Page 14 of The Invite (The Massacre Ball #1)

Augustus

She isn’t going to reply.

Every prey defies their predator in the beginning when the reality of their situation hasn’t sunk in. Little Miss Nessa is at that stage.

I’ve no intention of going to her place again tonight. That doesn’t mean I still can’t fuck with her head. Instead of peacefully sleeping—if she can even manage that—she’ll be up all night like a scared little mouse while wondering when I’ll show up.

Every sound will feel like me.

Every shadow will look like me.

Every second will feel like torture.

She’s powerless against me and I won’t stop until I splinter her disillusion that she possesses any control. The moment she looked me up online, she willingly stepped into the rabbit hole.

It was a pure coincidence that I was online at the same time she saved my video. Otherwise, I would’ve missed her in the thousands of notifications I get on my page. It’s impressive she was able to find me so quickly, meaning she also found Maverick.

Did she open my private website?

I bet she did.

She wouldn’t have been able to help herself, too curious for her own good. Just like she couldn’t resist searching for me online.

Soon, she’ll know exactly what lies behind it.

She probably thought she could gather some evidence that she could use to save herself from me. But as long as I have the recording of her coming on my hand like a desperate little whore, she won’t do shit.

Underneath her reserved nature lies an intelligent woman who’ll fight me tooth and nail. A battle I’m fondly looking forward to. And one she’s going to lose.

One might think I’m being cruel to her. An innocent girl whose only mistake was crossing my path, but I don’t have a moral compass.

Morals are nothing but chains holding you down. A square box that is a cage of one’s own making. I hold no qualms about not only skirting those lines but downright annihilating them. Because the alternative is living a stale, boring life, and that’s not howI’ve been taught to live.

However, toying withthe lines has consequences.

The only option is to never get caught.

Except, Nessa succeeded even if the result wasn’t what she had hoped. She taught me that indulging in my desires can cost me everything.

It nearly did and it’s why I hate her guts. The reason she deserves my wrath. She’s a constant and taunting reminder that even men like me can slip up. Until I get my revenge and make her regret daring to come to my town, the boiling anger in my veins won’t cool.

Checking my phone, I smirk when there’s no response from her. I’m about to type out another text when my bedroom door flies open and in storms Scarlett.

“What the fuck is this, Augustus?” she demands, slapping two black envelopes on my bed. Her heeled shoe taps away on the floor as I ignore whatever it is she dumped on my bed and instead observe her.

“Where did you come from?”

“A party,” comes her clipped answer.

“I can see that.” She’s dressed in a short black dress, herhair curled, while the scent of alcohol and weed wafts from her. I have a sneaking suspicion of where she went. “Whose?”

My casual tone doesn’t deceive her.

If there was a party tonight and I wasn’t aware of it, it can only mean one thing. It was on the other side of town, where I told her never to step foot in because the rules of surviving there are different.

I don’t understand her fascination with slumming it in those parts. She can’t tolerate those boys in school, yet she goes to their parties on the weekends.

Therein lies the difference between my sister and me.

If I dislike someone or want nothing to do with them, I ignore their pathetic existence. My circle consists of a few people, and that’s the way I like it.

While Scarlett faces them head-on and doesn’t hide her displeasure. It comes from her need to be fierce.

“Kaid’s,” she replies breezily, looking at her nails.

A while ago the shit that comes attached with the likes of Kaid Hunt wouldn’t have touched us, but after the school decided to invite evil spawns like him into our school with open arms, it couldn’t be avoided.

The board members hoped it would eliminate the differences between the two parts of the town.

Oneis dripping with wealth and the other with poverty.

But both areequally corrupted.

The board's good intentions only widened the gap between us because our worlds are as different as day and night. Out of the six scholarship students that came, only three have remained. Two of them happen to be Scarlett’s nemeses.

“Did he invite you?”

Contrary to what everyonebelieves in and outside of school, Scarlett isn’t a spoiled and pampered princess. If she ever let people see beneath the surface, they’d know. However, it’s never happening. Her naivety was shattered years ago.

Our mother isn’t affectionate and is stricter than the toughest of fathers.

After our dad died, she became even more frigid and unfeeling, burdening me with caring for my sister. I’m like my mother, incapable of any kind of emotions. For Scarlett, I had to learn so she didn’t turn into me.

On rare occasions, I know I failed.

“I don’t need an invitation.” Looking me square in the eye with a sharp glint and a sly smile, she confesses, “Besides, I wasn’t there to attend their cheap party.”

She went to cause trouble. “What did you do, Scarlett?”

“As a good citizen of this town, I tipped the cops off before it got out of hand.”

“Stirring shit with Kaid and Wolf in school is one thing. But in their territory, it’s reckless and dangerous, Scarlett.”

Hearing the seriousness in my tone, she knows I mean business. I’m protective of my sister like any brother, but I don’t interfere with her life unless absolutely necessary.

I don’t believe that just because she’s a girl, she shouldn’t have the same freedom as I do. It’s why I cover for her in front of our mother, who expects the opposite.

I’m all for Scarlett causing chaos but, unlike me, she’s rash and is ruled by her emotion. Kaid and Wolf bring out the worst in her. Even perilous, they know it too and take full advantage ofit.

They wouldn’t even need to look for the person who closed their party tonight because my sister would have made sure they knew it was her.

They are going to be plotting a retaliation.

I’ve never stepped in between their fights. However, if I catch a whiff that they’re taking it too far, I’ll bring a whole heap of trouble to their doorstep.

“Stay out of this, Augustus,” Scarlett warns, all traces of humor gone. “I can handle them.”

“When it’s four to five against one, you can’t handle shit.”

“He humiliated me in class in front of everyone before you and Maverick showed up. After tonight, we’re even.”

“Did you not hear me? I’m warning you that one day, you’re going to push them too far and it’ll bite you in the ass. They’re civil in school because they have too much to lose but outside of school grounds, it’s fair game. So, let go of the petty bullshit. They’re beneath you, Scarlett.”

She sighs after a long and heavy pause, realizing I’m serious. Sitting down beside me, she intertwines her arm around my elbow and lays her head on my shoulder. “I’m careful, Gus, and I’m always with the girls.”

“They aren’t your friends.”

“I know that, and I also know when to stop.”

“Fine,” I relent.

Pecking my cheek, she straightens, and says, “Maverick came by to see you and I invited him to come with me when you weren’t here. So, like I said, I’m being careful when I go to the old town.”

“Good.” Leaning over, I finally grab the envelopes. “What is this?”

“Bertha gave them to me. Said someone left them on our doorstep.”

Bertha is our sixty-year-old housekeeper. She’s been managing our property for as long as I can remember. The only employee that I trust.

“Who even sends letters now?”

“They’re from someone called Anonymous.”

I frown at the slight apprehension in Scarlett’s low voice. “Who left it?”

“No clue. The guard was on his break and the cameras were shut off due to maintenance. So, he didn’t see and found them on his windowsill.”

“Have you already read both?”

“Yeah.” Her voice comes out tight. Nervousness flickers in her gaze as she says, “It says they know our secret.”

“That’s impossible, Scarlett.” I immediately end her silly notion.

Snatching one of the envelopes, I pull out the note. Whoever it was used some fancy-ass paper judging by the smooth texture of it.

Secrets never stay buried for long.

Surprise! Surprise!

I know yours, Augustus.

A hint: Roses are red, Violets are blue,

The skeleton buried in your backyard plays peekaboo.

How the mighty Grayson has fallen.

Don’t worry, I won’t tell.

All you have to do is play my game.

A secret for a secret.

Yours for another’s.

A week and then I’m coming to collect.

Xoxo, A.

Oh, an NDA will not save you from me.

Fuming, I pick upthe second envelope and read its contents.

Secrets rule the world.

Not a mean queen bee

I found yours.

You will bow to me.

A hint: Roses are red, Violets are blue

Scarlett is a slut, and her younger self was too.

My lips will stay sealed,

If you play my game.

A secret for a secret.

Yours for another’s.

A week and then I’m coming to collect.

Xoxo, A.

Oh, your big brother can’t save you from me.

Once done, I glance at Scarlett who is worrying her lip. I wave the note at her. “Don’t tell me you’re taking some random notes seriously.”

She stares back at me in disbelief. “How the hell aren’t you?”

“Because it means nothing. Anyone could’ve written them. It doesn’t mean they know our secret. They are just throwing a dart in the dark just to see where it lands. They picked the wrong people.”

“What if they do, Gus? I-I’m worried.”

Standing from the bed, I take the notes along with the envelopes toward the fireplace.

“What are you doing, Gus?” says Scarlett in a panic.

“Burning them.” I throw all of it into the fire and watch it turn into ashes as the orange flames lick it. Small hands shove me aside and I move back to allow Scarlett to step forward.

“The fuck!”

“There! They’re gone now.”

She turns to me and throws up her hands. “Didn’t you read the hints?”

“You’re letting it get to your head, Scarlett.” Pulling her closer, I cup her shoulders and peer at her softly. “Only three people know the truth. Two of them are us and the third is rotting dead in hell.”

“But—”

“It’s the season of The Massacre,” I cut her off. “Everything written on them was vague and pointed to nothing.”

The little Scarlett from that night stares back at me and I hate the sight of it. It twists my insides. Ever so low, she murmurs, “A prank then?”

“Yes. I’ll find out who is behind it and ease your mind. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Did you eat dinner?” I ask her as a distraction.

“No. I didn’t get a chance to.”

“I didn’t either. Let’s see what’s in the kitchen.”

“We can eat and you can tell me how the heck you agreed to a suspension,” she teases. “Don’t tell me Miss Davenport scared you.”

Quite the opposite.

If only I could tell Scarlett. I’m not one to keep secrets from her and eventually, she will find out. But for now, I want to have Nessa all to myself.