Page 52 of A Wild Darkness

“How was your day?” My question is flat but only because tonight is an important night, and I can only think of her safety.

She straightens her skirt. “It was good. I spent most of the afternoon on the phone with Nevermore, going through financials and upcoming services.”

Stevie worked from the East Wing patio all afternoon, and I spent the same amount of time pretending to be interested in Christian’s relentless chatter about the Society because I couldn’t peel my eyes away from the cameras. Every so often she’d run her hand through her hair, flinging it to the side where her long curls would fall to one shoulder.

“Oh,” I say. “And everything is good?”

“Yeah?” She nods. “Why are you being weird?”

“I’m not.”

“You kinda are.”

I try to crack a smile because my demeanor is more serious than it normally is. “I’m keeping my head focused on tonight, that’s all.”

“This is what you do, Sebastian. I usually spend my nights around dead bodies, not dangerous serial killers.” She tucks a hair behind her ear. “I’d expect you to be your typical easygoing self.”

“You’re right. Maybe you aren’t up for this after all.” I shoot her a look, baiting her.

Stevie’s hand meets her hip as she turns sideways in the seat. “Excuse me? I can do this. Why else would you have asked me?”

I shrug, taking the off-ramp into the city. “You were my only option.”

She clicks her tongue in annoyance, and it lights me up inside. “You are a billionaire, Sebastian. You’re telling me you didn’t want to pay someone?”

“Maybe that’s why I wanted you. If I had to spend this much time with any other woman, I’d try to fuck her, but I knew I wouldn’t have to worry about that with you.” I glance in her direction, making sure she can see the exaggerated grin on my face.

“Fuck you.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear the last part.” I lean in, cupping my ear.

“I said, fuck you.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yes.”

“When? Where?” I deadpan. “What time?”

Stevie rolls her eyes. “It’s sad how desperate you are to have me.”

“That’s definitely not it,” I lie.

“You’re a jerk, you know that?”

I laugh at pissing her off, because god knows, I’d fuck her in a heartbeat if I had the chance.

I pull into the deserted parking lot of the old library, and just as Silas instructed, I park under the tree. He also sent a simple text a few hours before we were set to leave for the library. The text was the single letter X. When I messaged him back about what he meant by that, I got no answer, so I’m assuming that’s the password to get us into the dinner party.

I turn to Stevie when the ignition cuts off. “Are you ready?”

She nods. Her fingers pick at the hem of her skirt with nervous energy.

When she was nervous at the masquerade ball, I rested a hand on her back, and it calmed her. I bring my hand over to hers, because that’s the only part of her I feel comfortable touching right now. “I’ll be with you the entire time.”

“I know.” She gives me a weak smile.

“I was joking when I said you were my only option.” Her brown eyes flick to mine. “You are the only one I’d want to do this with. You’re capable of so much, Stevie. And the fire burning within me, what drives me to do what I do, is the same flame I see in yours.”