Page 71 of Reckless Desires

“Mom forced me to lie about being pregnant with Sal’s baby. She knew without the Costello family funding our lifestyle, we would have nothing. Dad left us nothing to fall back on. She was using⁠—”

I roll my eyes. “That’s it?! You accuse her of killing our father, the man she loved more than her own self, because some journals point evidence to her? That the only thing she had left was her pride? I don’t blame her for making sure we lived comfortably. She did what she needed to do to survive. Just because you don’t agree with it doesn’t make her evil.”

“She betrayed me, Lily,” Selene chokes up. “She put my life and my baby’s life in danger.”

“Apparently, she’s a danger to us all, isn’t she?” The sarcasm drips out my mouth with defiance.

“Did she tell you we came to her when you were gone?” Stasia asks. “Did she?” I shake my head.

“Figures,” Stasia replies. “I was convinced she was the reason you were taken.”

“That’s insane,” I shoot back. “Do you hear yourself?! Mom can be a lot of things, but she would never do something like that.”

“I thought the same,” Selene voices. “She’s capable of awful things, Lily.”

“So awful that you allow for me and Serafina to live under her roof,” I accuse, rolling my eyes. “Both of you are pathetic.”

This time, when I turn and walk away, I don’t stop despite them pleading behind me. Stepping outside the venue, I catch my breath. I need to get away just for a little while. Walking toward the cab area, I head home.

When I walk in, there are crowds of people in the house.

Chapter Forty-Eight

Lily

“Where’s Serafina?” I ask one of the boys wearing a football jacket, holding a red Solo cup.

“Last I saw her, she was taking shots in the pool.” He laughs like it’s the coolest thing.

Taking the red cup away from him, the smell of beer hits my nose, and instantly, I’m taken back to that room. Shaking the thoughts away before they consume me, I chug what is in the cup.

“Oh shit! Let’s gooo! You want another?” another boy wearing a football jacket asks.

Now there’s a group of boys around me. Although they are much younger than I am, I feel like they are closing in on me. Mom would let us have parties growing up when Dad was away, but she definitely is unaware of this one.

“How about this,” I warn. “Leave now, or I take whatever footage from the security cameras and send it to your coach. Let’s see how your football careers hold up.”

This is enough to make them drop their cups and scatter out the door. Walking through the house, there isn’t a corner that doesn’t have people making out in it. When I get to the backyard, the pool has floating cups and people playing volleyball. Kids playing beer pong on one table, flip cup on another, and someone doing a keg stand.

“Where’s Serafina?” I ask someone, who points toward the outdoor bar area.

Serafina is lying on the bar as a boy is taking a shot off her. I stand there with my arms crossed and tapping my foot, but the music is too loud for her to notice.

“Lily!” My name is called, and when I turn to see who it is, I shake my head.

“Maisie, what is going on here?” I snap.

“Chill! Sera was on some kick about you telling her how lucky she is and something about people living poorly.” She shrugs like it’s no big deal. “She made it sound like this was your idea.”

“Get her off the bar, now.”

Maisie and Serafina are almost inseparable. Maisie and I don’t really get along, but the more Serafina brings her around, the more we started warming up to each other.

“You’ve been crying,” Maisie says. “It’s just a party. We can clear it out ASAP.”

“I haven’t been crying, Maisie.” My waterproof makeup held up pretty well. Maisie actually is the one who recommended this eyeliner and mascara.

“So then you’re high?” she questions. “Can we have some?”