistake, looking to my left. Juliet is there at the bar ordering a beverage. I
can continue ignoring her, going down my own path. I don’t have time for
detours, but still I find myself walking towards the bar. The bartender brings
her a drink. I’m standing behind her now, staring at her like a love sick
puppy. There’s that word again that keeps coming up in my head. Love. Love.
Love. Fucking love. I’m not in love, but the term has caused a slight setback
in my usual apathetic nature. That’s why I’ve been MIA from everyone these past
couple of weeks. Juliet’s persistence annoyed me, yes. Then when I finally had
Kelly, I thought it would do something. I thought it would awaken me. Become oh
so vigorous, but it didn’t. Sleeping with Kelly only made me feel more numb
like the rest of them. Everything is making me numb, but every time I set eyes
on Juliet, I feel… Oh God, don’t make me say it… I feel alive. Ugh. There I
said it. It’s so stupid. I feel alive. I feel excited. I had to get away from
that, so I personally make it my mission to meet Kelly every time at the New
York Palace. It’s my favorite hotel and I waste it on pointless fucks with a
woman that’s not even that bad. Kelly is just a broken one like the rest. Not her
fault. She’s just surrounded by careless people. We all are. When you spend
your whole life being numb, you’re afraid to be alive. Oh God, there goes
another cheesy line. Regardless, it’s true. Juliet is magnificent and even
looking at her is making me deaf.

Juliet

“Are you going to continue staring at
me or are you going to say something?” I ask him. I can feel him smirking
behind me. I know he’s standing there.

“Depends,” he speaks softly and it
brings a smile to my face. “Are you going to ruin it by talking?”

I turn around and meet his stoic face.
He’s standing closer than I thought. “Now we both know that’s not fun for me.
But as for lecturing you, we can call it a truce for now. It is a party.”

He continues to stare at me with this
intensity that knocks all my defenses down. He eternally damns me. I continue
staring back with equal intensity before swallowing the lump in my throat and
speaking again.

“Haven’t seen you much lately.” I point
out.

“Is that code for you missed me?”

Yes.

“Code for… haven’t seen you much
lately.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“Busy doing what? Planning your
destruction over humanity?”

His lips are pressed but the corners of
his mouth turn up a bit and an amused mumble escapes his throat. Holy shit,
he’s laughing. Well, sort of.

“That will have to wait,” he says,
still a semi-smile on his face.

“But your dad?”

“He’s still doomed for death.”

“You don’t sound that enthusiastic
about it anymore.”

“I’ve just… been tired.”

“Too much shagging?”

He rolls his eyes and he seems
frustrated. I think he really needs me to listen.

“I’m sorry, seriously,” I say. Concern
filled in my voice. “Are you okay?”

“Yes as okay as I should be.”

 
“So, why are you here, Hugo?”

“My dad wanted me here to contribute a
donation.” My question was really for why he was here now in front of me, but
I’ll leave it be.

“How much?”

“Two hundred grand, but I made a
different gesture.”

 
“Didn’t he write a check?”

“Yes, but I mastered his signature and
I have my own copy of his personal checks. So he’ll be getting a pleasant
surprise when he sees seven hundred and fifty grand missing from one of his
accounts.”

I can’t help but laugh and shake my
head. “He’s going to kill you.”

“He’ll probably steal it out of my own
inheritance.” He shrugs it off.

“What else are you planning?”

“Nothing that concerns you. I’m just
helping out a friend.”

“Your good friend, Scarlett?” He takes
his eyes off of me, trying to escape from my prying. “Is she the reason why you
haven’t been around the house lately?”

“Sure you didn’t miss me?” he asks
again.

“I miss having something gorgeous to
look at and someone stupid to argue with,” I admit.

His lips curl a little.

“You know at some point you should
crack a smile, teeth and all.” I narrow my eyes at him. “Come on,” I urge him,
pointing my finger to his chest. “I know you can do it.” I begin to pull on his
ear and shrug his head away, cracking a smile. Then, probably regrettably, he
does it. He smiles. His teeth are white and perfect. He’s perfect. He’s
perfectly imperfect.