Aggro - CoraLee June Page 0,34

last time I was here, I was searching for Vi. The time before that, we were celebrating Chase and Violet’s eighteenth birthday. If I had known it would be the last time I’d ever see her, maybe I wouldn’t have hidden in the shadows. Maybe I would have danced more. Hugged her tighter. Drank something and actually enjoyed the evening. Maybe I would have ignored Violet and stayed behind when she insisted that I leave.

“It’s some things Violet left at Kai’s place. There are a few pictures in there I figured you might want.”

“Kai was just getting rid of all of this?” Chase asked before tenderly sifting through the box. He pulled out the black swimsuit and paused. “Isn’t this yours?” he smirked, and I felt my skin flush.

“How did you know that?” I asked before sitting beside him and snapping the black bikini out of his grip.

“How couldn’t I? You wore it to that bonfire last year.” Chase let out a low whistle, then stopped mid tease, as if realizing he was flirting with me over a box of his dead twin’s belongings.

“Do you want any of the pictures?” I redirected his attention from the swimsuit.

Chase picked up the pictures and started thumbing through them when the darkness returned to his eyes. He was holding one of the many selfies of Kai and Violet together.

“What happened at Kai’s today, Breeze,” he said, his voice straining to keep the anger at bay. Even though he was asking me a question, it came out more as a demand for an answer.

“Kai’s brother, Lex, stopped by. Did Violet ever mention him to you?”

“No, I knew he had a brother, but she never talked about him. But, Breeze, Kai’s family has a reputation. You have to stay away from him.”

I looked at the ground, stalling for a moment while I gathered my thoughts. That’s exactly what I thought Chase was going to say, but I still didn’t know how to tell him about the not-so-optional invitation I got for the barbecue tomorrow night.

“I didn’t know about him at all. But he knew exactly who I was.” I drug out my words. “And he invited me over to the family barbecue tomorrow.”

“Obviously you’re not going,” Chase said as if it were that simple.

“Yeah...I kind of am. Kai tried to tell his brother no, but I didn’t really get the impression that no was an option.”

“Of course it’s an option. You’re not going, Breezy.”

“Yes,” I insisted. “I am. This might be a good way to find out more information.”

“Fuck!” Chase yelled as he stood up. I watched with my mouth dropped open in shock as he paced the room. “This is so fucked up!” Chase started screaming, then ran toward a wall littered with family photos. Rearing back, he let out a roar of pain and turmoil, and punched it. The damage his anger issues were causing to the drywall was starting to add up. I realized that there was nobody here to even care. His parents were God knows where, and Violet was gone. Chase was free to punch as many walls as he wanted. He pulled back and stared at his red knuckles. “I told you to stay away from Kai in the first place. And now you are going to spend time with the whole damn family?” Chase raged.

“You were the one that asked me to get close to him,” I replied calmly from my spot on the couch. “You practically begged me to learn what really happened that night. Now I have the perfect chance, and you want to be mad at me?” I asked. Maybe it was seeing Celeste leaving his bedroom or the overwhelming hurt I’d been feeling the last few weeks, but I wasn’t going to let him take out his frustrations on me. Chase had always had a bit of a temper, but I cared too much about him to let this anger continue to spiral out of control.

“I know. Fuck, I know. I didn’t think you’d actually do it, though.”

“That’s not fair, and you know it. You...kissed me on the beach the day of Violet’s funeral, then demanded I find answers.”

Chase scowled before stalking closer to me. “Is that what this is about? Are you pissed because Celeste was here? You’re jealous. Are you trying to get back at me or something?” Chase knelt down at my feet and peered into my eyes. Despite the submissive angle of his body, I felt the fury rolling off