House of V (Unraveled Series) Read Online Free PDF

air. I just didn’t get the club scene, and I definitely
didn’t belong here. I wanted out. Now.
    I turned back to Ryan to see his
beer raised in the air. I reminded myself to breathe as I raised my own bottle
and clinked the brown neck of the glass before I put
the beer to my lips. The bitterness of the cool liquid slid down my throat. I
was never a beer drinker, but I knew after this one, I would have the liquid
courage I needed to tell Ryan I was going back.
    “How does it feel?” Ryan yelled
over the music as he leaned into me.
    “Loud,” I yelled back.
    “Won’t be for
long. I think the party moves to the back in a little bit. Bigger space for the crowd. We’ll be gone before then.”
    “Good.” I chugged five long
swallows of beer. I wanted to leave now.
    Ryan pulled another long tug on his
own before he leaned in closer and pressed his lips into mine. The tension in
my body released, and I let his lips take me in. He finally pulled away,
breathing, “That guy in the corner was looking at you. I had to send him a
quick message, if you know what I mean.”
    “Delaney emailed me.” I didn’t even
bother to look at the guy in the corner. I didn’t need to because I had already
seen him when I walked in. He was leaning against a jukebox that probably
hadn’t been used in ten years. He was just under six-feet-tall, maybe one
hundred and sixty pounds. He was wearing a beaded necklace. I could easily take
him. I wasn’t worried.
    “What?” Ryan sputtered, pulling the
beer from his lips. I hated seeing those lips mad, and it was only going to get
worse.
    “Delaney emailed me,” I repeated
slowly.
    “I heard you the first time,” Ryan
said as he moved just inches from my face.
    “She needs help.”
    “How?” He
studied my face. His mind was desperate to wrap around the method of delivery
instead of the message. He was avoiding. And just like that, BAM. There it was;
the blame and disappointment that I’d been accustomed to my entire life. It was
an old feeling that fell into my lap with ease, smuggling its way back in with
a black vengeance. I guess some things never died.
    “Anonymous email. I gave her instructions a year ago when I sent her a letter,” I replied.
    “You sent her a letter? Jesus, and you were worried about coming here?” Ryan slid
his beer on the bar and then turned to the crowd moving behind us. They
shuffled through a hallway into the back room, just like Ryan had said they
would. The DJ pulled his headphones down around his neck as the music came to a
sudden stop.
    Ryan motioned to the bartender, “E n annen runde .” Another round.
    I agreed with an obliged smile and
gave Ryan an abbreviated version of Delaney’s first email from June 15:

 
    V,
    I know I’m not supposed to use
this account, but I had to email you. She said it was urgent.
    Sister Josephine called to tell
me that Father Haskens is dead. (I don’t know either
of these people, but I think it’s safe to assume you do since she wanted me to
tell you). He died of a heart attack two days ago. They had a break-in at the
rectory, but the person who broke in didn’t take anything. Sister Josephine was
in the house at the time. She said he was in the house for just a few minutes.
By the time she got to him and the ambulance came, it was too late. The police
don’t have any leads.
    She wanted you to know that
they are holding services for him on June 20. She would like for you to come
back but knows that it’s probably not going to happen. She thought I might have
contact with you. I lied and told her I didn’t. Thanks for making me lie to a
nun. You bring out the best in me (I’m joking).
    I wouldn’t have used this
account, but she seemed desperate when I talked to her. I felt like she was
leaving a few details out - that there was more to the story. Hard to believe
considering she has an association with you (Again, I’m joking). Honestly, I
think she’s scared.
    So that’s it. I thought I would
let