Page 132 of A Wild Darkness

I remember that Christian, Hayden, and I are meeting in my office soon to discuss how the next event will go, because it won’t be long before the Society realizes they’re missing members. Even after a quick text exchange with Silas yesterday, it seems he hasn’t noticed any more members have gone. Because of the unsettled tone in his voice the morning he showed up in our room at the chateau looking for Larry, I know it won’t be long before he starts asking more questions. And when the rest of us show up to the next meeting and suddenly more members haven’t been accounted for, the alarm bells will sound.

Lowering my head, I bury my nose into her curls, breathing in one more whiff of her before I have to take care of business.

“Hmm,” she coos, her eyes still closed, but a smile appears on her beautiful face.

Gently, I slide my arm from underneath her. She notices the movement and rolls into the other side of the bed, taking the comforters with her. I straighten, placing my feet onto the floor and then flash one more glance sleeping safely in my bed before getting out of bed.

Poe runs into the room, sees me, and meows.

“Hey, buddy,” I whisper, putting on my pants and a T-shirt. He walks a figure eight between my legs, and I lower to pick him up, giving his head a little scratch. “You want to snuggle with Stevie?”

His eyes shoot over to the bed, wriggling out of my arms, so I set him down, and he immediately jumps across the bed and cozies up next to Stevie.

After one more painful look at the naked woman lying peacefully in my bed, I leave the room and close the door behind me.

My office is a short distance down the hall, and as soon as I approach the locked door, I type in the code to unlock it, but I leave it ajar to make sure Hayden and Christian can come in. While walking over to my desk on the opposite side of the room, I glance to my side at the wall of cameras, where my eyes immediately go to Stevie’s bedroom in the East Wing. It’s empty, causing a smile because she’s in my bed instead.

I hit the remote on the motorized windows, opening panoramic views of the dense forest making up our property. I wonder if Stevie will want to head out to the cemetery. I hope she does.

Slumping down into my leather chair, I open my laptop to go through some notes Christian and I have made so far with details about the Black Veil Society and their origin. The outline legend appears on the left side of the screen, highlighting each killer.

“You’re glowing!” Christian teases, stepping into my office.

I cock my head to the side. “What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, playing coy.

He drops onto the leather couch, folding one leg over the other, and rests his computer in his lap. “Just that you’ve been in a more chipper mood lately.”

“If you’re referring to Stevie, then yes, I have, and it’s been fucking amazing. We don’t have to all suffer just because you have the hots for a woman who is way out of your league.”

“Fuck you,” he spits out at the mention of the mysterious woman he refuses to tell any of us about. “I’d hoped you would be nicer after being with Stevie, but I guess not.”

Hayden shoves the door open. “You should have seen them in wine country over the weekend.”

“Fuck you both.”

“We’re happy for you.” Hayden lowers to the couch next to Christian.

I push aside their jokes. “Okay, let’s talk about tomorrow. I’d like to go in with more of a fleshed-out plan this time.”

“I agree. They’re going to figure it out real soon that three of their members have vanished,” Christian adds.

Hayden leans forward, resting his elbows on bent knees. “If they haven’t already.”

“If Silas is suspicious of us, then I think Stevie and I need to be prepared to prove ourselves once again,” I say.

“And I don’t think it’ll include getting your dick wet this time,” Christian replies.

Hayden clears his throat. “And if he’s worried about the entire group, he might make everyone take part in something.”

“Like a group killing?” I suggest, thinking aloud.

“Maybe,” Hayden says. “We should be prepared for anything.”

I lean back in my chair, resting one leg over the other with my mind spinning before landing on an idea. “What if we’re able to take out the rest of them in one shot?”

Christian’s eyebrows snap together. “What do you mean?”

“What if we were able to gather all the members in one place? Then take them out sniper-style?” I begin.