When I spot that red ribbon, I know it’s her.
My little vicious kitty.
Lana Rivera, you’ve finally come to my fucking domain.
I knew she’d take the bait. Those friends of hers were so easily persuaded to come to a party of ours, and of course they’d drag her along.
A dark grin spreads as I clutch the banister and home in on her. My gaze sweeps over her red lace dress, her body fitting neatly in the fabric like hard candy waiting to be unwrapped and sucked whole. I can’t fucking wait to sink my teeth into her sweetness.
Her eyes finally find mine from down below, and fuck me, the fear slowly settling in her eyes is nothing short of pure magic.
Yes, little kitty … I know all your dirty little secrets.
But do you even know it’s me?
Do you realize all the things you’ve unchained in me?
Her friend suddenly comes running toward her, breaking the spell, but I don’t mind. I can easily tell her apart in a crowd of a thousand people.
My tongue trails along my teeth, wishing she could look into my mind and see all the ways I’m going to make her scream.
She’s dragged into the ballroom by her friend, but not before a final glance, emboldening the predator lurking within.
I knew it when I first saw her that I’d found the one thing I was looking for—a challenge. Something to conquer. Something to tame.
My fists tighten around the banister.
Ever since I lost my eye, I’ve been struggling to fit in, constantly confronted with my disfigurement and its effect on my peers. I can’t go anywhere without people looking at me, and it makes me want to hole up in this mansion until the end of time.
But these masks … they even the playground.
They allow me to live the life I remember I used to have.
And I crave it so badly that it feels like I’m starving, hungering for a simple taste, a touch of a girl I’m not supposed to have. A girl I’m not supposed to take.
“What are you cosplaying at? The Phantom of the Opera?”
I sigh out loud at the snort that follows. “Thanks for your amazing compliment, Milo.”
“Well, what is this fit even?” He grabs his suit and tugs at the fabric like he wants to tear it off and strut around butt naked, and honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me if he did. If not now, then at least by the end of the night.
“I feel like an owl in a suit, hoot hoot!” He does a weird little dance, sticking his fingers above his head like he’s trying to summon owls from outer space. “Look at this fucking mask. It’s ridiculous.”
“I think they look nice,” I say, crossing my arms as I lean against the thick wooden beam supporting the banisters. “Besides, we’re not called the Phantoms for nothing.”
“True,” he responds, placing his hand on my shoulder. “But that’s not what you made them mandatory for, is it?”
I frown as my heart rate picks up. Has he found out the truth? Or is he just playing me to pry information from my head?
“Relax,” he muses. “I know you don’t like it when people see your face. So you made everyone hide. Big deal.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. “Yeah. It definitely helps.”
“Then why are you still up here?” He grins. “Go and have fun, enjoy your party. Mingle. Dance. Get some donations. Empty some pockets. Get drunk.” I shake my cup, which his eyes follow, and he leans in to smell. “That ain’t liquor.”
“Coke mix,” I reply.
“Mixed with what? Apple juice?”
He snorts, so I shove his face into the cup and force it down his throat.
“There. Now you know.”
He coughs and heaves, throwing the cup aside as he licks the droplets from his chin. “Fuck. That actually tasted good. Strawberry?”
“Told you,” I retort, walking off with my hands tucked in my pockets. “Black cherry vodka and grenadine, if you must know.”
“Wait, you’re just gonna leave me with a drenched face?” he asks. “Who’s gonna clean it up?”
“You can beg Nathan,” I muse, winking at him. “I know he likes it when you do.”
He rolls his eyes, but I make my way downstairs, determined to find the girl I’ve set my target on. She’s gotta be in the ballroom, dancing away the night with her friends, having the time of her life as though nothing could go wrong. But I know she saw the pure and utter chaos waiting to swallow her whole in those few seconds our eyes connected.
I walk into the ballroom and stalk around the dance floor from the sidelines. The music blasts in my ear, but I pay no attention to it as I scour the room looking for her. It’s not hard to spot the ribbon among the crowd. It stands out like a red flag, luring me in.
Until I spot the one thing I didn’t take into account.
Her dancing with another man … And it makes me wild with rage.
He’s clutched her waist, and he’s getting so close, rubbing himself against her that my blood begins to boil.
His hands are all over my woman.
And if he doesn’t take them off swiftly, I’ll personally cut them off tonight.
Lana
I’m dancing between Irina and Brooke, with Jason humping me from the back. I don’t care as long as I can numb my brain while dancing to the music, getting slowly drunker and drunker.
I’m surprised Jason found me among the crowd. Then again, he knows how to recognize me by my clumsy dancing skills, especially now that I’m getting tipsy.
In one hand, I clutch a red cup with only a few drops of champagne left in it. But I won’t let my lack of alcohol spoil the fun. With a big grin, I twirl around Jason and smack his bum before proceeding to dance with Irina. Brooke’s alternating between two boys on the dance floor, and I can’t blame her for doing it. If Jason wasn’t sticking to me like a bear on honey, I would too.
Everyone’s having an amazing time, but when I slurp up the last bit of liquor in my cup, I’m getting thirsty for more, and I know just the thing to finally get some time to dance alone.
“Jason,” I mutter as he grinds up against me.
“What’s up, baby?”
“Can you fill this cup for me?” I ask. “I’m thirsty.”
“Of course.” He grabs the cup from my hand. “Champagne?”
“You know me,” I reply, and he waltzes off, but not before slapping me on the butt so hard I nearly squeal. “Asshole,” I growl, and Irina and Brooke laugh.
The room suddenly darkens, and we all stop and look around until the laser lights appear and everyone begins dancing like crazy. It’s a song with a deep bass, and the techno beat is killing it, so much that I’m vibing on my own without Irina and Brooke, who’ve gone on to dance with some guys in a corner.
Suddenly, someone snakes their hand around my waist and pulls me in for a dance. I glance over my shoulder and see a mask, but in the dark it’s hard to tell who. But their moves …
Sultry, smoking hot, like our bodies are entwined, dancing in rhythm to the music.
And I just can’t step away, no matter how many times my brain tells me I should.
I don’t know who this is; it could be anyone, or it could be Jason. Judging from the calloused hands that grip me tightly, it’s definitely a guy.
But Jason never danced with me like this, like he doesn’t just want to entertain me but move my soul. And as his hand snakes up my belly and my hips move closer to his, my breathing picks up, and my heart rate becomes unsteady.
Unhinged, in fact, as a set of lips breathe hot air right underneath my ear, lingering near my skin like an intention to kiss but without the touch. And fuck me, I’m almost ready to lean in and let him.
“Jason?” I whisper over my shoulder.
“Try again …”
The voice is so low and gruff, my breath falters while my body continues to sway around in his arms. “Who are you?”
A delectable grin spreads against my skin. “Whoever you want me to be.”
He spins me around, and his arm locks around my body. But the darkness in the room still won’t allow me to see even a glimpse of his face, let alone his eyes.
Goddammit.
“What do you want?” I grit, wondering if I should pry myself away from him before those hands turn into bones. Because when Jason comes back, he’s definitely not going to be happy.
The strobe lights reveal a dangerous smirk spreading on the stranger’s face. “Dance with me.”
Before I can get a closer look, he spins me around again, dancing hip to hip, mixing sultry moves with sexy footwork that would put Jason to shame. I’m so glad he isn’t here to see me being whisked around.
“Wait, I have a boyfriend,” I mutter.
It can’t hurt to lie occasionally if it keeps me safe, and at least then Jason will be good for something.
Suddenly, the stranger pushes me over, and I nearly fall, but his hand cups the small of my back to keep me steady. And at that moment, I’m acutely aware of how each of his fingers gently press into me. He leans in, wolf-like teeth getting dangerously close to my neck as he whispers, “Not anymore.”
My jaw drops from the sheer arrogance in his voice.
Until his tongue dips out to lick my skin, and by God, I almost moan.
Just the tip, dragged from my clavicles all the way to my chin. Just that one lick and it’s already enough to make me yield.
What the fuck?
He pulls me back up again, holding me close to his body as we softly sway to the music, his hand interlocked with mine, and I don’t know if I could let go if I wanted to.
His face is right beside mine, and I can feel his body against me—thick thighs, hard abs, trained but lean, built for the kill.
His lips hover close to my ear, whispering deadly words.
“I know what you are … kitty. A killer.”
My eyes widen.
I pull back, desperate to see who it is, but these damn dark lights aren’t helping. But the second I do, his hand releases mine, and he disappears into the crowd like a ghost. And I’m left with a thrumming heart and a throbbing pussy.
Kitty.
Killer.
Two things I was that night I came face-to-face with those three guys.
They’re here.
