Page 29

CHAPTER 28

J essica

Making tough decisions had never been my forte. Yes, I’d made plenty of them through the years, but the one I’d had lingering over my head had been more daunting that any before.

Take the promotion with Sindom or decline and hope for the best with Blackwell.

I’d been driven straight into a wall of my own making. A part of me had expected another expensive black note card with gilded calligraphy revoking my invitation to the final test.

I’d even called in sick on Monday to buy some additional time to think and prepare.

The time I’d spent with Xander weighed on my mind, but not a word had been said about my job application or the final test. Maybe he was easily able to separate the crazy tryst we’d found ourselves involved in, but it was tough on me. Did I think there was such a thing as the perfect happily ever after? No. Anyone who did really had a screw loose.

But being faced with the reality behind what had been nothing more than fantasy and role playing was difficult to swallow. Yet a part of me continued to tingle from the same heightened excitement as the incredible night we’d shared.

Sadly, a note hadn’t arrived from Blackwell. There hadn’t been an email, a text, or a phone call either. That had driven me into a horrible position.

What had this deceptive girl done? Covered both bases. I’d accepted the promotion and continued to prime myself to win this test. Wasn’t I as conniving as I knew Xander to be?

The creepy crawlies had returned the moment I’d walked outside of work heading to my car. It had remained as I’d pulled into the driveway and walked into my house.

He was out there.

Watching.

Waiting.

Just like always. I remained in the shadows, staring out the kitchen window toward the side street. This was one time I almost hated living on the corner. It allowed for too much access to my house. All the doors and windows were locked, although Xander would have no trouble getting inside. It was almost as if I was baiting him, daring him to enter my humble abode. I’d seen his silhouette appear and disappear several times over the last two hours. He wasn’t just stalking me. He was laying claim to something that didn’t belong to him.

Me.

A little nagging inside my head reminded me that I’d also been taking comfort in the fact Xander was there, keeping me protected from whatever monster might lurk in the darkness.

Other than himself of course.

I’d used my time on Monday wisely though. If I was going to have any hopes of winning the last contest over whatever opponent I’d have, whether Sinner or someone else, learning everything about a funhouse, a carnival and what to expect had been important.

I’d also attempted to find out as much as I could about Xander, but other than what had been printed over the years regarding the company, there was very little personal information. Sure, he’d been photographed with a woman or two, but nothing had seemed serious.

There was equally little about Wilder and Zachariah. It was as if the three men hadn’t existed before the formation of the company. Of course given their brilliance in computers, it was entirely possible they’d put enough firewalls around their private information, but I was good with them too.

There was nothing.

Hell, I’d even gone to the dark web searching for anything I could find.

That’s what I was doing at this moment, waiting to see if there were any bites on my questions. Sometimes people liked to spout off bullshit, but at least a percentage of the answers were based in partial truth.

The only other option was confronting my father, but I didn’t need a lecture on top of everything else. However, at some point I’d need to have a very frank conversation with him. I was a big girl and could live my life the way I wanted. If he’d lied to me, even in an attempt to protect me, I had a right to know why and to share my thoughts.

I paced the floor as I’d done on and off for almost two hours. The wineglass was still full. I’d had maybe a couple of sips. I just couldn’t get over the feeling that I was being watched for an entirely different reason.

My stomach had remained in knots all day long. I’d half expected Sinner to come barging in through my front door in the middle of the night. I’d yet to hear from him and I wasn’t certain how I felt about it.

After the intimacy we’d shared, I’d been left in a funk, trying to act happy about getting the new position. Right now, I was just overwhelmed with doubt and confusion.

Being honest with myself had been tougher than I’d realized possible, but I’d come to the conclusion I didn’t hate Xander and that I also believed he felt tremendous sadness along with some guilt. I also enjoyed his company both as Sinner and as the saint he’d turned out to be.

How strange.

How ridiculous.

How wrong.

Perhaps the strangest aspect of all was how much I missed him. Maybe I was more romantic than I’d allowed myself to believe. I bit my lip, closing my eyes briefly as I enjoyed the few naughty images floating through my mind.

Blip.

The slight noise caught my attention immediately. I spun around to face my laptop, staring at the screen from a distance. Someone had answered my question.

I was nervous and there was an easy explanation for why. I walked closer, holding my breath as I sat down in the chair.

The words weren’t flowery in any manner.

Stay away from the Obsidian Society. People disappear.

The name was certainly creative. XXX. Really?

I wasn’t going to let this go without an explanation. If a whole bunch of people had disappeared, then why hadn’t it been all over the news? People didn’t just vanish without an investigation into the incidents. Come on. I was no fool.

What do you mean?

I stared at the screen for what had to be five minutes, realizing I’d suddenly consumed half the glass. Why was I a nervous wreck? There was nothing to indicate the game would be dangerous. I nibbled in my inner cheek with enough ferocity I suddenly tasted blood.

My stomach churned as I waited.

Talk to me. I need more than that.

Maybe the jerk could read into my words that I was already losing patience. Two minutes passed.

Five.

I moved to the screen name and groaned. Whoever XXX was had logged off. Bastard.

A flush of anger washed over me and I stood, storming toward the window. The mystery guest was still out there. How would he react if I walked across the street and offered him a drink? Or perhaps a cookie? I laughed at the silly thought.

This was nuts. What was he doing?

With my arms folded, I continued staring out at the street, daring him with my mind to show himself. Of course he wouldn’t. That wasn’t his style. He preferred slinking around in the darkness in masks. As much as I’d craved the concept of fucking a man in a mask, I was beginning to wonder if my loss of sanity had been short lived.

Now I was becoming annoyed with the game. I hadn’t even touched the headset since I’d been tucked into bed on Saturday night.

I craned my neck as I’d done several times before, catching a brief glimpse of a dark figure standing across the street in front of my neighbor’s house. He appeared like a statue, not moving. What did he think he was doing?

Maybe he was waiting for all the lights to be turned off. Fuck it. I wasn’t planning on giving him the satisfaction. I guess he could cut the power for fun, adding another layer to our good times.

I snorted from the thought, but jumped by a few inches when I heard the doorbell. After another quick flash of my gaze across the street, I realized it wasn’t him. And still my heart pumped hard in my chest as I made my way to the front door.

With lights by both sides, I was able to grab a quick look through the frosted glass. Long hair gave it away; Xander wasn’t standing on my front porch. Unless he’d upped his disguise.

Unlocking it, I jerked open the door. Stephanie stood on my doorstep, seemingly shocked at my unusual response to a visitor.

“Wow. You scared me half to death,” she muttered.

“You knew I was here because my car is in the driveway.”

“I guess, but whew.” She held out her arm. “You left your jacket in my car the other night. I was kind of driving right by and thought I’d drop it off.”

“You were driving right by, huh? Liar.”

She shrugged. “Okay, I’m not going to lie. I thought you were going to call me on Sunday, but it’s Tuesday.”

I opened the door wider so she could walk in. But as soon as she passed by me, I stuck my head out the door, scanning the street for any sign of him.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Nothing. Just double checking the street.”

She moved to my side, peering out as well. “You’re looking for someone.”

Shrugging, I tried to fake it. “I just thought I saw someone standing outside. No big deal.”

Stephanie wasn’t the kind of woman to take no for an answer. She walked onto the lawn, which prompted me to follow. We stood side by side, scanning both sides of the street.

“Does this have anything to do with Xander? I know something is going on between the two of you. Games, right?”

“Uh, no, this isn’t a game. Why are you berating me about this?” I slowly turned my head toward where I thought my stalker was standing. From this angle, I had a much better picture of what I was looking at. Well, fuck.

The figure was an electric pole. Crap. I was too deep in the game and the shadows of my mind.

“I’m not berating you, but you’ve been acting very strangely lately. That worries me.”

“Stop it. I’m a big girl.” I didn’t give her a choice, turning and heading toward the house. Thankfully, she followed. After she popped inside, I closed and locked the door and her brow instantly furrowed.

“The reason I’m challenging you is because Xander was watching you all night long at the gala. I could tell by the look on his face he was very, um… hungry. That’s why I was hoping you’d call me and spill the dirt.” She smiled, but her eyes were darting back and forth across mine.

“There is no dirt.”

“Oh, come on,” she purred. “Am I interrupting something? Is he here?”

“Do you see a third vehicle in my driveway? I’m here alone.” I tossed the jacket on one of the chairs, touching my yellowing eye out of reflex. Thank God makeup had hidden the bruise for the most part. That and keeping my head down.

“What’s going on with your eye?” She took two long strides closer.

“It’s okay. Just an accident.”

I tried to look away, but she jumped in front of me, moving my hand. “Give me a break. Don’t be that girl. Did Xander do that to you?”

“No, of course not. He’s not like that.” I realized my answer was too aggressive. “He’s a nice guy.”

But was he?

“Holy shit. I thought so.”

“What does that mean?” I challenged.

“All this time you’ve acted like you hated Xander, but I saw the look the two of you gave each other. You were hot to trot. Both of you. It was like watching a lust-filled boxing match.”

“Very descriptive. How could you tell in masks?”

“Stop it. What happened to your eye, Jess? Who did this?” She wasn’t going to let this go.

“The jerk Xander forced away inside the ballroom followed me to the garage parking lot. He wasn’t very nice when I told him I didn’t want to come home with him.”

“Oh, my God. What a creeper.”

“Thankfully, Xander intervened.”

Stephanie’s mouth was slack. “Did you press charges against the guy?”

“No. Xander made certain the asshole wouldn’t bother me again.” How was I supposed to tell her Xander hadn’t actually given me the opportunity to call the police?

“How?”

“By beating the crap out of him.”

After coughing, she took a deep breath and looked away. “Wow. I don’t know what to say. You like him.”

“Dorn the asshole or Xander?”

“Don’t joke about this. Dorn hit you and who knows what else because you’re not being forthright at this point. Thank God Xander was there. I don’t trust that guy at all, yet it’s obvious you adore the man. I know you like him, but he gave me the darkest vibes.”

The ones I found sexy.

“What is it you came here to tell me that you couldn’t over the phone?” Friend or no friend, she was pushing too hard.

Stephanie turned away, acting as if she wasn’t certain what to tell me. “I could tell you liked him. I asked my dad about the brothers. I just made the conversation nonchalant. Dad doesn’t have a clue you’re considering working for them.”

I wanted to be angry with her for jumping into my business, but I knew she was worried. Hell, I was worried and I honestly couldn’t put my finger on why. Admitting I had cravings for Xander was one thing. Confessing to my sins would get me locked in a mental institution. How could I tell her anything at this point?

“My father says there is serious mystery surrounding all three brothers,” she started.

“That much I knew already. They are private people. That doesn’t mean anything. In this day and age, people will use any information against you. They’re wise to be cautious.”

“I know that. So does my father, but he swears they are dangerous.”

I laughed. “You mean ruthless.”

“I mean dangerous. They grew up in foster care.”

“Oh, and that’s a prelude to them becoming violent men?” I laughed sarcastically.

She gave me a hateful look. “I didn’t mean that. He said they didn’t have a happy upbringing.”

How in the fuck would her father know about that? And why would he care? “Were they kept together? What happened to their parents?”

“That’s the thing. No one knows about their birth parents. They were a family then they weren’t. Dad didn’t know but so much. But the kids didn’t get to stay together.”

No wonder Xander was such a loner. “Growing up in foster care doesn’t just make anyone dangerous.”

“Maybe not, but…”

“Just spill it, Stephanie. I have an intense headache.”

“Not unless several of the people in the dozens of families the three stayed with either disappeared or were murdered.”

A single cold chill trickled down my spine.