Aggro - CoraLee June Page 0,32

ended on the side of his mouth that was currently twisted into a sneer.

“Breeze. That’s a unique name,” he said with all of his attention focused on me. “I’m guessing you’re the same Breeze as Violet’s friend.”

It caught me off guard that Lex not only knew Violet, but he also knew who I was. I couldn’t remember Violet ever mentioning that Kai had a brother. With the serious bad vibes Lex was giving off, I couldn’t believe Violet wouldn’t have told me about him.

“Yes,” I responded, feeling the need to look confident. “That’s me. Violet was my best friend.” The word was stuck on my tongue like bubblegum. I didn’t like using the past tense where Violet was concerned. I especially didn’t like saying it to this stranger.

“Lex—” Kai started.

“It’s so sad what happened to her. I’m so sorry for your loss,” Lex interrupted, apologizing without a single trace of empathy in his voice.

“Thank you,” I said curtly. The little hairs on my arm were standing straight up. I glanced at Kai, who was standing with his lip curled in disgust. What was the history between these two?

“Listen, I was just here dropping something off for Kai, so I can’t stay. But we’re having a family barbecue tomorrow night. You should come. We can get to know each other better.”

“No,” Kai said firmly. “Breeze can’t come.”

“Sure she can, right, Breeze?” Lex said, never taking his eyes off of me. “She can be our guest of honor.”

“She’s busy.”

I wasn’t busy, but I wasn’t about to argue. Why didn’t Kai want me coming? And why the hell was Lex so insistent, especially since we just met. Did this have to do with Violet?

“Aw, I’m sure she can make time,” Lex said calmly, but it still managed to sound threatening. “I have to go, but I’ll see you both later. It was a pleasure to meet you, Breeze.”

Lex left, and I let out the breath I had been subconsciously holding.

“Fuck,” Kai cursed before slamming his fist into the side of the wall. I jumped at the rush of aggression and frustration.

“What? What’s wrong?” I asked while taking a tentative step closer.

“My brother does some shady shit, Breeze. I don’t really want you involved.”

I cocked my head to the side. “Was Violet involved? Are you involved?”

Kai gave me a pained expression that held all the answers his mouth wouldn’t form. “Fuck. I’ll pick you up tomorrow. You should go, Breeze. I’ll call later. I don’t think I can get you out of this.”

I blanched. “You can. I don’t have to go, Kai.” It seemed silly that a person I just met would have that much power over us.

Kai gnawed on his lip. “It’s complicated. I don’t want you to go, but it might be better if you do. Get it over with. He will question you, and I’d rather it happen while I’m there to watch you.”

“Question me about what?”

Kai chewed on his bottom lip before answering me. “Violet.”

“How does Lex know Violet, Kai? What aren’t you telling me?”

Kai didn’t answer me. There was a long, pregnant pause between us, and I gave up on trying to figure out what was going on. I guess I’d learn tomorrow at this BBQ.

I shook my head in disbelief, but I definitely would not argue. There were answers here, and I would figure it out. Grabbing the box of Violet’s belongings and clutching it to my chest, I headed outside. “See you tomorrow. Thanks for the stuff,” I murmured before slipping outside.

I pulled up to Chase’s mansion on the beach and nearly backed right back out at the sight of Celeste’s car parked in the drive. Violet’s belongings were sitting in the passenger seat of my dad’s Jeep, and I stared at them, feeling uncertain about showing up unannounced. There was a photo on the top, with Violet’s smiling face taking up most of the frame. She would have stormed in there like she owned the place. She wouldn’t apologize for showing up unannounced. She simply existed. She didn’t care about being judged or standing out. Even though Chase and I had bonded over the last couple of weeks, that didn’t mean our dynamic had changed. And it certainly didn’t mean that he’d stopped seeing Celeste. We were friends. Very close friends. I didn’t have to feel ashamed for stopping by.

Chase needed to know about Lex and the BBQ. I also wanted to see if he was interested in some of the pictures Kai gave me. I