Page 267 of The Invite
We break apart when we hear multiple footsteps approaching. Quietly, we look outside through the small gap in the door. The multiple glass windows connecting the two towers of the castle illuminate the interior in shimmering lights.
Two tall and hulking figures and a curvy silhouette appear at the landing, before an angry voice hisses, “What the fuck are you doing here, Capri? This isn’t your scene.”
“How would you know? You’ve been ignoring me since I lost Amber,” she accuses, hurt pouring out of her.
The ire vanishes from Kaid’s stoic face. “Not true.”
“I wonder if it’s because it’s too hard, or something else.”
“Something else?” he scoffs in disbelief. “You don’t think I miss her? I’ve been grieving her too. I’m furious at myself for not protecting her like I promised you.” Turning to Wolf, who stands with his back to me and Augustus, Kaid barks, “Why would you bring her here?”
“I’m not her keeper.”
“We’re going home.” Kaid takes a step toward her.
She takes one back. “No.”
While he is stunned, her head turns our way. Looking over my head, she nods.
Gently pushing me aside, Augustus steps out and before I have a chance, he shuts the door behind him. I grab the knob and twist it, but it doesn’t turn.
On the other side, I hear Capri say, “Not until I get what I came here for.”
“The fuck!” roars Kaid.
My gaze lands on the peephole on the door. Stretching on my toes, I look through it but the shapes are all elongated and distorted for me to tell everyone apart. I do notice the others have joined Kaid, Wolf, and Capri.
“What the hell is going on?” demands Kaid. “I told you we’re on our own in Anonymous’s game.”
“We heard you loud and clear,” drawls Augustus. “What all of us want to know is what changed your mind.”
Frustrated and shaking with trepidation, I pivot and fly down the stairs I took earlier, intent on finding another way to them. To hell with the promise I made to Augustus of staying away. This isn’t just his battle.
I’m running at full speed when I’m suddenly lifted off the ground.
“No!” I cry out when I’m yanked inside a room.
“Quiet, sweetness.”
I slump at Ace’s deep voice. When I’m turned away from the door, I blink at the interior of the room. A security room, to be exact. Multiple screens dominate an entire wall, showing a live feed of all the rooms in the castle. Upon studying closely, I’m speechless at the activities going on in them. Erotic. Indecent. Fearsome.
“You’re a menace, you know that?” grunts Ace, placing me on my feet. “Augustus told you to stay put.”
I tear my gaze away and round on him. “Let me out. I’m going to him.”
“No.” Taking my elbow, he drags me toward the set of chairs. “You’ll distract him, nothing more.”
“Someone needs to have his back.”
“Maverick’s there.” Dumping me on the chair, he grabs something off the table and presses the rubbery object into my ear. “You can watch and listen from right here with me.”
Taking his seat, he clicks on a button and voices fill my eardrum. I glance up at the screen, my eyes immediately finding Augustus standing toe to toe with a rigid Kaid. Both looking ready for a fight.
“Relax, sweetness,” Ace gently says. “We’re two steps ahead this time.”
I focus on the conversation.
“Amber and I used to sneak in here to the ball every year as kids,” says Capri with a sad smile, her gaze unfocused as though the memory is playing before her. “Just to visit this castle and pretend we were princesses. While looking down at all these people in costumes, pretending they were monsters who were hunting us. So, we’d hide in one of the towers. Little did I know that one day, a monsterwouldkill her.”
