Until it wasn’t.
My thoughts raced and I paced along the hall, wondering whytonightof all nights he had to be pulled from where he was supposed to be. I’d planned everything so carefully.
Looking up into the bright lights that hung from the ceiling, as though they would deliver me a solution, I wondered how everything had gotten so fucked up. Wondered why the universe was mocking me, taunting me.
A low growl tore from my chest as I darted down another hallway in the back of the hotel. It was a risk being in public, especially when I was feeling agitated, but I was desperate. I’d watched him for so long, this was supposed to be my chance to get him. The thought of letting him slide through my fingers made my heart clench in my chest. It was an ache that stole my breath.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, drawing me out of my spiral. I yanked it out so hard and fast, I almost flung it across the hall, not even bothering to look at who was trying to get ahold of me as I powered it off before shoving it back into my pants. Whoever it was could wait.
Fuck. I needed to get a hold of myself.
Taking a deep breath, I put my palms flat against the walland leaned back. If I didn’t calm down, I would lose control and that was how mistakes happened.
And I didn’t make mistakes.
Ever.
An itch started to work its way across my body and it took every ounce of control I had to not scratch my skin raw, to bleed myself dry to get rid of the feeling of uneasiness crawling beneath my skin.
The instinct to rush back and grab the bartender was overwhelming. It wouldn’t be as satisfying to take him, fuck him, and kill him, but it would still ease the primal urge in me that lusted to exert that power and control over a human being. There was nothing more thrilling than watching the life slip out of a well-fucked man and knowI did that, on both counts.
But the beast inside me didn’t crave that nobody back there. It craved Duncan and it wouldn’t be satisfied until he was ours.
The sting of betrayal since finding out he wasn’t at the bar had slowly faded, but it still poked at the surface. I couldn’t help but wonder if he had known he’d be tending bar at the wedding rather than the bar and hadn’t told me, because I didn’t believe his coworker when he said it was last minute.
But I couldn’t figure out why Duncan would do that, except that he hadn’t trusted me.
And if he didn’t trust me, then I couldn’t get him where I needed him to be, to go with me.
“Sir? You’re not supposed to be back here.” A young man had appeared in one of the doorways off to my right. His face was pinched with concern and confusion as he peeked over my shoulder. I assumed he was trying to figure out how I had gotten back there and what I was doing there.
Join the club, because I had still been trying to figure that out myself.
“Sorry. I think I got turned around.” I let go of the wall and glanced around, giving him my best helpless look.
He opened his mouth, ready to say something, before he looked back over his shoulder for a moment. When he refocused back on me, the apprehension was clear in his face, making me wonder just what he’d noticed before he’d said something to me.
“Where are you trying to get to? I’m sure no one will miss me if I’m gone for a couple minutes to help you.” The smile he offered me paled in comparison to the ones Duncan usually gave me, but then again, nothing about this kid shone as bright as Duncan’s star.
A slow smile slid across my face as I reached into my pocket, putting my phone back and wrapping my fingers around the stiletto blade I kept hidden there.
“That would be great. Thanks.” I made sure no one was around before I took a step toward him. His eyes darted to the side before coming back up to my face, and I could tell the unease was starting to creep in, as though he had just realized he might have made a mistake.
He had. But I wouldn’t let him go now.
I smiled as I took another step, my fingers tightening on my hidden blade. “I’m trying to find the ballroom. I’m supposed to pick up my friend from a wedding, but he’s not answering.”
With a shrug I hoped came across as nonchalant and maybe a little flirty, I closed the final distance between us and got right in his personal space. “What’s your name?”
It wasn’t that I cared. But I was meticulous and I wasn’t used to killing without stalking and a plan. So I knew I’d have to keep an eye on this man’s life for a little while after the deed was done.
The man nodded, but it didn’t seem to be at anything I’d said and went to take a step back.
I frowned, my arm reaching out to grab his wrist so he couldn’t run, but I didn’t hold on tight. Not yet.
“You still didn’t tell me your name, sweetheart.” I swiped mythumb along his wrist and offered up a shy smile, suppressing the urge to wipe my hand on my pants and get his germs, his scent, off me.
Even though I knew something about me had already spooked him, I had to try to get the situation back under control. Because even though he wasn’t the one I was after, he was the ticket I needed to get to my Duncan. My boy was waiting for me in that ballroom and I couldn’t disappoint him. So, for the moment, I had to pretend to want this man, who meant nothing, at least while he could give me what I needed.
