Page 266 of The Invite
CHAPTER – 67
Nessa
The Gothic castle is an enchanting maze on the inside.
Creepy.
Misleading.
Haunting.
The low music pulsing inside the walls is like a lullaby, transporting me into another realm. My breathing picks up while a thrill shoots up my spine every time I hear faint screams and wicked laughter coming from the floors below. I wonder what games are happening in there.
My pulse pounds in my ears as I climb the narrow spiral staircase, guided up by Augustus’s hand resting on the small of my back. The higher we ascend, the faster the crowd thins.
There’s a stark familiarity in which Augustus takes the twists and turns in the semi-darkness, making me intrigued. “Have you been here before?”
“Yeah.”
“Last year?”
He tugs me into one of the rooms in the tower and traps my body against the rough wall. Running circles on my hip bones, he dips his head to speak against my mouth. “The castle belongs to Ace, little prey. It was passed down to him after his mother died. We used to sneak in here all the time.”
I blink back in shock. Another mysterious layer adds to Ace’s life.
Augustus smiles. “That’s why this is the safest place for us to get our revenge.”
“How?”
“He has cameras all over the place and will keep an eye out. Maverick and I have an earpiece. If something goes wrong, he’ll warn us.”
The information makes me feel safe and I’m impressed the men have thought of everything to ensure we succeed tonight.
Straightening, Augustus encircles my hand and we cross the room to a hidden door. Nudging it open slightly, he pulls me to stand before him, facing away. His breath gusts over the shell of my ear. “Wolf and Capri are bringing Kaid here any minute. See that door over there?”
He points across from us and I nod, noticing a similar one to ours. “Yeah.”
“Scarlett, Maverick, and Kenny are in there. Once Capri signals, we’ll walk out and trap him.” Gripping my chin, he tilts my head back. “You will stay right here.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want you in the recording Ace is making of us as we confront him, Ness. This will be our leverage over the rest of them. If one of them turns against any of us in the future, we all go down. Except for you.”
“No.” I vehemently shake my head. “There’s no future where you aren’t by my side, Augustus. I’m as much a part of this as you are. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t told the rest of them.”
“Honey,” he sighs, resting his forehead on mine.
“You aren’t keeping me out of this.”
“I’m worried sick as it is, Nessa. I can’t bear the thought of anyone hurting a hair on your head, let alone something fatal occurring to you. If you love me, you’ll listen.”
I twist my fingers in his shirt in displeasure. “That’s not fair.”
“I know. But I’m asking anyway.”
My eyes close in defeat at his ultimatum, almost a plea. “Okay.”
His mouth swoops in for a grateful kiss against mine. I kiss him back in a frenzy, pouring every ounce of love and affection I have for him.
