Page 28 of A Very Dark Masque Christmas

Mannix smirked. "Give it time. If those pricks break any of our tables, they can fucking pay for them. Don't even get me started about blood on the carpet."

"There's just as good a chance of you leaving blood on the carpet as anyone," I pointed out.

"I can do that, it's my house," Mannix said.

"So, 'What's weird?'" I asked him, realising he hadn't had a chance to answer that yet.

"What's weird,” Mannix said slowly, "is that Caleb isn't here. It's almost like we did all of this for nothing."

"That is weird," I agreed.

I looked around the room carefully, even though I knew Mannix was right. I hadn't seen Caleb enter, and he wasn't here now. Maybe this was a distraction and he was up to something somewhere else. It wouldn't be the first time or the last.

Mannix hummed noncommittally before stalking over in Reuben's direction.

Wincing, I followed, hoping like hell he wasn't about to make a shit-ton of trouble.

"I'd say Merry Christmas, but we all know I'd be lying. I hope you're all having a nice time," Mannix said, his voice tight.

Reuben slid, him a dry look. Unruffled and unimpressed. The man was like a brick wall most of the time. Unmovable and unreadable.

"You did an adequate job," he said taking half a sip of his scotch and making a face like it wasn't ridiculously expensive. By making a face, I mean the side of his mouth twitched down by half a millimetre.

"Where's Caleb?" Mannix demanded. Evidently he'd had enough with the, could you call them pleasantries? Whatever they were. "Wasn't this bullshit all about him?"

Beside Reuben, Mina tensed slightly. Again, the change was subtle. She was even more closed off than Reuben.

"No one's seen him for a couple of days," Mina said.

That was a huge admission. Telling people something wasn't completely under control? Yeah, they were more worried than they let on.

"So we could have cancelled this and no one would have given a shit?" Mannix looked ready to tear off heads.

"Now, now." Gianni gave him a pat on the shoulder. "It's nice to have all of us together, isn't it? Relax and enjoy yourself. I am." He toasted Mannix with his glass of wine.

"Gianni. is right," I said. "Let's all relax and have a good time. Enjoy our Christmas."

Because if Caleb was really missing, then some shit was about to hit the fan.

"Yes, let's enjoy ourselves." Ice put an arm around me and held up his own glass. "Merry Christmas, everyone." He grinned like he was having the time of his life. He probably was. After all, what could be more festive than three boyfriends, a sex room, and a half-dead minion hanging in the basement like an ornament? It was the most Dusk Bay thing of the season.

Some of us more sincere than others, we all echoed his words.

"Merry Christmas!"