Chapter 4
Anita
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O peration: Get to Victor ; Kill him.
I swear when I get back to Hollow City, I’m burning this dress in the incinerator. Then, I’ll scrub my body so hard my skin will peel.
Tonight is one of those nights where I cage in my reflexes. Instead of moving like a cheetah and snapping Victor's hand until all twenty-seven of his bones broke free. I had to succumb to his scaly fingers and act like a dainty girl who’s not recoiling from his touch.
The worst thing for a woman is to pretend to be someone who she doesn’t want to be. The one thing my mother taught me is to never allow a man to think you enjoy his presence.
Unfortunately, at this moment, it’s a sacrifice I have to make. Besides being a disgusting creep that has no game or understanding the true meaning of how to approach a woman, something bad is going to happen. I can sense it.
I look up toward the balcony where Ronan stood previously. It’s only replaced with a woman munching on something while entertaining her guest.
I don’t feel his burning gaze on me anymore, especially when Victor was chatting with me.
“Do you know where the men are?” I ask Mal in my earpiece.
“No. I was going to ask you that.”
An odd twist folds in my chest. I shouldn’t be worried; he's a grown man who can handle himself. No matter, I still can’t help the anxiety lurking around like a snake.
I leave the half full drink on the bar top, now set on looking for Ronan.
“Care for a dance.” I have taken familiarity with the sound of the voice, and it settles uncomfortably in my ears. I can’t ignore him, so I twist back around.
Victor. The mask he chose to wear is the face of a devil or demon? I don’t know, but it’s more than fitting. I force a stiff smile, nausea swirling in my belly. The hardest thing you can do is pretend you appreciate someone's presence. I could say no and walk off. But that may cause more problems than we know. An insecure man is a man you need. They’ll do anything to keep you around, not knowing you’ve been sucking all the information out from underneath them.
“I don’t see why not.”
His shoulder lifts higher. The movement is obvious that I’ve stroked his ego. Stamped it with a heart. I can’t see it, but I can imagine the deep smile on his stupid face.
He extends his hand. I don’t hesitate. I place mine into his, and the bile sitting in my throat works its way up. His hands are cold. And sweaty. Which is such a strange combination. Screams erupt inside of me, knowing I'm touching the man who has killed my brother. I wonder how he would react knowing I’m the sister.
I want to kill him, right now.
The upbeat music in the background flows into my ears, drowning out the threatening sounds of ‘kill him’ in my head.
We walk to the middle of the floor where others are dancing and moving. He stops, tugging me closer to his chest. He wraps an arm around my waist, and I tense.
It’s for the mission.
I place my hand onto his shoulder. Keeping the touch stiff. I don’t want to give him any warmth or affection. The thought of that only makes me sicker.
“How are you enjoying the party?” he speaks in my ear. His hot breath is coal to my skin.
It’s suffocating. “Very extravagant.”
We rock back and forth. “What made you choose a masquerade ball?” I continued, looking in the opposite direction, part of me hoping Ronan would appear.
His clammy hand squeezes mine gently, then grazes his thumb over my knuckle. “I’m expecting a visitor here,” he willingly admits. “It’s one of those hide in plain sight situations.”
Not hiding that well, Mr. Victor. “Aah. Are you a man of enemies?” His other palm moves to my back, skimming over it. My jaw tightens.
“I’m a man of many things. Enemies, yes. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I had no enemies.” He brings his face into view of mine.
My eyes skit to his polar black ones. The only thing that gives any color to his platinum mask. It’s creepy as shit, but I’m not afraid, not one bit. It only ignites my drive to gauge them out with my bare hands.
“Sounds like a lonely life.”
A small chuckle comes from his mouth. “We all have to sacrifice something to get to the end. And even then, it’s still never enough.”
I nod. Not willing to respond to his riddles. I continue to sway with him, ensuring not to press too close. I’m so rigid it’s causing my neck to ache.
“Are you familiar with anyone here?” His mouth is near the shell of my ear again.
My heart picks up a beat as I think of something to say. Thank God for Bedford. I swallow the log clogged in my throat.
“I’m family to the Castillo's.” I tip my head to the side of me. An older couple with fair brown skin stands at a high round table, conversing with another couple.
He hums out with a head shake. “I see. I only ask because, surely, I would’ve remembered someone as beautiful as you.”
“How would you know? You haven't seen my face?”
He lets out another chuckle. “That’s right. But it doesn’t take much to know what lies underneath is something extraordinary.”
I let out a giggle. “You are also a man who knows exactly what to say.”
He pulls me closer to him a bit rougher. The knot becomes larger in my pipe. The stab at my heart digging deeper. “Yes, that is also true.”
He spreads his arms, spinning me back around to his cold, lean body. “Funny you mention loneliness. It would be a delight to have someone like you by my side.”
I almost burst out in laughter. The kind of laugh that brings tears to your eyes and your stomach to clench so tight from loss of breath. “You don’t know me. I could be a serial killer.”
He’s silent for a moment. “Then you’ll fit right in. I’ve done things no man should ever do. I’ve hurt. I have killed.” My alarms raise at his sudden admission. That would terrify any normal woman. A gun being pointed at my brother's head clouds my vision.
“I have no shame in it. Take for instance the people here.” He turned his head to the side to get a view of the room. “They have no clue what’s in store for them. They take and don’t expect to be taken from.”
He didn’t have to finish the rest to understand the words behind it. Until they’ve met me. The red flags shining bright, the hairs on the back of my neck stands tall.
Something bad is going to happen.
He needs to be stopped. My mind shifts to my dagger hiding inside my thigh. I can stab him in the throat and think nothing of it. Yeah, it’ll be a bloody mess and the people in the room will panic in horror. My heart beats slow and hard against my ribs, my breath growing heavier.
Thump
That’s a risk I can take. What’s a little blood, right? This is the right thing, I’m helping them.
Isn’t this the reason we came here?
Thump
It can stop whatever he has up his sleeve. This could be my chance. Our chance.
Thump
I can finally avenge my brother. Finally free. My hands slowly skate down his arm, eager to get to the knife burning against me. My throat tightens, the pull is strong, like a vampire drawn to blood.
Thump
Kill him!
Kill him now!
My hand is near my thigh. He doesn’t notice. Good. All I have to do is reach in between swiftly and slice his artery, then watch the poison clot his vessels and ravage his blood.
“Who are you?” Victor's voice rises, stopping our dance. My thoughts scatter away, my focus zooms back in as I turn to his direction. My heart takes a run for it.
Ronan.