Page 74 of The Invite (The Massacre Ball #1)

Nessa

Anonymous has bested us at every turn because he’s been hiding in plain sight among us. We fed him our plan on a silver platter.

Predators are always the ones closest to you. Haven’t I learned that by now?

The question remains—how do we draw him out?

Out of all of us, who stands to gain the most by exposing our torrid pasts? Is Anonymous out for revenge? Does he even have a motive? Or is he a psychopath making us play his sick game for his enjoyment? If that’s the case, then we’re just objects to him.

“Don’t cross off Wolf,” Maverick points out. “He’s been at every meeting.”

Maverick, Augustus, and I are gathered in Augustus’s underground room to narrow down who Anonymous could be and brainstorm a solution to catch him with proof. So far, the only solid leads we have are the SIM card found in the phone and the CCTV footage from Augustus’s and my homes.

I was pissed to discover Augustus let his best friend into my house without my permission the night I stayed with him. I assumed Maverick went over to leave the envelope on my doorstep and came back.

With Agent Michael closely surveilling my house, I cannot risk it happening again. If he gets a hint there’s another unhinged psychopath after me, everything will go up in flames. I’ll die before I become the reason Augustus’s secret is unveiled.

I’m also not giving in to Anonymous’s ultimatum, now that I know Scarlett’s secret which is connected to her brother.

I’ve also forgiven her for revealing my relationship with Augustus.

She must’ve been super scared. Being seen as a rape victim in front of the public changes how the world views you.

“I haven’t,” Augustus replies to his friend without looking away from the whiteboard. “He could be helping Kaid, for all we know.”

Another tidbit I learned—Maverick is a talented videographer and edits most of Augustus’s videos. Did he also edit ours? I hope not.

Has Augustus uploaded the last one we made right here? My treacherous pussy pulses at the thought of seeing it. I’m too shy to ask Augustus.

“By that logic, there should be another name on the list,” I say from my perch on one of the beanbags.

“Who?” they both say together.

“You.” I stare at Maverick, whose eyebrows shoot up to his hairline.

“Me?” he utters, turning up his nose. It doesn’t make him look unattractive. “I don’t get my kicks from blackmailing a bunch of my classmates.”

“You mean you’re too lazy and chaotic to pull it off.” Augustus smirks.

“Fuck off!”

Augustus and I share a smile.

Glancing at the list of names on the board behind him, I study them carefully and wonder which one of them has the resources and skills to have discovered about Augustus and my past. It’s obvious Anonymous knows about the connection between Augustus and me based on his threat in my letter.

I pick the first one and share my opinion, “It can’t be Scarlett. Her worry seemed genuine when she came to your room that night, August. Plus—”

“August?” Maverick sighs dramatically. “Don’t you guys make a cute couple?”

I blush.

A vicious glare from Augustus shuts him up.

“Honey,” Augustus urges me to continue.

Maverick makes a choking noise.

“Get out,” growls Augustus. “Or shut your pie hole.”

He makes a zipping gesture over his mouth and crosses his arms after throwing away the invisible key. It’s unbelievable to imagine he has an alter ego called ‘Nightcrawler’, who chases women with a chain in his hand.

“And I don’t think she’ll ever want to hurt you,” I finish.

“Yet she did,” Augustus darkly says.

My gaze softens at the hurt I hear in his voice. He told me this morning that it was Scarlett who betrayed us because he didn’t want to hide anything from me. I had never felt more like a terrible human being than in that moment.

I’m waiting till The Massacre Ball because I gave my word to Michael. It’s my last deed to thank him for saving my life. If they don’t catch Debolina this time, they probably never will. I’m done leading a double life over a wild-goose chase.

After the ball, I’m telling Augustus everything, whether or not the mission is successful.

I have another terrible fear.

If he can’t forgive his sister, who he’s known his entire life and broken the law for, then do I even stand a chance once he knows the truth?

“She thought she was protecting you,” I tell him. “Give her another chance.”

“Nessa is right, man,” Maverick quietly agrees. “I had to stop her from crying this morning. Talk to her.”

“We don’t have time for her tantrums,” Augustus says coldly, making Maverick and I exchange a disappointing look. “I think Anonymous is either Kaid or Daisy.”

“How do you know?” I ask, a little shocked Daisy is one of the suspects.

“Why her?” says Maverick. “I thought Anonymous was a guy.”

“I thought so too.” A pinch forms between Augustus’s brows, deepening his intensity.

“In the clip from Nessa’s place, the build is too small to be Kaid’s.

While my guard is sure it was a man he fought with.

So, they could easily be working together.

I also had someone hack the phone and a text was sent to Amber the night before her murder.

She must’ve known the person and trusted him or her enough to meet early at school.

I read the chats and she told them about her story about swapping names with Capri. ”

Maverick nods thoughtfully, and murmurs, “Daisy did say she talked to Amber once. Could be lying about not staying in touch afterward.”

“She and Kaid could be working together.”

“If we’re assuming Kaid is working with someone and that it’s a girl, then won’t it make sense for it to be Capri?” I point out.

“Capri can’t be that good of an actor and pretend to be distraught after killing her own sister in cold blood.” Maverick grunts. “No way. Has to be Daisy.”

“How would she even know Kaid? What motive do they have behind this game? We can’t be sure it’s Kaid either. What about Kenny?”

“The man is scared of his own shadow to become someone else’s,” Maverick says with a laugh. “Nah, it’s either Kaid or Wolf.”

“Only one way to find out.”

I freeze, meeting Augustus’s unwavering gaze.

“We go see them tonight.”

“Where?” I gasp.

“The racetracks.”

“Fuck yeah,” booms Maverick. “Heard they have a fight tonight. I’m in.”

“Like an illegal fight?” I mumble lamely. Maverick’s manic grin is my answer. “I guess I’ll go hom—” I yelp when I’m picked up in the air. “August!”

“Your ass is getting on the back of my bike, nowhere else,” he growls. “You’re coming with us.”

“No!” I refuse as he doesn’t slow down and matches up the stairs. “You may be my boyfriend, but it doesn’t mean I stopped being their teacher.”

“Say it again.”

“I’m their—”

“No. The first part.”

I lower my gaze, cheeks pinkening. “My boyfriend.”

“Fuck.” Slamming me against the wall halfway up the stairs, he tugs my mouth to his and invades it with his tongue. Kissing me so hard my lips bruise. “Remember to scream it when we’re back and I’m fucking your tight cunt, teach .”

My face burns even harder at the forbidden nickname.

Placing me on my unsteady feet when we reach the closet, he nips my mouth softly, and orders, “Go downstairs and eat dinner. I had Bertha ask the chef to cook lasagna for you.”

“Alone?” The haze of lust vanishes at the thought of roaming around his house alone. “What about you?”

“I need to chat with Maverick.” His mouth trails to my neck, biting lightly. “Then I’ll join you.”

“Okay.”

“I love you.”

My knees buckle while my heart races a mile a minute and I lean up to kiss my name on his throat, and whisper, “I love you too.”

After kissing me hard, he goes downstairs.

Dressed in his borrowed hoodie and my leggings, I exit his room and descend the spiral staircase. I become overconfident I know the way to the kitchen from my last visit, but soon find myself lost after taking the wrong turn.

The dark hallway feels eerie and depressingly silent, making my throat bob in fear. Shit. I should’ve asked Augustus for directions.

Turning around to walk back the way I came, I screech to a halt. A door marked ‘Office’ is closed. Must be Elizabeth’s office.

Curious to learn more about the ruthless woman, I inch toward the door. The knob turns and I nudge it open a tad more until I’m able to squeeze past it.

My eyes take in the neat and organized room. There’s not even a single document or a family picture on the wide wooden desk. It’s completely void of life or personality. I back away and slip out of the room.

I shut the door exactly the way I found it and turn around.

“Oomph.” I grunt, smacking into a body, almost stumbling down on my ass as my gaze flies to the person. “Scarlett.”

“Miss Davenport. Making ourselves at home, are we?” she sneers, turning up her nose as she looks me up and down. “Being my brother’s whore seems to be suiting you.”

Why does she hate me so much?

“I love your brother, Scarlett,” I reply, hoping for her to understand I’m not an enemy.

“You’re after his money, like every other bitch in town.”

I flinch in shame.

“Scarlett!”

Both of us jump at Augustus’s lethal voice. He comes stalking down the hallway, Maverick in tow as he shoots Scarlett a reproaching look.

Augustus’s expression is livid as he comes to stand beside me. His comforting scent invades my lungs as I’m yanked into his side protectively. He thunders, “Apologize to Nessa. Right fucking now.”

Tears shimmer in Scarlett’s eyes while her face becomes crestfallen. It switches to me and swirls with wrath for a second, like I stole something precious from her, before turning chilling.

“That was uncalled for, Scar,” murmurs Maverick, caressing her back.

“If you ever wish for us to be close again,” Augustus warns tightly, “you’ll apologize, Scarlett.”

Tensed silence ensues before Scarlett relents. “Sorry, Miss Davenport.”

Wrapping his hand around mine, Augustus tugs me past her and Maverick. Taking me straight to the kitchen, he sets me on a stool and kisses my forehead. I watch him work around the island, heating up the lasagna and setting our plates while fury emanates from him.

“She’s just hurt and lashing out, August.” My voice makes him tense. “I’m the reason you’re not talking to her and that’s why she said those words.”

Turning around, he leans over the marble, and says in a hard tone, “I won’t tolerate anyone disrespecting you, Nessa. Especially when you’ve done nothing to earn it.”

I smile gratefully and reach over to lay my palm over his. “You still need to forgive her and give her another chance. She loves you.” I squeeze his hand. “Please. For me.”

I hate being the reason to keep them apart.

“I’ll think about it.” He sighs after a beat.

“Thank you.”

“You have too big of a heart, little prey.”

“That you stole.”

His eyes crinkle in the corners. “All mine.”