Page 31

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Fallon

J ust pretend everything is normal for one night.

I didn’t even want to celebrate Halloween this year. My life felt like a fucking horror movie. Costumes would be scarier since I knew the monsters that lurked underneath them.

Kelly picked out costumes for us while I tried to hide away in my room, hoping she’d forget I was there. No use, because she barged in with her eyes covered. “Are you decent? Is there a naked man in here?”

“Ha, ha, very funny. I want nothing to do with him,” I lied. I sent him that text yesterday.

And he never replied. Go figure.

“Well, he’s going to want everything to do with you when he sees you in this!” She pulled out an outfit from behind her.

I groaned at the lack of material on the hangers. “What are those?”

“Sexy devils,” she said, throwing one at me.

I held up the small piece of red fabric, wondering how I would even fit into that thing. “Tell me this is a joke. I can’t go out in public with my ass and boobs showing at the same time. This is a thong! Where are the straps? Why do you do this to me?”

She giggled and flopped on the bed, pulling a couple of packages out of her hoodie pocket. “These are the stockings to hold your butt cheeks in.”

Hold my butt cheeks in... “No way I’m wearing this.”

My thoughts were racing with the boardroom briefing. Not only was I supposed to be prepped for my meeting with Augustus Vaughn, I also had to deal with the fact that my abuser had been trying to take everything out from under me for years. How was I supposed to juggle a meeting about illegal business ventures and a greasy family member wanting a piece of the pie that wasn’t theirs?

There were too many documents forged in my name to even attempt to go through in a single day. Evans had a preliminary list of employees involved in dealing with Sylvia—they had meetings and secret dealings. Her pockets were consistently lined with money; she also had multiple sketchy boyfriends she went out with. Who they were, I didn’t know, but I wanted to know now. Those men could be heavily involved in her schemes, or worse, leading her down this dangerous path to wealth because she was so blinded by dollar signs.

Augustus expected me to be my mother, just as he mentored her to be. It was probably the assumption that she filled me in before she died, but she didn’t, and I had no letters or documents from her to help me out. Brent’s warnings and the board had to be enough.

I felt nauseous again.

“Hello?” Kelly waved a hand in front of my face, trying to snap me out of my trance. “Are you putting these on or no?”

With a sigh, I snatched the stockings from her hand, feeling the silky fabric slip through my fingers. I could already sense the thrill of another reckless decision washing over me. But if I was going down, I was going down in style. I had the perfect touch to add to the already daring outfit waiting for me in my closet.

She scrolled through her phone while I slipped into the stockings, shimmying them up my thighs and butt. How women used to wear these daily back in the day was beyond me. True boss babes . I hastily grabbed the barely-there bodysuit and pulled it over my chest, zipping it up my back—though it barely made it halfway.

“Okay,” I muttered, taking a leap into my closet for the final pièce de résistance .

As I rummaged through the hangers, I brushed past Brent’s jacket—secretly wanting to burn it—and found what I was looking for.

I grabbed what I’d really been looking for: a floor-length sheer robe in a perfect red, the kind that whispered danger with every flutter of its fabric. Along with it, the matching red heels that promised to make even walking feel like a power play.

Making haste before Kelly noticed, I slipped into the robe, letting it glide over the bodysuit, its sheer material teasing just enough while covering nothing. I told myself if I was doing this, I was fucking doing this .

“Kel,” I called out, poking my head from behind the closet door, keeping the rest of me hidden for maximum effect. “Mind giving me a once-over? Just wanna make sure I look halfway decent.”

Her eyes flicked up, glistening with excitement. “Yes, show me!”

Her jaw fell to the floor when I slowly stepped out, donned in all red. A small twirl in a circle made her jump up and let out a scream.

“Oh. My. God!” She clapped both hands over her mouth to prevent herself from screaming again. “You’re a... I don’t know! A fucking goddess. Holy shit.”

I looked down, swirling the material between my fingers. “It works?”

Slapping my arm with half anger, half laughter, she said, “Girl! You’re going to kill it. Let me get your horns and pitchfork so people know you’re there to lead them back to hell with you when they inevitably follow you out of that party.”

I laughed, but deep down, I knew this was one of those bad decisions I’d regret by morning. I was sure of it—I was regretting a lot of things the mornings after. Brent would be in attendance at the party; they were celebrating the upcoming baseball game along with getting ready for Halloween.

Despite texting him for help, I didn’t want to see him. Things were too complicated for me. He wasn’t just the toxic playboy everyone whispered about; he was something darker , more dangerous. The man was judge, jury, and executioner in his world of underground dealings, and I had willingly stepped right into the middle of it.

But why me ? What drew him to me in the first place? His family business and its relationship with mine felt like the perfect reason to string me along to make sure things went smoothly. If he took over his company, hitching himself to me even closer than his grandfather was to my mom made perfect sense. It was all just business.

Garrett had known who I was all along, yet he claimed his intentions were pure. He never told me he knew what my inheritance was and that pissed me off. It felt like everyone had a hidden agenda these days, and I was the one walking blindfolded into the fire.

Then there was the issue of the conspiracy to take the company out from under me, pulling the rug to send me crashing to the ground. Whoever was involved, it was a long con that had been carefully plotted, and I was desperately trying to catch up. Five years behind, and now everything—me, the company, my future—was dangling by a thread.

I couldn’t shake the anxiety that constantly gnawed at my core that everyone around me was in on a secret that I wasn’t privy to. They’ve been in the loop while I’ve been blissfully ignorant waiting for a group of thieves to steal it all away, leaving me in the wreckage I could have never seen coming.

The frat house was alive with flashing lights, smoke machines, and costumed students. Skeletons, witches, clowns and more laughed, drank, and danced under the all too spooky lights. The party flickered with warning signs I refused to acknowledge.

As we walked up the pathway, a few mummies chased each other around with rolls of toilet paper, throwing streamers, and squirting silly string everywhere.

Eyes all turned to Kelly and me as we walked, almost dazed, to the entrance, heels clicking with each step. My costume was tight to my body and exposed me to everyone, but I made a last-minute decision to add a red masquerade mask to add an extra layer between me and them.

A hint of hiding the storm brewing.

Inside the party was alive. Laughs, drinks, and dancing galore. We moved through the foyer desperately seeking our first drink to take the edge off, to numb me just enough to pretend to be normal. Like they all pretended to be.

“What drinks you have back there?” I asked the literal joker manning the bar.

He made a flourishing movement with his hands and laughed maniacally. “A drink for everyone, my dear.”

“Eh, just give me something strong, Mister J.” I turned to Kelly as he hopped away to concoct something. “I feel like everyone is staring.”

A giggle escaped her bright red lips while she adjusted her horns. “It’s because you’re hot and mysterious, dear. Enjoy it for a while and let’s get your mind off of everything for just one night.”

Before I could respond, cheering began in the front room as a crowd formed. “Sharks! Sharks!” They yelled. We peered into the room to see what all the fuss was about, and a break in the crowd showed the baseball team.

Their uniforms were dirtied, covered in fake blood, while they each sported different kinds of masks. Half masks, full head silicone masks, and classic Halloween movie masks. A horror-fied baseball team.

And there goes the hoard of girls.

I rolled my eyes and accepted my drink from the clown behind the bar, taking a nice long swig of it to burn my throat—and jealousy.

“Remind me never to swoon over a male,” I offered my drink to Kelly.

She took a swig of it, hissing with the intensity of the burn. “Is this straight alcohol?”

“I told him to make it strong. He must have made me the Lucifer special,” I said, throwing the rest of the drink down and holding up my cup, signaling another round.

She eyed me up and down, crossing her arms and tapping her pitchfork to her shoulder. “Uh, did something happen that I don’t know about?”

Letting out a breath of frustration, I gave her a defeated look. “I’m just tired of feeling a hundred steps behind others. Getting kicked down the stairs to the reality of everything has been jarring. I learned some new info on our friend, Brent, and my trust levels are low. Being involved in certain things feels against my moral code.”

My eyes grazed back over to the team when I caught his name on the back of his jersey. Of course he wore that mask. I shook my head as Kelly rubbed my arm trying to comfort me in my mental anguish. “Things are complicated,” she cooed, “but things will be good. I’m here with you, and I’m not going anywhere. Our friendship is real and as solid as bedrock—or diamonds or something. It’s unbreakable and I’m sorry this has been happening. If I could change anything...”

I grabbed her hand and squeezed it, feeling temporarily comforted by her touch. She was my best friend in the whole world. Secrets or not. “Love you,” I said, kissing the back of her hand.

“Then let’s party!” She raised her drink in a mock toast before taking a long swig of it. I followed suit, downing the rest and tossing it to the bar. The alcohol was warm as it slid down my throat, quickly fusing with the beat of the music that thudded through the house, shaking the walls and vibrating under my heels.

I let out a heavy breath, forcing a smile as Kelly pulled me onto the dance floor.

Just for tonight. Forget about everything for a little while.

I pushed the creeping anxiety down, forcing it to fade—even for just a few hours. I focused on the warm hum of alcohol seeping into my veins and thumping music around me.

Kelly grabbed my hand and spun me around as onlookers watched the devil twins getting lost in the moment in a crowd of dancing bodies. The beat wrapped around everyone, the fog machines making a thick haze across the room. I focused on the beats to ground my heart and forced my nerves to play pretend.

But then I saw him.

A baseball uniform wearing figure at the edge of the crowd, semi-hidden behind a group of dancing students. A girl desperately trying to get his attention. His face was fully pointed in my direction hidden behind the bloodied ghost mask.

For a moment, I felt the old paranoia creeping back in. The doubts. The uncertainty. But I bundled it back up and shoved it down. I wasn’t going to let him get in my head.

Tonight was about feeling normal for once in the chaos that erupted around me like a volcano.

He stepped forward, fixated on me as he parted through the crowd. The air became thicker than the fog with tension as he made his way closer to me. I tried to pretend I didn’t notice by twirling with Kelly and swaying to the beat. I knew he could feel my pulse quickening with each step he took in my direction, how my skin tingled with awareness of him.

I couldn’t escape him.

He was behind me, close enough that I could feel the heat of his body. Those hands of his hovered over my hips, teasing me with his presence. Even covered by a mask I could see the coy grin playing on his lips. I fought an arch in my back as I caught my breath in my throat, he brought the mask dangerously close, grazing my ear.

“Dance with me,” he had a low sultry tone, commanding a dance with me.

I couldn’t say anything—I didn’t trust the adrenaline in my veins. I let him move closer, his hands snaking low on my hips in a firm grip, our bodies synching up. I felt the magnetic pull between us once more, just like it was when he was in my bedroom.

The scent of him—a mix of leather, smoke, and something uniquely Brent—filled my senses. Despite everything, I couldn't help but lean into it. I hated myself for it, wanting to tell him no.

I hated how easily he affected me. How easily he made me forget the darkness with a single touch or the way he gripped my hips.

“Why are you doing this?” I whispered low enough so only the two of us could hear. It was heavier in meaning. Why me? Why did I get dragged into this mess? Why did he make me feel things I didn’t want to?

His hands dragged upwards, grazing across my stomach as we swayed. I fought back a shiver from his touch, the feeling of his body on mine, the way his hands moved on my naked body clear as day in my mind. “I can’t help myself with you, Blondie.”

I let him sway with me a moment longer, feeling the blissful buzz of the alcohol shoo away my clarity of mind.

But reality had other plans.

“I got your message,” he breathed, low and soothing while his hands roamed my body to the rhythm of the music. “Want to chat by the bar?”

Yes, get me out of here . I nodded before he took my hand and led me from the group of moving bodies to a more secluded spot. Kelly was still having a blast, feeling herself on the dance floor, and letting her inhibitions fall away.

“There’s some really screwed up crap happening,” I groaned when he brought me to a corner void of people. His body closed in on me, one hand going to the wall as he grazed the other up my side.

His breathing was heavy behind the mask, his chest rising and falling from dancing a while. “Before we get into it, I want to let you know that you look so fucking incredible. God...” his voice was so low, almost possessive while he searched for words. “You are an absolutely stunning woman.”

I felt the heat in my veins rise up my neck and into my cheeks. “Anyway,” I diverted the conversation, “when I texted you, I’d learned that there’s been background sabotage that would affect both of us.”

“How so?” his body language never shifted, making it look like we were regular party goes—drinking and flirting.

Trying to keep my composure, I continued, “When my mom died, I was sent to live with her sister, Sylvia. She’d been plotting to destroy my mother's work by forging documents. When I was sent there, she forged a letter from me claiming I only wanted messages to go through her. Which isn’t true.”

His hand firmed up a bit at my side as some of my words sank in. Sabotage never made it very conducive to be horny. “How many documents?”

“Too many to go over in a single day. Here’s the kicker,” I breathed, hoping he’d know what to do. “She had help from people inside the group. Lawyers. Employees. Higher ups. They’d all been plotting to rip the Montgomery Group to shreds and probably stage a hostile takeover when I turned twenty-one. I’m betting they didn’t expect me to find out this early because it gave me a heads up about what’s to come next year.”

From his silence behind the mask, I could see the strain in his jaw as he digested the information. “How much time do we feasibly have?”

“My birthday is April nineteenth. Honestly, I’m surprised you didn’t know my birthday already. Maybe six months of time before the world comes crashing down.” I looked down at my feet, observing my ridiculous outfit. I felt bare and out in the open.

His hand softened and started making soothing circles on my stomach. A comforting gesture even though I felt anything but. “We have time. We can fix this mess, but we’ll have to work quickly. I can brief the Dictator before your meeting with him, though... I’m surprised he’s not aware already. If he is, he’s never mentioned it to me.”

It was an interesting thought. Evans told me that our families knew things going on in the background, and with that comment, I didn’t know what to make of it.

An angry face caught the corner of my eye as she made her way over to the both of us hiding in the corner.

“Brent, baby,” she cooed, “what are you doing with—” she stopped in her tracks.

Yep, she knew it was me. Not good.

“Fallon?” Her voice was a mix of shock and disbelief. “What are you doing with my man?”

He shook his head, annoyed. “I’m not your boyfriend. I’ve literally broken up with you—what—five times now?”

Her eyes were locked with mine, full of jealousy and something else I couldn’t quite place. “I thought we were friends, Fallon. Clearly, you used me to get to my man. Alexander is going to be gutted when he finds out.” She made a move to go for her phone.

I stiffened, slapping his hand away, unsure of how to respond to that.

Brent turned to face her, his frame towering over her as she was forced to tilt her head upward. “Sloane, go back to the party. I’m not doing this with you.”

Sloane's lips curled into a tight, horrifying grin as she focused her face back to me. "You have no idea who you're messing with, Montgomery. Brent's been mine long before you ever showed up. You're probably fun and all...” she tapped her finger to her lips, eyeing me up and down, “but you’ll be just another passing phase for him. Isn’t that right, baby?”

Um, ouch?

All I could do was roll my eyes at the ridiculousness that my life had become. At least petty drama felt a bit normal outside of hostile takeovers and illegal activity.

“That’s enough,” he said, body tightening up. He pointed back to the party. “Go play your games somewhere else. I’m tired of you interrupting me and acting like I’m a fucking dog. It’s over. Finished. We’re done.”

For some reason, that gave her a giddy smile. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” she said in a sing song tone and skipping away, freaking me the fuck out.

Ripping off his mask, he brought his face close to mine. “I’ll handle this.” And he crashed his lips into mine.

Somewhere, deep down, I knew I couldn't run from the truth forever despite not being able to trust anyone around me. I was simply trapped in a corner, unable to run. Not from the secrets. Not from Brent. And not from the storm that was about to tear my life apart.