Luna
One week later
I sit at Spines he looked tortured, saying all those things, but he knew it would hurt me enough to get me to leave.
I’ve done nothing but analyze that moment since it happened. My mind repeats the scene over and over again, with one clear message: Dante loves me. He’s just scared, but he has nothing to fear. He’s given me the tools to be my true self, and she’s dying to meet him.
You are mine, Dante Wolfe.
Two days before Maskqurade
“Okay, here goes nothing.” I had to buy a new suit for my Vera cosplay, but I think the new outfit is perfect. I adjust the filters on my video to go for a darker vibe, then press record.
The angle starts, showing off my combat boots, the tip of my knife coming into frame, dragging up my fishnets, to reveal a tight black leather mini skirt, the bottom of my ass cheeks hanging out on purpose.
I drop down into the frame, bouncing on my knees in the sitting position, the collar of my white button-down open, showing my cleavage, and my black lace bra off.
I’m wearing his balaclava and the half mask he wore for me in the woods.
I stare into the camera, holding a dead look in my eyes.
“I know who you are, Wolfy. Does everyone else? Do they know what you do? Who you hang around? I’m sure everyone would love to know exactly who you are.
” I move closer to the camera. “You know where I’ll be.
If you’re not scared, show up.” The last line is from book one, where Vera sends Liam a note to the police station, daring him to meet up with her after he figures out it’s she who’s doing all the killings.
In doing so, he could have exposed her; she put a lot of trust in that note, but Liam never revealed who she was, and he came anyway.
And so will Dante.
I’m also not above using the negative attention of the drama pages to my advantage.
This will go viral quickly, and everyone will be talking.
I hit post on the video, quickly packing my stuff for the ball, and head to Olivia’s.
I already took a lot of my stuff over earlier in the day, but I left the skull mask sitting on my bed.
I know he’ll come here looking for me, to try and stop me from doing what I have planned, but I won’t be here, and he won’t risk coming to Olivia’s, leaving him no choice but to come to the ball.
My phone dings with a message from VidTok.
Hook. Line. Sinker.
I ignore his message, and another one dings as I pull out of my apartment's garage. I keep driving, ding after ding coming from my bag, but I keep ignoring it as I pull up to Olivia’s townhome. She waves from her small porch, and I smile, waving back.
I pick up my bag, pull out my phone, and open VidTok and Wolfy’s messages:
My heart cracks when I read the messages, but I can’t give in; he needs to meet me.
I shove my phone back in my bag and unload my car. “Hey, you okay?” Olivia asks as I wheel my bags up to her porch.
“Yeah. Just nervous about the ball. It’s been one hell of a month.”
“Everything will be perfect. I promise.” Olivia gives me a warm smile, and I relax a bit.
“You’re right. It will. It has too.”