Page 82 of Mr. Match

I try my best to keep smiling.

“Katya,” a girl says off to my right. I recognize her as Michelle from the coffee shop yesterday. “So glad you could make it. And I love those boots. You must love them too.” She laughs. “They look like you’ve been wearing them forever.”

If that’s a dig at my outfit, or my money situation, or anything else, I don’t give her the satisfaction of being annoyed. I just smile and look her over. “White. You and Lily, both—”

That’s when I realize they are all wearing the same dress. Lauren, Michelle, and another girl, who I think is Angie—one of the token thugs, as she referred to herself, from yesterday—are all wearing sleeveless white dresses with silver pins. Something I hadn’t noticed on Lily when she was at my house today.

Right. Time to go.

“Lily,” I say, looking down at her with my best unconcerned expression. “I have to go.”

“Awww.” Lily pouts. “But the quartet hasn’t even played yet. And you didn’t have a finger sandwich.”

I pat her hand and widen my fake smile. “I’m afraid I can’t miss that appointment I told you about. But it was so lovely to meet you all.” I nod at each of the girls. “And I really do hope we can get that drink sometime, Lauren. Just let me know when you have time and I’ll clear my schedule.”

“OK,” Lily says. “Do you want me to walk you out?”

“No, no,” I say. “I can find my way. But don’t forget about me tomorrow. I’ll see you for coffee?”

“Yup,” Lily says. “See you tomorrow.”

I take deep, deep breaths as I find my way out of the back yard and walk down the street to where I parked my car. I smile at everyone bustling along on the sidewalk. Even if they are not dressed for the party. Everyone.

But when I am safely inside the privacy of my car, I let the panic take over. I stick my head between my legs for a full three minutes as I get my hyperventilation under control.

I’m going to be late to the meeting and I don’t care. I need one more trip to my secret phone. “Please, Mariel,” I whisper to myself. “Get here soon.”

Nothing about this is right.

Everything about this is wrong.

I feel like I’ve missed something very important. Like it’s about to slap me in the face and I will never see it coming because it’s too damn late.

I start car, the panic coming back, and put it in gear. Speed away from this house. This place that is so clearly murky. So clearly manipulative. So well-funded, and perfect, and just out of reach to everyone but a chosen few.

How could my sister miss that? How, after all the things I’ve told her about? After all the things I’ve warned her about?

I know how. But I don’t even allow myself to think the words. I won’t.

I won’t, I won’t, I won’t.

But I will make a promise to them right now. If the Antimony Association thinks they can steal my sister away with pretty parties filled with poisoned promises…

Well. Then let it be a surprise when their world comes crumbling down from all directions.

Chapter Thirty-Five - OLIVER

“That was a joke, right?” I ask Pax, who is still grinning like the mysterious guy he is.

“Look,” Pax says, crossing his arms and leaning back on the server cabinet. “Liam called me and made an offer.”

“You’re not killing West. I don’t care how much of a dick he is, he’s still one of us.”

“Give me a break, Shrike. Of course I’m not going to kill him. But I can fake it long enough to get the answers we need.”

“How? You don’t think that guy wants proof?”

“Are there more of these dark web marketplaces? Or is this the only one?”