Page 85 of Stalker

“When do you decide if the candidates involved in the hunt are acceptable?”

I had to laugh. She was tenacious as hell. “Soon.”

“What then? Another test?” She folded one arm across her chest. She wasn’t nearly as formidable in appearance with her nipples poking through her dress. But my mouth was watering.

“Yes. Another test.”

“But you won’t tell me what that is?”

“We decide depending on the group and the situation.”

She was weighing whether I was telling her the truth. “Whatever the case. I think I did a good job and would like to be considered.”

“For a job.”

“Why not?”

When I took a single step closer, she tilted her head, refusing to back down to me. “Why does it appear that your curiosity is more about handling an actual investigation of my firm and my family?”

I’d managed to catch her off guard, but only for a split second. “Perhaps I’m interested in a change.”

“No, you’re not, Cassandra. Don’t think of me as a fool because I’m not. Whatever you’re looking for, be careful.”

“Is that a threat, Mr. Blackwell?” Her slight smile gave her away. She was enjoying pushing me.

“I would think by now you’d know me better than that. At least I would hope. I’ll be honest with you, Lady Butterfly. The Obsidian Society is simply a method of providing an opportunity to find new blood and talent for our company. We’re always searching for topnotch people to provide us with creative ideas. In doing so, we offer an exceptional work environment including unusual perks. In doing so, we pave the way for loyalty. Are the games often considered… savage in nature? Yes, they are and our reputation is vital in keeping our pace ahead of our competition. For that purpose, we need to hire those unafraid of delving into taboo areas.”

She looked at me and slowly a smile swept across her face. “Taboo. By using a primal hunt? By terrifying people?”

“We provide the type of entertainment that mirrors our reality games. I take it you haven’t played Dark Nights or the previous games.”

Her mouth twisted, hating to admit the obvious. “No. I’ve been too busy with work and school before that.”

“As you should have been. The potential employees need to experience the feel of blood rushing to their brains, the kick of adrenaline. Offering a controlled real-life experience offers them much more than the video game.” Only part of what I was telling her was a lie. Some of those who’d won had maintained their own lifestyles and livelihood, but not as many as in the beginning.

“And you expect me to buy that bullshit? Don’t think of me as a fool, Wilder. Whether the article is one hundred percent correct or not, I’m going to take an educated guess that you and your brothers needed an outlet for your rage and thoughts of revenge that wouldn’t land you in prison. You can hide behind your rhetoric all you want, but one day, even the secret society won’t be enough to maintain your humanity. What then?”

What then was the correct question. If only I could provide her with the honest truth. Maybe I couldn’t because I didn’t know or couldn’t bring myself to accept the reality.

She was many things including direct. She didn’t mind telling an executive her thoughts or feelings. My admiration for her increased once again. There was a level of eagerness to her reply, a forceful push goading me to react. I closed the distance, our bodies now only a few inches apart.

She tilted her head in anticipation of the actions she expected me to take. The moment she flinched, another wave of anger was a solid reminder I’d deal with David after our time together was finished.

The air between us was dense, the light breeze from where I’d opened the set of French doors wafting into the room. The wind rustled through her long strands of hair. When I lifted my arm, she tensed even more than before.

Her reaction wasn’t only about what had occurred with her ex, but also about her lack of trust with me. Not that I blamed her. From what she’d read and heard, I was likely considered the antichrist. Even though our chemistry was off the charts.

“Be very careful, my beautiful attorney. I’ll say it again. There are questions where the answers will go against the Puritan beliefs that were ingrained into you in law school. As they should. What we share is our love of the darkness. It’s the fuel that lights the fire between us. Learning the truth will change all that.”

“Maybe you underestimate me. Perhaps I crave something that’s completely outside my comfort zone.”

And there it was, an admittance. She was more like me than I’d originally believed. The videos had once provided her with a satisfying taste but had faded into the same boredom I’d been experiencing.

I curled my fingers, rubbing my knuckles across her face as gently as possible. The draw to her was so strong she quite literally took my breath away. “There isn’t a single person on this earth who hasn’t either craved or tasted a hint of darkness. That’s what keeps our lives exciting, allowing for our continued push forward in hopes of achieving our goals. The Blackwell Group simply provides different avenues of entertainment, some darker than others. I assure you what we provide is very legal. But you already know that, my butterfly. Don’t you?”

When I crowded her space even more, her lower lip quivered. She was doing everything in her power to push away her feelings, only recently realizing that wasn’t possible.

Cassandra learned into my hand, her breathing irregular. But when she closed her eyes, allowing me to caress her soft cheek, I knew she was finally succumbing to her needs.

---