Devious Little Liars (Saint View High, #1)

by Elle Thorpe

I was about to be arrested. That was my first thought when a flash of movement outside the window caught my attention. Extreme overreaction? Perhaps. But when you’d illegally let yourself into your school on a Sunday, these were the worries that plagued a girl.

“Lawson!” I yelled again, tasting ash. Panic surged, adrenaline kicking in and powering my movements. My brain short-circuited, whether from lack of air or fear, I didn’t know. The one thing I was certain of was that I couldn’t lose another parent. I couldn’t add my uncle to the broken part of me that had existed ever since my birth parents’ disappearance. He was the only father I really remembered. And he wouldn’t have left without me. I knew that without a doubt. He wouldn’t have left me there to die. Which meant he was still inside.

If the size of my uncle’s wake was anything to go by, he was the most popular man in town.

I’d lived in fear of losing mine every day since the fire. It was easier to live behind fake smiles than to allow myself to think about my uncle, the man who’d been my father for thirteen years, being gone.

Fire was all I thought about now. That, and my aunt. She’d lost the love of her life. The man she’d woken up next to every day for twenty years. She was hurting, and I hated I couldn’t do anything to make it better for her.

“I had to talk to the police again,” I said quietly to my friends. “That’s three times now. I think they’re trying to trip me up in my story.” Meredith f...

“They can’t find any footage from the security cameras that corroborates my version of that night. Apparently, the security cameras were all switched off. Along with the smoke detectors and the sprinkler system. I don’t think they believe me when I say a man carried me from the flames.” Meredith’s eyes widened. “But you were found barely conscious on the quad! And your burn! You were in such bad shape, they can’t seriously think you walked out of there by yourself?” “That seems to be exactly what they think.” The burn on my leg throbbed beneath its bandages.

Meredith threw up her hands in frustration. “That’s ridiculous. Ugh! They make me so mad with their uselessness. Do they even have to do an entrance exam? Or do they just accept those plastic badges you get in the cereal box?” I couldn’t agree more. The police in our town had never had a reputation for being particularly adept. I, more than anyone, knew that firsthand.

“I don’t know,” I answered his question. The same thought had plagued me ever since I’d woken up in the hospital. The way the cops had taken my story had felt more like an interrogation than an interview. “My story hasn’t changed. Someone carried me from that building before it collapsed. His shirt had the letters SVHF. And he knew my name.” “That’s the part that freaks me out the most,” Meredith nibbled at a fingernail distractedly. “That means you know him.” “Or at least, he knows me.”

Was it someone in this room? It had definitely been a man. I remembered the hardness of his chest. Tall and strong. Big enough to pick up my five-six frame from a dead slump on the floor and carry me out through the back of the school building. That’s where I’d been found by the firefighters who had arrived too late. Laid out on the grass, barely conscious, and gasping for breath. I’d been lucky, they’d said.

A few hours on oxygen had cleared the smoke from my lungs, and my burns were superficial. They’d scar, but not badly, and should heal quickly. But I didn’t feel lucky. To the depths of my soul, I was gutted. My entire world had been ripped from my hands. Again.

Meredith nudged me. “You’re looking at that man like you want him to devour you.” I grinned at her, not hating the way that smile had stirred something inside me. “Nothing like a good devouring when you’re feeling down, right?”

Owen groaned. “And that’s my cue to go get a drink.” He walked away, the tips of his ears reddening. Meredith acted like Owen hadn’t even spoken. “Get over there!” she encouraged me. “Go get you some. That boy is down for it, for sure. And I sure as hell am not going to talk you out of a little distraction. You need it. Go get your pussy munched.”

“You’re so inappropriate,” I hissed to Meredith. “This is a wake.” But the edge of a smile told her I didn’t really mean it. “Yeah, but I got you smiling. And as your best friend, that’s my job. But your aunt is gesturing for you to go to her, and since I’m a bad influence, I should probably go find someone else to talk to. Or make out with. I wonder if your cutie has a friend…”

After the shitty day I’d had, I liked the way he looked at me. He didn’t look at me like I was the poor little rich girl who’d lost the only father she’d ever known. He didn’t look at me in suspicion, like the police did every time I met with them. The only thing his look held was the promise of a good time.

“Well, that was a mistake,” I gasped out. “First time?” I managed to cough up a yes. He grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “It’s like sex. It gets better the more you do it.” I wouldn’t know. But I wasn’t about to tell him that. Not even Meredith knew that I was still holding on to my V card.

“What’s your name, sad eyes?” He took another hit but this time didn’t offer it to me. I was glad. Once was enough. “Lacey,” I answered. “Banjo.” I raised an eyebrow. “Interesting name.” “Interesting parents. Apparently, they were hippies. But I rock it.”

“What do you mean, apparently? You don’t know for sure?” He tilted his head back, letting his hair rest against the bark of the tree, and blew smoke rings into the sky. “Kind of a personal question, don’t you think? Considering I’ve only known your name three seconds.” Heat crept into my cheeks. “Sorry. Blame the dead father figure for my lack of tact.”

“I’m messing with you. They took off when I was a kid. Ended up in foster care for a while, until my brother aged out and took custody of me. I barely remember them.” “We’ve something in common then. Mine disappeared when I was five.”

“Disappeared?” “Apparently.” I mimicked the word he’d used. “Cops determined they were dead or didn’t want to be found.” His gaze shifted to the mansion looming over us at the top of the hill. “This place doesn’t seem like a foster house.” I smiled ruefully. “No, I was lucky. ...

“Can’t even imagine what growing up here must have been like. Servants to wipe your ass?” I laughed. “Monday to Fr...

“Don’t go,” he said, voice husky. He dropped his cigarette, putting it out with one scuffed boot, without breaking eye contact for a second. “Why not?” “I like talking to you. And I think you liked talking to me.” “What makes you think that?” I shot back. “Your eyes were a little less sad and a little more…” I waited. “Interested.”

“I didn’t come out here to talk,” I admitted. He inched closer. “Why did you then?” “To find something to take my mind off everything up there.” I jerked my head in the direction of the house. His gaze turned curious. “Something, or someone?” The light pressure of his fingers encouraged me to step into him. I could have moved back but I didn’t want to. I stepped closer. Closer than was polite. So close my nipples touched his chest. They hardened instantly. “Someone,” I whispered.

Banjo’s fingers grasped my chin and tilted it up. He leaned in. “You want me to kiss you, sad eyes? Because the way y...

I did. I really did. I wanted to close my eyes and lose myself in his lips. I wanted to inhale his scent that was an intoxicating combination of cigarette, coconut, and something distinctly man. His lips brushed over the corner of my mouth, the barest of touches, but...

“Go out with me,” he said huskily. Good feelings gone. I blinked, jerking back. “Excuse me?” His lazy gaze rolled over me. “Like I said before, you’re cute. And your sad eyes intrigue me. So, I’m asking if you’ll go out with me?” “Are you joking?” He cocked his head to one side. “Why would I joke about something like that? You’re fucking gorgeous, Lacey. So yeah, I want to go out with you.”

“Why go out? We’re both here right now, aren’t we?” He studied me for a second, and obviously what I wanted was written all over my face. He barked out a laugh. “Well, shit. Didn’t expect that. You seem so sweet and innocent.”

“I’m not in the mood to beat around the bush. It’s been a shit day. I just want someone who will make me forget that for a little while.” “And I’ll do?” I shrugged. “That bother you?” Something flickered in his eyes, but it disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. “That you want to use me for sex? No, sad eyes. You wouldn’t be the first.”

The fact they’d put us in an interrogation room couldn’t mean anything good. The last few chats had been more informal. I’d given a statement. Then repeated it a few days later. Then answered some more questions. But that had all been in the hospital, our home, or the captain’s office. Today was different. There’d been a more serious vibe when the officers had come to our door. And there’d been no one here to greet us as we’d arrived at the station. We’d been left to wait, though why, I couldn’t work out.

“We have no suspects at this stage. Just…interests.” He narrowed his eyes at me when he said it. I wasn’t intimidated. I had nothing to hide. I took two steps back into the room and placed my hands on the table, leaning down so I was eye height with the detective. Amusement sparkled in his eye.

“You can suspect me all you want, Detective. But you’re wasting your time. I suggest you look elsewhere. Before you botch up yet another investigation.” I shoved the table, hard enough for it to push into Appin’s belly, but he didn’t comment. He knew what I was talking about. He’d been the detective on my parents’ case years ago. He’d failed then. But I wasn’t a helpless five-year-old anymore. I wasn’t going to take his ineptitude lying down this time. I’d be down here at his office every damn day until he worked out who’d murdered my uncle.

“You’ve got that look in your eye,” Selina said with a sigh. “What look? I don’t have a look.” She laughed. “Oh, but, sweetheart, you do. You look just like your mother. Full of fire and determination.”

“So, what does one wear on their first day of public school?”

Saint View High had all the charm of a prison block.

I’d hoped to blend in a little longer than five minutes, though. I’d tried to dress down.

Selina and I had riffled through my wardrobe, trying to find the least expensive skirt and top I owned. I realized now, though, just by gazing around, that nothing I owned would have worked. I stuck out like a sore thumb.

The kids around me rocked an array of tight ripped jeans, midriff tops, band T-shirts, baseball caps, and skirts so short underwear was on display. A far cry from the knee-length, pleated skirt and white button-do...

A long cry from even my weekend wardrobe. I didn’t own anything with holes in it, deliberate or otherwise. Dammit. This was not my plan. I needed to fly und...

The school’s website hadn’t warned there’d be metal detectors and bag checks on the way in. I supposed I should be grateful there wasn’t a cavity search.

I shouldn’t have been surprised. The interior of Saint View High was no less prison-like than the outside.

Kill. Me. Now. Simmons beamed at me, like his words weren’t currently painting a bull’s-eye on my back. What fresh hell was this? Some sort of passive-aggressive bullshit?

He was deluded if he thought Saint View offered the same sort of education Providence did. Hell, I’d had to promise Selina I’d do extension work with a private tutor before she’d even considered allowing me to enroll here.

“Open it already! This is the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.” “You like cars?” I asked, hitting a button on my keys. The locks slid down without a noise. “I like this car!” she practically sang.

Jagger’s eyes were huge. “Leather seats! Oh my God, they’re so soft. Put the top down!”

“Lacey, can I get a lift in your sexy-as-fuck car?” “No!” “See?” He grinned. “That’s why I didn’t ask!”

“Banjo. Get out of my car.” “Lacey. Go out with me.” Jagger let out a gasp from the passenger seat and then clapped her hands with glee. “Well, this just got interesting!” I shot her a glare. “Not interesting. He’s joking.” “No, I’m not.”

Jagger slapped me on the arm. “What are you doing?” she hissed. “He’s the hottest guy in school and the freaking quarterback. If he asks, you say yes!” Banjo was like a rooster preening in the sun.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” another voice said. Rafe appeared on Jagger’s side of the car. “Look at you right now, Banjo. You’re fucking ridiculous. Your ego is so big I could stroke it from out here.” Banjo grinned at him....

“What the fuck is going on here?” All four of us flinched, and when I looked in the direction of the voice, I fully expected to see a teacher standing there. That’s how much authority that statement had held. Though in hindsight, the use of ‘fuck’ probably should have given it away. This might have been Saint View, but I still doubted teachers were in the habit of dropping F-bombs. Even if it was after hours.

Colt’s black eyes raked over the scene, taking in Jagger in the front seat, Banjo and Rafe in the back. Finally, his gaze landed on me. I didn’t think it possible, but I could have sworn his eyes hardened further.