Page 15 of The Invite (The Massacre Ball #1)

Nessa

He lied!

I should’ve known. After his fake scare last night, I’m even more furious at myself for dreamily watching his videos for hours. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have accidentally saved one and could’ve avoided the aftermath.

Unless there’s pitch-black darkness, I cannot sleep and yesterday, I kept the lights on to be on guard if he sneaked into my house again.

Little did I know it was one of his favorite mind games.

I barely got any sleep and whatever I did, it was in the early hours of the dawn when my eyelids couldn’t stay open any longer.

I finally understand why the devil has a bad reputation.

He is a sinful, cunning, untrustworthy, and manipulative entity with a favorite pastime of ruining innocent lives.

People warn you to never make a deal with the devil. But what about when he forces you into marrying him at his altar of cruelty? Because it’s what he’s done to me.

He’s tied me to him and I keep getting tangled in his web deeper and tighter.

A sharp knock at my door jolts me out of my thoughts.

It must be the locksmith. After waking up in the morning, the first thing I did was call a guy, whose information I found online, to change my locks to a better one for extra protection.

It’s one in the afternoon as I get up from the couch and approach the front of the house. I look through the peephole to check it’s him before unlocking and opening the door.

“Hello,” I greet. “Are you Hans?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he confirms with a friendly smile. He’s a middle-aged bald man, old enough to be my father, and holds up his toolbox to further confirm his identity.

“Please come in.” I shift to the side to let him pass. “Would you like some water?”

“If you don’t mind.”

“Sure. Let me bring you a glass.”

I quickly go into the kitchen, fill a glass, and return to him with it. He takes it after mumbling a thanks and gulps it down in one go. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he nods at me.

“I’m ready to work.” We approach the front door again and he surveys the lock. “Yeah, this can be easily tricked. Not safe if you live alone.”

Tell me about it.

“I know. That’s why I called you.”

“Since we talked on the phone, I brought you a few options within your budget. Want to take a look?”

“Yes. I want extra protection, so if you could also add a chain too, that’d be great.”

He regards me curiously before setting his bag on the floor and lowering to his haunches to unzip it. “I can do that. Are you new here?”

Do I have it tattooed on my forehead or something?

“Yeah, I moved here two days ago.”

“This is a fairly safe street and I haven’t heard of a robbery. But I understand your concern and it never hurts to have extra security for your peace of mind,” he reassures me while pulling out the different locks he brought.

My problem isn’t a pesky thief but a vicious stalker hell-bent on being my shadow. If I had the option to move somewhere else, I would run. But since it’s not possible, I’m stuck here and my only choice is to ride it out until hopefully Augustus loses interest in me.

I don’t realize I’ve gone quiet for long until Hans clears his throat.

“Miss?”

I blink. “Sorry.”

“That’s all right.” He smiles. “As I was saying, these are the locks best suitable for your needs. All of them are made of brass, which is the most durable. This one—” He points to the first in the row he’s laid on the floor.

“—is a three-lock deadbolt and comes with a latch. I also have one with six bolts. It’s heavier and solid. ”

“I’ll take the six-bolt one, please.” I tell him my preference. “Does it also have a latch?”

“Yes.”

“Great.”

Nodding, he puts the other ones inside his bag and begins pulling out the tools he’ll need to start.

“How much time will it take?” I ask.

“Since we’re replacing the entire lock, it’ll take at least an hour.”

“Okay. I’ll be in the living room,” I tell him. “Just holler if you need anything.”

He gives me a thumbs-up and turns toward the door. I leave him to his work and enter the living room, where I have books and my notepad open.

Tomorrow is Monday and I want to prepare for my class.

I got flustered the first day but I can’t turn it into a habit.

With the new lock installation, I feel so much better. This won’t allow Augustus to jimmy or unlock it. I’m assuming that’s what he did in the first place because there’s only a single key.

I busy myself into writing notes when halfway into it, my phone buzzes. My stomach bottoms out as I stare at the back of it.

Is Augustus texting me again? I was so relieved when I had an uneventful day. I hate he’s breaking the little bit of peace I found till this afternoon. Gathering courage, I flip my phone over and relax when it’s a friendly text from Ace.

ACE: Hey!

ME: Hi Ace.

ACE: Are you free tonight?

I ponder my answer. I’m confused because I want to be alone and at the same time, I don’t. As evening approaches, I’m worried Augustus will show up again to torment me. The kind of torment that seems to end with him playing with my body until I finish with an orgasm.

Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Most sexual predators only care about their pleasure. Yet Augustus never cares about his own. He’s content with rendering my body helpless and coercing my mind into enjoying his sick depravity.

He thrives on making me surrender to his wickedness.

As though my reactions amuse him.

The first time is understandable since I ran before things could escalate.

But yesterday, he had the chance and the time and strength all in his favor. Still, he didn’t take things far. It certainly wasn’t because he had a change of heart or suddenly grew a conscience realizing what he was doing was wrong.

So what kind of game is he playing?

I swear the more I try to understand his actions, the more he confounds me.

Shutting him out of my head, I focus on Ace’s text. Is he about to ask me out on a date or does he want to meet for a friendly chat? I’m not interested in the former and I don’t want to lead him on.

He’s the single person I genuinely like in this town and I don’t want to risk losing him and being completely alone.

I will lose my mind.

ME: I have no plans. Why do you ask?

ACE: Want to have dinner together?

Shit. Does he mean like a date?

I start to panic.

ACE: As friends. Nothing more.

I read his text, wondering if he telepathically read my mind. Either way, my relief is swift.

However, I don’t want to leave the house and get ambushed by Augustus.

If I’m here, I can keep an eye out, which means I only have one option, and it’s to invite Ace here.

But how do I ask him without making it sound like I want him here for more than a simple dinner?

At times like this, I wish I wasn’t so socially awkward.

ME: Would you like to come to my place? I’m tired from moving and setting up my house all weekend and was thinking of having a quiet dinner.

ACE: Yeah, no problem. I’ll be there at 7 and we can order in.

ME: Cool. See you then.

He confirms with asmiling emoji and a thumbs-up.

Half an hour later, Hans pokes his head into the living room. “I’m all done, ma’am. Come andhave a look. I’ll show you how it works.”

“I’ll be right there.”

Closing my books and notepad, I walk to the front hall and I’m impressed with Hans’s quick and excellent work.

He’s even cleaned the mess from the drill and other residue.

The deadbolt shines with my reflection and I attentively listen to Hans give a demo.

I practice once before him. Afterward, I pay him and bid him goodbye.

Since it’s two hours before Ace arrives, I decide to tidy up my house. I don’t have a whole lot of belongings like most people do, which hopefully Ace doesn’t notice.

This place came fully furnished, so whatever frames and decorations are from the previous owners.

Moving to the kitchen, I clean the dishes from lunch earlier. I let them dry near the sink before going upstairs and cleaning. In case I have to give a tour.

Once completing that, I rush into the bathroom for a quick shower. I wash my hair and scrub my body with my favorite bodywash. After a blow-dry, I pick a maroon tank top and black leggings for the evening. By the time I emerge from my bedroom, it’s ten minutes to seven.

Grabbing my phone from the couch, I check for any text from Ace and there is one from half an hour ago.

ACE: I’m on my way .

As I’m reading it, a notification pops up. It almost makes me drop my phone because it’s a DM from Augustus.

@thedeviluworship: Why wasn’t I invited for dinner?

Right then, the doorbell rings.

@thedeviluworship: Better save the entire dessert for me, little prey.

@thedeviluworship: I don’t share.

The doorbell rings for the second time. I swallow thickly as I shove aside my phone and take a calming breath. Composing my features, I stroll down the hallway and unlock the door.

Ace’s elegant and handsome face fills my doorway and I force a smile on mine.

“Hi,” I softly greet, and hurriedly lie to explain why it took me so long to come to the door. “I was upstairs when you rang the bell.”

“That’s okay,” Ace replies and grins. “I figured.”

“Please come inside.” I shift to the side to let him pass.

Meanwhile, I scour the street for signs of Augustus but see no one for miles. How else will he know Ace has come over if he isn’t here himself? Ace has inadvertently saved me from my sinister monster and he doesn’t even know it.

Maybe Augustus will leave me alone tonight.

Highly unlikely, but I still hope.

Stepping back, I close the door and lock the deadbolt with the new key until I’m satisfied no one will break in. Behind me, Ace whistles impressively at the sound.

“That’s quite a lock.”

A little embarrassed he’s seen how overboard I’ve gone, I face him and shrug. “Better safe than sorry.”

Ace’s outfit for the evening is a mix of casual and stylish. He wears a navy blue shirt with the sleeves rolled to show off his veined forearms, and an expensive wristwatch on his left paired with dark denim completes his look.

His glasses are a dark shade of blue today, matching the color of his jeans, and his hair is styled back over his forehead. There’s no doubt Ace is handsome. He’s got that brooding—when he’s not smiling—and hot teacher look going on. However, his down-to-earth nature is what makes me like him.

In his hand, I notice a bottle of wine.

He notices where my attention went and offers it to me. “Just a housewarming gift. Hope you like red wine.”

I don’t drink. But I keep that tidbit to myself, not wanting to offend him.

“Oh, you didn’t have to,” I murmur, taking the bottle from him. “But thank you.”

“I would be a terrible guest if I didn’t,” he says. “My mother would roll over in her grave if I forgot my manners.”

The revelation breaks my heart and I soften my gaze. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“It’s not your fault,” he murmurs, pocketing his hands.

“What about your dad? Are you close with him?” His features tighten and I immediately regret asking, knowing I overstepped my boundaries.

“I never knew him.”

I feel mortified. “Oh, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“You didn’t know,” he replies calmly.

“My parents passed away recently too,” I reveal, wanting to share something personal in return. “That’s why I moved here for a fresh start.”

Empathy and sadness cross his eyes, and he hoarsely murmurs, “I’m very sorry to hear that, Nessa.”

“It’s not your fault,” I repeat his words.

“Wow, guess we have more in common than we thought,” he murmurs, rubbing his square jaw.

“Yeah.”

He steps closer, making me tilt my head. “I’m here if you need someone to talkto.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that.”

“I think we’ve had enough of the heavy talk,” he says, his voice light as he switches topics. “Do you want to order dinner?”

It dawns on me that we’re still standing in the hallway, and I admit it apologetically. “I didn’t even take you to the living room. Why don’t you take a seat and I’ll put this wine in the kitchen?”

Ace must read the awkwardness on my face because he takes my hand and pulls me into the living room. “Relax, Nessa. No need to be formal.”

“You brought me wine, Ace.”

He chuckles at my dry humor. “Because it’s impolite to come empty-handed.”

I place the bottle on the coffee table as we both sit beside each other on the gray couch. Ace leans back comfortably, looking regal.

“How was your day?” he asks, twisting toward me.

My body mirrors his position so I’m facing him. “It was lazy and boring.”

“Just the way Sundays should be.”

“I also spent some time making a plan for tomorrow’s class.” Tucking my hair, I tell him, “I was a bit distracted on the first day. How was your first day of teaching?”

His head tilts, eyes far away as though he’s remembering it before focusing on me with a grin. “Honestly, I had no clue what I was doing.”

“Really?” Ace carries himself with so much confidence that I find it hard to believe.

“Yeah. No one knows what they’re doing on the first day of thejob, no matter which profession it is. Teaching sounds easy but can be nerve-racking. But with each day, you get the hang of it. Being organized surely helps.”

“I’m hoping for the same. With what happened on my first day, I’m sure the rumors must have spread. So, I don’t know how my students will behave tomorrow.”

Ace's gaze softens, and he soothes my anxiety by saying, “There will be hushed murmurs but soon, they’ll move on to the next gossip. Teenagers don’t have a long span of attention when it comes to drama, Nessa.”

“You’re right.”

“Wait for them to get to know you. You never know, you may just become their favorite teacher.”

“Like how you’re popular among the female students?” I blurt mischievously before I can filter my words.

He nudges the corner of his specs and shakes his head. “I wouldn’t call myself popular.”

“I’m teasing you.”

He chuckles. “I know.”

“So, from which restaurant are we ordering?”

“One that’ll have you licking your fingers.”

“Aren’t you going to tell me?”

Mischief crosses his eyes, and he replies, “I’m in the mood to surprise you. Do you trust me, Nessa?”

“Yes, I do,” I answer truthfully. “You’re my first friend here.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” Ace smiles charmingly. “To new friendships.”

“New friendships.”