Page 12 of Ruthless Deliverance

DANI

There’re people everywhere, so I send Luna a quick message that I’ve arrived and get an immediate response that she’s on the patio. Making my way through the crowd, I’m thankful Beau is too busy sucking on Armani’s neck to notice me. But him being here doesn’t sit well. We’re not at school, not that he’s well-behaved there, but what will he do off campus and intoxicated? Beau’s attendance also means Creed is more than likely here as well. Which I was assured he wouldn’t be by Luna. She can’t control the guest list at some party, and I kinda had a feeling he would show before the night was over because why not. He’s everywhere else.

Once I find Luna, I move to sit next to her at the patio table. There’re a couple of people sitting at the other end of the extended table, but she’s alone on her side.

“Not having a good time at the party?”

“Understatement.” She glances around at where plenty of people look like they’re having a much better night than she is.

“Well, we could always ditch and go hang out somewhere else.” It wouldn’t help me find much out, but it’s a good excuse to get out of here.

Her head shakes as she lets out a forced laugh. “I can’t ditch.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s my house.” Her admission hits me strangely. She hadn’t given me many details about the party, but it being her party was definitely one she left out. And it feels like a strange thing to omit. Not to mention, Luna didn’t strike me as the house-party-thrower type. I figured she was more the crashing-someone-else’s-party type person.

“Oh. You can still leave though. It’s not like you have to stay, right? The party seems to be taking care of itself at this point.”

“No. We have to stay here.”

“Hey, I’m good.” I give her a quick smile as I get as comfortable as possible in the chair. “It’s kinda relaxing out here.” And it is. Once you ignore the shouts from the drunk crowd and the music blaring from the house, the patio is peaceful. I’d love to hang out here when there’s not a party going on just inside the house. “Why’d you invite everyone if you weren’t feeling it?”

“I didn’t. My brother did.”

“Fun.” My sarcasm isn’t lost on her as she agrees how fun it is not. Thankfully, we’re able to chill there and hang out without any bothers for nearly an hour. Keith joined us at the table, thankfully keeping it casual and not making any effort to flirt or to be more than friends. And I’m comfortable, thinking I can do this. I’ve watched people from a distance and haven’t noticed anything out of the ordinary. At least not until we hear a few cheers and whistles, a drunken crowd whooping and hollering. They grab Luna’s attention too, and when she mutters something like “son of a bitch,” I see immediately what she’s talking about. Creed. He’s on the roof of the house, standing near the dormer on the second floor. What the fuck is he doing? Because from here it looks like he’s being a completely reckless dumbass.

Luna jumps out of her seat, stomping across the patio. “What the hell, Creed? Get the fuck down.”

Her words are met with a smile from him. It’s a lazy one, and his glassy eyes are trained on me. Even from our location on the ground, it’s clear he’s been drinking or is high. I can’t stand the fucker, but I join Luna as she yells for him to get his ass down.

“That game next week will be a tough one to play if you fall and break your neck.”

“Aw, you’re worried about me?”

“No. More worried about you breaking the concrete with your big head.”

“Are you sure?” His amusement grows as he steps closer to the ledge, stumbling, then laughing like pretending to be off balance is the funniest damn thing ever. But it’s not. Because my heart sank to my knees in that moment. Motherfucker. I should push him.

“Damn it, Creed. Stop it!” Luna screams as some dumbasses in the crowd cackle and encourage his antics.

“I will.” He takes a step as close to the edge as possible, holding his arms out like the moron thinks he can fly, and right now, his inebriated ass might actually believe it. “When Dani admits she’s scared.”

What the fuck is his game? Because I’m already tired of playing it. “There is something really wrong with you.”

“You are correct on that one.” He puts his arms straight up stretching before dropping them to his side. “So, what’s it gonna be? Ready to confess?”

I keep my eyes on the idiot balancing on the ledge. He looks way too unsteady. I whisper to Luna, “What’s he on?”

“Who the hell knows,” she quips before yelling a few more obscenities his way. Turning to her brother, she pleads, “Get your stupid friend off the roof, Felix. I don’t need this shit right now.”

Felix shrugs his shoulders, taking a sip from his cup. “He’s not gonna listen to me.”

I don’t know much about my newfound friends, but I think Felix has it correct. Creed doesn’t listen to anyone. He’ll get down when he’s ready.

Keith steps beside me, looking up to where the star of the show is holding everyone’s focus. “You don’t think he’ll actually jump, right?”

I don’t know if he’s asking me or Luna, but I doubt either of us can predict what’s in his crazy head.