Page 53 of The Invite (The Massacre Ball #1)

Augustus

A shudder goes down her spine as soon as I mention Anonymous.

I bet she’s wishing she had just answered my earlier question.

I haven’t given up on my quest to learn about her to the depths of her soul. I’m just bidding my time before I bulldoze past her walls again.

Her gaze flits past my shoulder, her bottom lip curling between her teeth as she contemplates whether to run or face the conversation head-on. There’s no disguising the dark circles under her eyes indicating she’s taken Amber’s death hard. Or that Anonymous has left her scared and stressed.

It cements my vow to make his death as slow and painful as possible when I catch him.

Nessa shivers, gaze still unfocused. I take off my jacket and wrap it around her shoulders.

It jolts her out of her musings.

Some curls have come free from her high ponytail, which has filled my mind with all sorts of depraved fantasies ever since she got off my bike. Like deep throating her mouth while holding it like a leash. Or pulling her hair while I fuck her from behind.

It is mind-boggling how I can go from worrying about her to imagining all the wicked ways I’m going to take her in a flash.

I jump back to the first when she doesn’t protest at having my jacket touching her. Instead, she wraps it tighter around herself, and asks in a small voice, “You mean about what we’re going to do tomorrow?”

“Yeah.”

“But I have no secret to share, August.” A hint of panic creeps into her tone. “I don’t want to be the cause of someone else’s death.”

Rage blows up inside my chest at this timid version of her.

I’m obsessed with the sharp-tongued and bold side of her.

The real her. The one she hides. Pulling her closer, I swing her legs until they’re resting over my thighs with her sitting sideways.

I hold her in the crook of my arm until the knot in my stomach dissolves with a soft sigh she lets loose.

“The only person dying next will be him,” I assure her confidently, caressing her jawline.

“Or her,” she corrects sheepishly. “We don’t know if it’s a man behind this.”

“Whoever it is, they’re on borrowed time.”

Her eyes search mine at the note of violence in my answer. Hesitantly, she questions, “You’d hurt a woman?”

“Not hurt. Kill. Gender became irrelevant the minute they came after you.” The brown in her irises becomes darker at my protectiveness. It renders me stunned too. So, I drop my hand and quickly clarify, “And Scarlett.”

At the mention of my sister, the softness in Nessa’s expression clears.

It’s not a lie. I’ve killed for my sister before, and I’ll do it again in a heartbeat.

I had to say it because the line between who’s my first priority is blurring. They have from the start. It’s as much a reminder for Nessa as it is for me that nothing long term can happen between us.

I’ve already broken past all my rules and crossed every line. Something I can’t seem to put the brakes on. As of today, I’ve decided to stop trying.

Studying the freckles on her nose, and the puzzling expression in her eyes like she’s going through the same turmoil as me, I realize one truth with crystal clarity.

If it ever came down to choosing between her and Scarlett, Nessa may just win.

This is exactly why I found not identifying feelings a blessing in disguise. Now, I’m being pulled in every direction, and I hate it.

So, the sooner the danger of Anonymous passes, the sooner we can go our separate ways. I’ll give myself until then to get Nessa out of my system. If I uncover everything about her, the fascination will end and my life will go back to the way it was.

Most of all, I’ll go back to being the old me.

“Maybe we could tell the police once we catch them,” Nessa suggests. “Or identify them.”

I tilt my head curiously. “Didn’t you distrust them?”

“The detectives looked like they really cared about catching the culprit.”

I don’t buy her reason for a second. If there’s one person she detests more than me, it’s the cops. It clearly has something to do with her past. The secrets she’s keeping close to her chest.

“Spill the truth, Ness,” I demand with an edge to my voice, letting her know I’m onto her foolish tactic.

Her gaze drops to my chest, and she utters, “I don’t want yo—us getting our hands dirty and living with someone’s blood on them.”

The organ behind my ribs pumps harder at her fumble.

Jesus! She’s concerned about me? When I’ve done nothing to earn it? How can someone be so innocent and pure?

The sound of footsteps alerts me to a person walking in our direction and I pause our conversation.

It turns out to be the annoying waitress arriving with our food.

As fun as it was to see Nessa all riled up and possessive, the girl’s behavior still grated on my nerves.

Why would she even assume I’d be interested in her?

My little prey’s beauty is unparalleled. There’s no competition because no woman is even in the same league as her.

All I live, breathe, and see is Nessa.

I pay the waitress no attention as she places our dishes and refills our water. After taking the empty milkshake glass, she walks away.

Since this isn’t the first time I’ve visited this diner, I know the food is extremely delicious. Although I don’t reveal it to Nessa, who eyes the steak with excitement.

I want to shut down her suggestion of going to the authorities, but I refrain from dampening her suddenly bright mood until we’ve eaten.

Nessa slides her legs off mine to sit forward. The space makes me want to yank her back to the same position and feed her on my lap.

Shaking off the stupid urge, I murmur, “Dig in.”

I pick up my fork but don’t immediately start and instead watch her cut off a piece of the perfectly cooked medium-rare steak and take a bite. She chews slowly, swallows it down, and quickly goes for a second bite, seemingly forgetting about me.

Adorable doesn’t even come to describe the way she enjoys it. I’m beginning to understand that Nessa likes to appreciate the little things in life. Never takes them for granted.

When was the last time I took a second to relish a simple meal? I can’t even recall. Money and luxury have never been an issue for my family. It’s not something I’ve had to worry about. Will I become a cynic if I lose it all? Or will I be like Nessa, looking at the world with the same eyes?

“Augustus?”

Nessa’s sweet and husky voice pulls me out of my thoughts. I realize I haven’t touched my plate.

“Is something wrong?” she probes.

Everything.

“No,” I answer, and slide the untouched salad to her. “Eat your greens too.”

“I’m not a child,” she grumbles with a scrunched nose.

“Then don’t avoid eating your veggies.”

“I don’t see you eating them either.”

I stick a fork in the cucumber and pop it into my mouth. While chewing, I flick my chin to her. Short of an excuse, she takes a single bite and tries to slide it away. I warn, “All of it.”

“Yes, sir,” she mocks, aiming to piss me off.

It has the opposite effect, making my cock twitch. “‘ Yes, Daddy ’ would be more fitting.”

She chokes on her food, coughing loudly. I chuckle, rubbing her back as she grabs some water while throwing me a glare that could shrivel a weaker man’s balls.

“Not funny.”

“Where are your manners, teach?” I tsk admonishingly. “No talking while eating.”

“You’re annoying.” She throws the lame insult and turns her attention back to eating.

I ease into finishing my steak, knowing I’ve diverted her mind from stressful thoughts. At least, for a while. The mild silence doesn’t stretch into awkwardness.

Meanwhile, I’m acutely attuned to every breath she takes, the subtle way she crosses her thighs and the side glances she gives my profile like she can’t resist the pull of the invisible thread either.

The caveman feeling she elicits spreads like wildfire inside my body at the sight of my jacket dwarfing her small frame, touching her velvety skin. Perhaps I can tweak my rule a bit. Except in the bedroom, the rest of the time she can wear my clothes while we’re alone at home.

I dab my mouth with a napkin after pushing aside my empty plate, hating I have to dampen her mood. However, as much as I’d love to keep us locked away in her house, time is of the essence.

Nessa picks up on the subtle shift in the air, also finished with her food, and peers at me under her lashes. Unlike earlier, she holds her composure.

“We cannot involve the detectives, Ness,” I state. “If we do, they’ll want to know everything, including all of our secrets. Whether or not it’ll help.”

My mother is already pissed at me after the fiasco with Nessa. If I draw attention by causing another scandal, who knows what she’ll do?

Nessa nods in understanding, and says, “Then I have a plan.”

“Tell me.”

“It’s risky.”

“I should hope so,” I reply. “It means we’ll have a chance of winning, or at least getting the upper hand.”

“We throw Anonymous bait.”

“I’m listening.”

At my intrigued and encouraging tone, she sits taller and explains her plan.

“We give them what they want. All of us post secrets about each of us but make them false. If they accept them, then we’ll know they have nothing on us.

If it goes the other way, then they’ll be angry and overreact.

It’ll lure them out to go ahead with the threat. ”

I mull it over and I won’t lie, it’s an almost solid plan.

We stand to catch him if he comes after us.

“You all can pair up so when they attack, you’re prepared,” she finishes.

“And leave you alone?” Tension coils in my shoulders at her insinuation, making my gaze harden. “Not happening.”

There’s not a snowball’s chance in hell I’m going to allow Nessa to fend for herself. At the same time, I don’t want to reveal her involvement to the others. Questions will be raised when I refuse to pair up with any of them.

Alternatively, it’ll still put one of us alone because there are seven of us. Scarlett will want to be with me, which will again leave Nessa alone. I could put Maverick with her but I don’t trust anybody but me to guard her. Neither do I want to hand someone else the job, when it’s solely mine.

“Maybe it won’t come to that,” Nessa softly placates. “As I said, the plan could go either way.”

“I’m not playing fast and loose with your safety.

” Both of us know the plan will go sideways.

We’re essentially throwing one of us as bait and risking Anonymous’s wrath by taking him for a fool.

Nevertheless, it’s our best shot to lure him out.

It’s the only reason I’m debating going forward with this. However, not at the expense of Nessa.

“Who says I’ll be alone?” she says cautiously.

I peer at her deeply. She better not be thinking of—

“Ace can keep company.”

My expression could freeze off an entire desert. “Say that again.”

Either she’s too brave or stupid because she continues. “He’s my friend and he can protec—”

She doesn’t get the rest of her sentence out before I grab the back of her neck and haul her to me. “If anyone’s going to protect you, little prey, it’s me.”

The fact she would even suggest otherwise boils the blood running in my veins.

Twisting my fist in her hair, I yank her head back. She gasps as I speak over her trembling lips. “Have I not made it clear enough times today that I own you, which means you’re my responsibility?”

“But—”

“Did the message get lost when I fucked you twice? When I cooked you food or when we showered together? Or when I told you no woman except for you has ever been on my bike or ever will?”

“I’m not denying being yours, August,” she murmurs sweetly, catching my wrist and circling it. Her acceptance of being mine does something to me. “But you have Scarlett to protect too. She’s your family. I do not come before her. I… shouldn’t.”

She almost whispers the last part. Like she believes she doesn’t deserve to come first. Be someone’s one and only priority.

A metallic taste erupts in my mouth as I bite down harshly on my tongue to stop myself from saying I’ll be that someone. But I can’t. It’ll be a lie. Of all the things I’ve done to her and will probably do, lying will never be one of them.

I focus on discarding her concern.

“First, I need to talk to the others. If they agree with your plan,” which I’ll make certain they do unless they have a better idea, “then Maverick will stay with Scarlett while you stick with me.”

“Are you going to tell the others about me?” Her eyes go round with apprehension and she begins to worry her lip.

I tug it out and rub my thumb over the wet spot. “No.”

“Then how will you manage to stay with me?”

“Leave that to me.” I already know where I’ll keep her. It’s the perfect place. No point in revealing it to her because she’ll hate it either way. Besides, it’ll be more fun to see her reaction with my own eyes.

Well, at least, for me.