Page 36 of Unmasking My Dark Knight

I agreed because I knew in my heart it wouldn’t happen anyway.

Ro grabbed my ax and then directed each of my hands. “Grip the bottom with your dominant hand, then place the other above it. Don’t give it a death grip; think of when you’re pulling an apple off a tree. It’s a soft grip. That’s what you’ll want for this,” Ro continued, instructing me softly. After the gripping part, I didn’t hear anything else. I was struck by the fact that Romeo Scott was touching my hands. The thirteen-year-old girl inside me melted.

“You got this, okay, Ivy Jade. Just take two steps forward. That way there will be less rotation when you throw it.”

Everyone around us grew quiet. It was kind of embarrassing, actually.

But I let all the noise cancel out; I held onto the ax like Ro had told me to. He went back to his side of our section and watched me intently.

Quick breath in, relax my legs, soften my grip on the handle. I screamed as I threw it, and somehow by the grace of this ridiculous universe, my ax landed right in the middle.

“I did it!” I yelled excitedly.

Everyone cheered me on, as did Ro. He didn’t throw his ax; instead, he passed it off to the next guy behind him. I knew it was time to fess up about everything I was holding onto, just like I agreed to do.

Ro grabbed his drink and headed back to the corner of the bar, on the opposite side of where we were.

As I handed my ax off to Hollie, who was next, I walked over to Ro. He sat in a booth, waiting for me.

“Deal’s a deal, right?” I said.

He nodded. “Let’s talk.”

As I sat down beside him, I shamefully looked away. It was unlike me to cower. This entire thing was embarrassing, but I had to let it go and move on as Tallulah told me.

CHAPTER 14

Ivy Jade

16 YEARS AGO

Gustav’s graduation had to be some over-the-top, ridiculous “Panic at the Disco” themed party that nobody asked for. Especially me! Ugh. I tried getting out of it, I swear. I told Mami I had plans with my cheerleader crew, but she forced me to abandon them because “we’re family, we’re blood, and we’re always there for each other.”

I negotiated my way out, but the best she could do was allow the cheer girls to come over to the party, which was sure to thrill all the senior guys.

I rolled my eyes.

Tallulah screamed in my ear when I told her we were allowed to go. “Of course! OH MY GOD, WE ARE GOING TO A SENIOR PARTY!”

“Hardly. It’s a graduation party.”

“What’s the DAMN DIFFERENCE, Ivy Jade? It’s your brother’s graduation party. He’s a big deal!”

“I don’t know how he ever became a big deal. He’s so… not from this planet at all. I mean, look at him.” I gestured toward my window view. “It looks like he uses spit for hair gel. How is that not absolutely yucky?”

“I can’t see your point because this castle is blocking your view of the party.”

I threw a fit. “Fine. Let’s see from my balcony.”

We moved outside to my cute, little circular balcony. I had my cozy chairs out here, blankets and pillows. It was one of my favorite reading spots. And at nighttime with the moonlight? Swoon!

“There. Do you see that freak?” I gestured below.

Tallulah and I watched as the sun set, and my brother Gustav danced like he was from some eighties movie, one hand on his ankle, twerking like a weirdo.

I looked at Tallulah because she hadn’t said a word. She stared intently at him, like she admired the guy, or something. This was not okay!

“He really is something,” she finally spoke.