Reckless Karma (Sinners & Saints #2) (9 page)

           
She
walks past us and Hugo gives me the look again.

           
“What?”
I ask innocently.

           
“Why
are you pushing this?”

           
“Hugo,
you know me. I push.”

           
“Yes,
and as much as I like that, I also hate it. You need to leave her be. She’s not
someone that wants to open to you. I can get that.”

           
“I
don’t want to know everything about her. It’s… it’s just I feel like there is
something that could affect you. You, Hugo. It’s something – I just don’t
know what it is.”

           
“Juliet.
If it is… I don’t want to know. I’ve had enough of surprises regarding me and
my family. For me, let it go.”

           
The
pleading in his eyes causes me to shut my eyes for a moment and place my hands
on his chest. I look at him and kiss him before my mouth can ruin it. He kisses
me back, sliding his arms around my waist. He breaks it and presses his
forehead against mine, keeping his eyes closed.

           
“You’re
my...” He lifts his head up, rolling his eyes, trying to find the words. “You
are my safe zone. Although how I feel about you is the scariest thing I have
ever felt about someone, you’re still it. You are the only thing stopping me
from exploding.”

           
“So
basically you are saying not to bring you trouble.”

           
“Yes.”

           
“I’m
sorry, but don’t you know by now that I am the thing that might cause you to
explode?”

           
He
bursts into laughter and nods. “Yes… but only you can do that, Juliet. No one
else. I don’t want anyone else to pierce through my heart except you.”

           
“I
love it when you get morbid on me.”

           
“And
I love it when you make a joke out of everything.”

           
I
laugh. “No, but… I understand. I’ll let it go, Hugo.”

           
“Okay.
Now let’s go get our invitations.” He drapes his arm over my shoulder and
guides me to the living room where everyone is, even August and Ms. Eleanor.

           
“Invitations
for what?” I ask.

           
Karlie
passes us a black envelope. Inside is a black invitation with gold cursive
lettering.

           
“You
are cordially invited to the Fairchild Anti-Bullying and Suicide Prevention
Gala. Hosted by the Fairchild family,” Jordana reads out loud.

           
“This
is where you will be making your entrance, isn’t it?” Hugo is impressed.

           
Karlie
smiles. “Yes. Everyone
—
and I mean everyone
—
is invited and they
will be there, especially since I had the word spread around that the widow of
the late William Fairchild will be making her debut.”

           
“Very
clever with the whole suicide prevention and anti-bullying, seeing that your
biggest bullies will be there,” I say.

           
“Yes.
The campaign is very important to me, though, and for them to donate their
money and to see the look on their faces… well it’s going to be a perfect
night.”

           
“Jaz,
you want to go?”

           
“Why
the hell not? It should be fun. Poppy can be my date.” He winks at her and she
blushes.

           
I
look at Hugo who arches a brow at them.

           
“Well,
get ready for a great time,” Karlie says. “Because after this Saturday night…
everything changes.”

Part 2

“We should forgive our enemies… but
not before they are hanged.”

-Heinrich Heine

6

HUGO

 
“Tonight’s the night, aye? You nervous?”
I haven’t decided if I like Juliet’s friend yet. He’s nice. Too nice. He’s that
type of guy that’s social and everyone loves him. He gives off positive energy
no matter where he goes. I only envy that because of Juliet. She deserves
someone that can do that for her. A guy who can take her out on dates and smile
more than two times a day.

“I’m
not nervous,” I inform him.
 
“I’ve
never cared for people’s cowardly whispers and there will be plenty of those
tonight once I show my face at Karlie’s gala.”

“I
see. Well, I bet you are eager to drop the ball on the girl.”

“I
am looking forward to the look on their faces once they see Karlie. Even if
Scarlett keeps her proud and nonchalant façade, I know. I know inside she will
be panicking.”

“Juliet
described you well.”

“She
didn’t describe you much.”

He
narrows his eyes. “You must not like me.”

“You’re
fine.”

“Don’t
worry, I don’t take it personally. I just don’t think you like people.”

“You
would be correct.”

“You
like JuJu though.”

“I
love her.”

He
grins in this big, wide smile, and I have to admit even the guy’s teeth are
perfect.

“That’s
what makes me look past the fact that you’re a dick.”

Surprisingly,
I laugh a little. Okay, I guess I like the guy.

“Aww,
look at my boys getting along.” I’m prepared to object to Juliet’s observation,
but the words don’t come out of my mouth as my eyes gaze at her long, strapless
teal gown. Her hair pulled up in a messy bun. Her red lipstick matches her
smile along with her diamond earrings.

“Lookin
good, JuJu,” Jaz says.

“You
look more than good. You look remarkable,” I acknowledge proudly.

“One
makes my heart smile and the other makes it burst into flames.”

“Among
other things.” I arch my brow and pull her close to me.

“And
I would love to make her burst.” We follow Jaz’s gaze to Poppy in her gorgeous
light pink gown. “She’s single, right?”

“The
occasional sugar daddies and stalkers, buy yeah. Single,” I answer.

“She
wears a lot of pink,” Juliet adds.

“I’ve
always loved the color pink.”

Juliet
scoffs. “No you haven’t.”

“Well,
like your boyfriend here, we all change for love.”

“You
guys ready?” Jordana and Cody come in the living room. Jordana is drop dead
gorgeous in her black gown and Cody has on a dark blue tux, which perfectly
matches his mood.

“Yes,
let the reign of destruction commence,” Ms. Eleanor announces as she comes down
in her colorful gown and tiger skin fur draped around her shoulders.

Reign
of destruction indeed.

SCARLETT

“Stop
the scowling, Patrick.” I squeeze on to his arm and he finally releases the
breath he’s been holding in since the news of the charges dropped against Hugo.

           
“I’m
sorry,” he apologizes.

           
“It’s
okay.” I adjust his tie. “I understand.”

           
He
sighs and strokes my cheek. “I think you’re the only person who understands.
You know with… not being able to get justice.”

           
“Yes.
I do.”

           
I
told Patrick things about me. Things that could gain my benefit with him.
Sometimes I regret telling him. It makes him feel like he really knows me, and
he doesn’t. Sometimes I miss being with someone who really knows me. That was
Gabriel. I sometimes miss him. Then came Hugo. I miss him too. Why can’t the
world just go the way I want it to? Why must I force it myself? It gets tiring.
Fun, but tiring.

We
are at the Gala for the Anti-Bullying and Suicide Prevention charity created by
the Fairchild family. All these years William Fairchild had been a mystery
after he left New York. Now his widow has come and everyone is anxious to meet
the woman who snagged him just before his death.

           
“What
are you smiling about?” Patrick snaps me out of my thoughts.

           
“About
you. How much I love you,” I lie.

           
“And
I love you. I don’t know how I could get through this without you.”

           
“I
am here to heal your pain.”

           
“Yes.
Scarlett has always been the light of the darkness.” Chad’s voice is a thorn at
my side, and I’m shocked to see him here.

           
“What
are you doing here?”

           
“That’s
what I would like to know.” Wayne Michelson holds nothing back in showing his
disdain for his own son.

           
“Hello,
Dad. Mom.” Chad’s mother gives him a polite smile but says nothing further.

           
Chad
is dressed in a black tux, blonde hair slicked back, but still looks high as a
kite.

           
“I
received an invitation,” Chad gleams.

           
“Really?”
I ask shocked.

           
“Hello.”
We turn our heads and see Noel, who is accompanying his mother. With that
woman, he will never have a girlfriend.

           
“Constance,
how’s life?” I ask and her smile tightens.

           
Her
real name is Cora, but she changed it when she married Noel’s father.

           
“Scarlett.”

           
“Well,
well. It’s as if this is a family reunion,” Chad slyly says and Noel glares at
him.

           
“What
the hell?” Patrick blurts out. I follow his furious stare and I am shocked to
see Hugo and the gang enter the golden decorated ballroom. Juliet is holding
his hand like a dutiful girlfriend and it makes me want to throw up.
 
Hugo and Juliet separate themselves from
the group and make their way toward us. Jordana, Poppy, Cody, and some boy I
have never met before have these grins sprawled on their faces as they watch
from a distance. I hold on tight to Patrick’s arm as Hugo and Juliet stand only
a few feet away.

           
“What
the hell are you doing here?” Patrick asks.

           
“I
was invited,” Hugo says.

           
“Hugo.”
Now Jonathan Mandrake and his wife Kelly are here. What the hell is this? Why
is everyone here and why does everyone find the need to come over toward us?

           
“Father.
Kelly.”

           
Kelly
looks uncomfortable in her black gown as Jonathan’s jaw twitches at the smirk
placed on his son’s face towards his wife.

           
“My
Hugo, this is very surprising,” I say. “Juliet, I see you’re still here.”

           
“Yes,
and I see your eye is feeling much better.” Juliet smiles and I would love to
carve into it.

           
“Who
the hell would invite a rapist?” Patrick asks again.

           
“A
rapist? I have no idea, but me? Well, that would be the hostess of the
evening.” Hugo looks right at me when he says it and I can’t help but to
snicker.

           
“You?
You know William Fairchild’s widow?” I ask in disbelief.

           
“Yes.
She happens to be a dear close friend of the family.”

           
“She
is?” Jonathan asks, unsure of this new information.

           
Hugo
just grins along with Juliet and for the first time I’m becoming uncomfortably
anxious.

           
“Yes.”

           
“Noel,
let’s go.” Constance is begging to not be seen with us. Ever since Karlie Dale,
all our parents can’t help but to look at each other with disdain, yet they
still find the need to come around to each other at events like this. It is
rare they all are at the same event. For all of us actually, but maybe this is
twisted fate. I have no problem with that, but I do with the smiles on Hugo’s
and this trollop’s faces.

           
“I’m
so happy you all came.” That voice. I know that voice. Noel and Chad both look
to have lost the coloration of their skin. Constance’s mouth has dropped along
with Wayne Michelson’s. As I turn my head, I see the shocked look on Jonathan’s
face and then I turn around until I am met with the face of the familiar voice.

           
What.
The. Fuck.

HUGO

As
predicted, they all look shocked and unpleasant except for Scarlett who is
focusing on remaining calm.

           
“Do
you all know each other?” a confused Patrick asks.

           
“Yes,”
Karlie answers. “Chad, Noel, Scarlett and I all went to high school together.”

           
“You
didn’t tell me that,” Patrick says to a still stunned Scarlett.

           
“We
ran in different circles… but still shared a common factor, didn’t we,
Scarlett?”

           
Patrick’s
brow creases as he looks at Scarlett who glances at me.

           
“We
all had English together,” Karlie says nonchalantly and approaches the nervous
crowd. “I’m so glad you all could come tonight.”

           
“Y-you,”
Noel stammers, unshed tears glistening in his eyes. “You’re William Fairchild’s
widow?”

           
“Yeah.
William and I met at a bar.” She laughs about it. “Rumors are true, but there
are crazier stories about couples finding each other in this town.”

           
“Yes,
some through fate… some through deceit,” I add on and get a few daggers thrown
my way.

           
Patrick
clears his throat and extends his hand to Karlie. “Well, it’s very lovely to
meet you, Mrs. Fairchild. Patrick Tow
–
”

           
“Townsend,”
Karlie finishes for him. “Scarlett’s fiancé. Congratulations… Scarlett always
had the boys going crazy over her. It’s good she finally found someone. You are
a lucky man.”

           
“Yes,
I am.”

           
“Noel,
let’s go,” Noel’s mother says.

           
“Do
enjoy the party, Mrs. Rochester,” Karlie says, her eyes pierced in her. “We
never really got to meet. I never got to meet Mr. Michelson either.” She looks
at Chad’s father. “But of course I do know you, Mr. Mandrake.” Now she faces my
father and a confused Kelly. “It’s always good to see you.”

           
The
awkward silence continues until Karlie addresses Patrick again. “They all
contributed to my scholarship. A special donation they had for me. I had no
choice but to take it; it was so generous.”

           
“That’s
very nice,” Patrick says but I’m sure he doesn’t care. He’s too focused on
imagining my death as his eyes drag towards me. But Karlie didn’t announce that
to them for comfort. She announced it to let them know that she didn’t forget
about them either. Sure their children are the ones that inflicted the pain…
but they nurtured them. They looked the other way. They saved them and left her
for dead. It is only fair that they all perish.

           
“Enjoy
the party.” She walks away like the badass she is.

CODY

“This
is better than Shark Week,” Jordana says as we all stare at the Karlie Dale
introduction unfold. The Rochesters quickly move away from the crowd, and
Chad’s dad and Hugo’s dad start to whisper to each other while Mrs. Michelson
distracts a confused Mrs. Mandrake. Scarlett just smiles at her fiancé and acts
like nothing is wrong, while Chad is probably needing his next line of cocaine.
All of them with their teeth sharpened and their eyes big, looking at Karlie as
she glides through the ballroom greeting all her exes. Karlie Dale’s time with
William Fairchild has done her justice. She looks the part. She is the part.
She’s money.

           
“This
is Shark Week,” I finally say.

           
“Poppy,
you look very gorgeous.” Jordana and I look at each other listening to Jaz complimenting
Poppy.
        

           
Poppy
giggles and blushes. “Thanks. You’re gorgeous too.”