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Kira’s eyes go wide as she takes in the mask. Her lips part in a soft gasp that makes my cock harden. Even in the club’s dim lighting, I catch the flush spreading across her cheeks.

“What the fuck, man?” Leather jacket tries to yank free, but I squeeze harder. The bones in his wrist grind together.

“Leave.” I lean close, letting him see the promise of violence behind the mask’s eyeholes. “Now.”

He stumbles back when I release him, nursing his wrist. Smart choice. Another minute and I might have snapped it.

“Oh my God, that costume is amazing!” Kira’s voice draws my attention back where it belongs. Her eyes sparkle with excitement as she takes in every detail of the mask. “The voice is amazing, too. Are you going to GamerCon?”

I nod, keeping my responses minimal. Even with the modulator, too much talking risks revealing my identity.

“You have to let me take a picture!” She’s already reaching for her phone, but I catch her hand. Her skin is soft, warm. Mine.

I shake my head slowly. Playing mysterious. Making her want more.

“No pictures?” Her lower lip juts out in a pout that makes me want to bite it. “At least tell me if you’ll be at the convention. I’m cosplaying as Aloy!”

“I’ll be there.” The modulator transforms my natural voice into Ghost’s signature rasp. My fingers still tingle from touching her skin. “Wouldn’t miss seeing that Aloy cosplay.”

I smile behind the mask, mentally reviewing my layered plan for GamerCon.

“Can I buy you a drink?” Kira leans closer, her perfume mixing with the sweet scent of whatever cocktail she’s already had. “To thank you for handling that creep?”

I shake my head. “I don’t drink, but I’ll get you whatever you’d like.”

Jenna shifts in her seat, eyeing me with suspicion. Good. At least one of them has survival instincts. But Kira’s already sliding her empty glass forward.

“Surprise me,” she says with a grin that makes my cock throb. “Something sweet?”

I signal the waitress, ordering a drink I know she’ll love—vanilla vodka and passion fruit. I’ve memorized every detail about her, including her drink preferences from her social posts.

“You’re not much for words, are you?” She takes a sip of her drink when it arrives. “Very in character.”

I lean against the table, enjoying her gaze drifting to my body. She has no idea she’s already seen me without a shirt through all those TikTok videos I post as GhostDaddy. She has no idea that just hours ago, I watched her come for me through her webcam.

“Words are overrated.” I let my modulated voice drop lower. “Actions matter more.”

“God, that voice.” She visibly shudders. “It’s exactly like in the game. Did you modify a real modulator or is it custom?”

“Custom.” I resist the urge to tell her exactly how many hours I spent on it just for her. “Everything I do is custom.”

Her cheeks flush at the implication. Even in the club’s dim lighting, I can see her pupils dilate. She’s aroused. Wanting. And she doesn’t even know who’s really behind this mask.

Jenna shifts forward in her seat, physically inserting herself between Kira and me. Her eyes narrow behind her glasses as she studies my mask.

“That’s an awful lot of effort for a costume,” she says, voice sharp with suspicion. “Most people just buy them from Amazon.”

I shrug, keeping my posture relaxed despite the urge to shove her aside. “I take pride in authenticity.”

“Right.” She turns to Kira. “We should probably head out. Early morning tomorrow, remember?”

Kira pouts. “Just a few more minutes? He saved me from that creep.”

“Which is great, but now he’s hovering.” Jenna’s hand wraps around Kira’s wrist. “And you’ve had enough to drink.”

My fingers twitch at the sight of someone else touching what’s mine, but I force them to stay loose at my sides. Can’t break character. Can’t let the mask slip.

“I’m just being friendly,” Kira protests.