Page 12 of Haunted

I lean against the counter, the NDA heavy in my hands. Three weeks of serving drinks, enduring wandering hands, and lewd comments, all for access to the truth about the Blackwoods. And now this obstacle.

Still... being inside the Hunt means witnessing firsthand what happens behind Purgatory’s most exclusive doors. There may be ways to circumvent an NDA. Enough to bring the Blackwoods to justice without risking my freedom.

5

XAVIER

The security feeds cast a blue glow over the room as I lean forward, eyes locked on monitor three. Twenty-three hours and seventeen minutes since I handed Mira that envelope. Not that I’m counting.

She moves between tables, smiling at customers and writing down drink orders since they’re short-staffed. Nothing in her demeanor suggests a woman grappling with a life-altering decision. Just business as usual.

I tap my finger against the desk. The invitation to the Hunt is the ultimate test—one that separates those who crave darkness from those who merely flirt with its edges. And here she stands, unruffled, as if what I offered was a casual dinner invitation rather than entry into Ravenwood Hollow’s most exclusive and taboo event.

My phone lights up. Another message from Knox about preparations. I dismiss it without reading it. Right now, all that matters is the stubborn journalistpretending to be just another bartender. What game is she playing? Does she think refusing to acknowledge my invitation gives her power?

The door behind me swings open, flooding the dim room with light. I don’t turn around.

“Why the fuck are you hiding in the security room?”

Vane’s voice cuts through my concentration. I can feel his presence without looking—restless energy crackling like static electricity.

“I’m not hiding.” My eyes remain fixed on the screen where Mira laughs at something a customer said. “I’m observing.”

Vane moves closer, following my gaze to the monitor. His lips curl into a knowing smirk.

“The reporter?” He leans against the desk, deliberately positioning himself between me and the screen. “You gave her the invitation, didn’t you? Against Knox’s advice.”

I lean back, meeting my brother’s cutting gaze. “Since when do you care about Knox’s advice?”

“I don’t.” Vane’s gaze flickers to the monitor again. “But I do care when my brother becomes obsessed with a woman who’s trying to destroy us.”

“I don’t obsess over anything or anyone,” I say, my voice level despite the irritation building. “I know exactly what I’m doing with Mira Sullivan.”

Vane snorts, folding his arms across his chest. “Right. Because watching a woman on security cameras for—” he glances at the timestamp in the corner of the screen, “—Jesus, has it been over an hour? That’s totally normal, balanced behavior.”

“I’m assessing a potential liability.” I shift in my chair, irritated that he’s caught me assessing her this way. “The Hunt is two weeks away. I need to know if she’s going to sign those papers.”

“If stalking security screens like some fucking loser isn’t an obsession, I don’t know what the fuck is.” Vane leans closer to the monitor, studying her with exaggerated interest. “Though I will admit, she is easy on the eyes.”

My hand shoots out, gripping his wrist hard enough to make him wince.

“Watch how you speak to me,” I warn. “I’m still the one who makes the decisions in this family. And keep your eyes away from her, got it?”

Vane yanks his arm free, but his eyes gleam with amusement rather than anger. “Touchy, touchy. Guess I hit a nerve?” He rubs his wrist dramatically. “The great Xavier Blackwood, brought low by a pretty girl with more courage than sense.”

I stand, forcing him to take a step back. “You’re walking a dangerous line.”

“Always do.” He grins, unbothered by my show of dominance. “But seriously, X, this surveillance shit is beneath you. Either she signs or she doesn’t. You’ve got better things to do than watch her serve drinks to drunken idiots.”

I growl softly, the sound rumbling deep in my chest. Vane’s ability to hit every raw nerve has always been hismost irritating talent, one I’d considered beating out of him more than once over the years.

“You know what your problem is, X?” Vane leans against the desk, clearly enjoying how much he’s getting under my skin. “You’re not the kind of guy who hides out in security rooms watching screens. You’re Xavier fucking Blackwood.”He gestures toward the monitor where Mira continues her shift. “Go speak to her. Ask her if she’s decided. Simple.”

I narrow my eyes, feeling a surge of annoyance at his presumption. “And look desperate? Is that your expert advice? I gave her time to consider her options. Rushing her suggests I care about her answer.”

“Sitting here for an hour staring at security footage suggests you care a hell of a lot more than just asking her directly.” Vane’s mouth quirks up at the corner. “Face it, brother. You’re already desperate. Might as well own it.”

“I’m calculating risk,” I snap, straightening my jacket. “Something you might try sometime instead of acting on every impulse that crosses your mind.”

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