Page 65 of A Wild Darkness

“Impressive. I wonder how much more you have on this property I don’t know about.” I play.

“Maybe one day I’ll show you where some of my favorite places are.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“But only if you’re a good girl, that is.”

“So, that’s how this is gonna go?” I set my fork down, turning to fully face him. “I’m accompanying you on this wine excursion of death, aren’t I?”

Sebastian smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes this time. “Our goal is to take one of them out this weekend. Two, if we’re lucky.”

Okay, he just dropped that bomb like it’s no big deal. He’s going to actually kill someone this weekend, and I’m going to be an accessory to the murder.

Fuck.

“Oh?” My heartbeat quickens. “Okay, um⁠—”

“You won’t have to do anything,” Seb says when he notices my nervous stuttering. “Your job is to simply assist.”

“How?”

He clasps his hands together with bent elbows on the marble counter. “I don’t know yet. The circumstances around the Society are kept secretive, so it makes things more challenging to plan. But once we arrive and I’ve had the chance to assess where we’re staying and the environment, then we’ll discuss our strategy. But just know, I won’t have you do anything you’re not comfortable with. In my eyes, you will not take part in any of it.”

Sebastian’s words give me an ounce of peace because there’s no expectation that I’ll be involved in any way outside of simply being there and pretending to be his girlfriend.

“Are we staying with them?” I ask.

“Most definitely.”

My eyes widen. Will there be no escape from the serial killers?

“It will be okay, I promise,” he reassures me, picking up on my slight panic.

I push my feelings aside and try to focus back on the job at hand. “Do you know what activities we’ll be participating in?” I need more information about the weekend ahead. Going in blind is unsettling, even if I trust him.

He shakes his head slowly. “Not really. Silas is always vague.”

“Do you have any idea at all?” I press, unsatisfied with his response. “Like, he didn’t allude to anything?”

“Not really.” He shrugs.

“Sebastian, I need to know what you know if we’re going to be partners,” I press, hoping there’s more information and we’re not just walking into this weekend blindly.

“We’re partners?”

“Yes, of course,” I snap, shocked he needs clarification. “What else would we be?”

“I thought you were just helping me,” he admits.

“I am, but I want justice for my clients as much as you want to give those monsters what they deserve.” I rise from my chair, prepared to head back to the East Wing to work on some administration stuff for the mortuary. “Besides, after what happened last night…” His eyes dart up to mine at the mention. “I think I’ve earned some type of respect from you, even if you don’t consider me a partner.”

“Okay, got a plane!” Aunt Mae rushes into the room with a jolly smile on her face, breaking tension between Sebastian and me.

He turns to face her. “When will it be available?”

“The pilot will be on standby for the next forty-eight hours.” She walks over to me and wraps a friendly arm around my shoulder. “How did you sleep, Stevie?”

I smile. “I slept very well, thank you.”