Page 9 of Mask and the Magnolia

Grabbing the sides of her face, I keep those light gray eyes on mine. “It is, and it always will be, but you have to run, Mais. You have to get the hell out of here.”

“Korvin, no.”

“You have to, Maisie. It’s the only way.” We both jump as the sound of the dogs gets closer. “You have to get out of here, as far from me as you can. I need you to do that.”

She shakes her head, my sister nearly bawling as I lean forward and press a kiss to her forehead.

“I love you, Maisie Moo. I keep you safe, you keep me human, but in order for me to keep doing my job, you have to stop doing yours. You have to run, Mais. Go to Aunt Adeline and Bowie’s, tell them what happened, but never speak a word of this to anyone else.”

She continues shaking her head as she wraps her arms around my neck. “Vinny, no, I can’t do that. I can’t leave you here.”

“You have to.” I hug my sister back, probably for the last time, then push her away, pull the check from my pocket, and hand it to her. “Get to Aunt Addy, cash this fucking thing, and grow up to be the incredible, amazing badass I know you are, and use that big brain of yours to take down fuckers like these ones.”

Without warning, I shove my sister into the brush then crouch and run, putting as much space between us as possible while hiding her the best I can before I get to my feet, raise my hands above my head, and start shouting at the hunting party.

“Hey! Hey, motherfuckers! You want me? Come get me!”

And they do.

At least six bastards in tactical gear swarm me, letting their dogs off leashes, the hounds knocking me down onto my stomach and tearing into my flesh. Some fucker sits on my back while his dogs use their teeth to tug on my bracelets, the beasts pulling my arms behind my back as their master cuffs me tightly before he grabs my hair and yanks my head up.

“This him?”

A pair of Italian shoes and expensive slacks come into view before none other than Bryce Harden crouches in front of me, titling his head to the side to examine my face. He gives the asshole a curt nod. “This is him.” Then a small smile pulls at his lips, those dead eyes shining briefly before he adds, “He’s the one who killed my family.”

Seven little words, dripping with deceit and so full of shit it’s a miracle no one argues with him.

And those seven little words just sealed my goddamn fate.

ONE

LITTLE BLACK RAIN CLOUDS

MAGNOLIA

Present Day

Rain pelts my window, the heavy drops beating an angry rhythm against the glass. Each one looks as though it’s trying to break in, smacking harder than the last, exploding on contact while desperately trying to escape the dark gray clouds looming in the sky.

A black sky.

Ominous and foreboding.

A warning; an omen.

Today was unavoidable, a day I wasn’t going to be able to put off forever and now it’s here. It’s as if the universe is telling me everything I’ve been feeling, all of the anxiety and fear is warranted, but there’s nothing I can do to save myself from my fate.

And there isn’t some hero out there ready to rush in and save me, either.

“You’re still in bed?”

My eyes shift from my window to the doorway, landing on the overly dramatic sigh that rolls through my roommate’sentire body, one that makes her shoulders sag and her chin drop to her chest as she drags her feet across the floor with painstaking steps.

“Maggie,” Eve groans as she flops down onto my bed and on top of me. “Babe, youhaveto get up.”

Despite my absolute shit mood, I smile as she rolls around, contradicting herself by burrowing under the blankets next to me. Evie wiggles until she’s satisfied then faces me, her adorable button nose scrunching as she yawns.

“I thought I had to get up?”