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Taking in our surroundings with renewed interest, I looked for any details that would help. When I found a pair of green eyes watching me, I almost faltered, their intensity always took me by surprise. Lifting the corner of my mouth, I tried to give him a smile without Darren noticing. His eyes trailed over me, but not in the way Darren’s had. This man was checking me over, making sure I was okay.
It was a level of concern I hadn’t had in a while, and it brought tears to my eyes. Turning my head, I swallowed, making the burning go away as I stared at the ground. I couldn’t fall apart right now. Darren would use it to his advantage, and I couldn’t afford that. We turned a corner, and I saw the first glimpse of hope I needed.
Ignite Youth Center
I didn’t know why we were here, but it had to mean it was for a reason, and I could only think of one—Atticus.
One of the more leering guards approached Darren, his eyes sweeping over me as he licked his lips. I turned my head, dismissing him. I knew his kind, and he wouldn’t like being ignored. I wanted to trigger Darren’s possessive streak in an attempt to make him careless.
“Boss, they’ve just arrived and are walking around.Heis also asking for you.”
Tilting my head, I peeked out of the corner of my eye, trying to watch Darren’s expression.Was this what he wanted? Who was he? How could I use this information?
He gritted his teeth, his jaw clenching slightly at the mention of the man, and I filed it away. “Good, we’ll stay back. I don’t want the guests of honor to know I’m here until it’s time.”
So Darren was planning something.
He yanked my arm in a direction, my musing causing me to lose focus for a moment. “Ouch.”
“Oh, please, tell me more about how much it hurts. You know I love to hear you scream.” He pulled us down to a table that was set back against a far wall, almost in the shadows. There was no way anyone would see us here, which I supposed, was what he wanted.
A woman came on stage, introducing the fundraiser and what it was benefiting. When she said Jude’s name, a whimper threatened to leave me. I zeroed in on the front table, and there they all were—Loren, Immy, Atticus, Sax, and Nicco.
Scanning the room, I wasn’t surprised when I found Stacy and Nat a few tables over. They looked beautiful, and I was sad to be missing the fun. Darren pinched me again, and I cried out, turning to look at him. “Yes, Darren?” I cooed, biting back my words. Now was not the time for the fighting version of me to emerge.
“Don’t get any ideas.”
“I’m not. If they don’t care, then I don’t care. I just need you, Darren.”
It took everything I had to grit the words out, and I prayed he bought them. Grabbing my chin, he tilted my head up higher to stare down at me. “You belong to me, pet. Don’t forget your place.”
Nodding, he let go of me, and I took a deep inhale. I could do this. I could play the game.
Leaning close, I snuggled with him. “I’m sorry, Dare. You’re right. You’ve been so good to me when everyone else has failed me. Forgive me?” I batted my eyelashes, rubbing his leg while I waited to see if he’d buy my acting. I held back the vomit that wanted to surge up, knowing I had to make this believable.
Darren looked at me, and I moved closer, breathing along his jawline, rubbing my nose against his stubble. My hand crept forward more, and the position allowed me to hide my face from his view as I kept the tears back, my lips twisted in a grimace. I hated this. This wasn’t me. But maybe I could borrow it.
Sirens all have a place in their heads they can go where they don’t think of the what-ifs. They don’t think of the consequences outside of surviving and completing their mission. Where they aren’t Barbara Sue, who makes a killer peach cobbler, but where they’re a femme fatale, and their purpose is one thing and one thing only. Go to this place, be your Siren counterpart, and show whoever thought they could cripple you that they were wrong.
Sirens are deadly. Don’t forget who you are—a Siren.
Finding the place in my mind, I tucked away the guilt, the disgust, and the loathing that kept me locked into Cami, and I stepped into my role, the one I never thought I’d be, the one I never thought I’d need.
Until I did—Enigma.
I kissed his cheek, feeling his hard length in my hand, and I peered into his eyes, no longer wavering as I committed. He stared down at me, and something in him shifted, and he leaned forward, kissing me.
When he pulled back, he wiped the bit of blood from his lip, where I’d bitten him, taking dominance in the kiss. Smiling wide, he tipped my chin up. “Seems like someone has come to play. I’m glad you finally understand which side you belong on, gorgeous.”
Beaming at him, I pulled away, grabbing the flute of champagne in front of me and taking a sip. I didn’t want to drink too much, but the bubbles helped ease the last of my frayed nerves, and I sat it down, picking up my fork. The hungry part of me wanted to scarf the food down, but I knew I’d be sick if I did, so instead, I took tiny bites, savoring each delectable taste that crossed my fork.
When I looked up, I found Mr. Green Eyes staring at me again. I wanted to wade in his eyes, the safety and comfort they brought me a nice reprieve, but I couldn’t at the moment. If I left the confines of Enigma, then it would be harder to put her back on. No, I had to dismiss him for now. He’d been kind to me, but I didn’t need kindness at the moment; I needed coldness.
Setting my fork down, I wiped the corners of my mouth and looked around the table. I didn’t know who any of these people were. They weren’t interested in me either, as no one paid me any attention. Darren was talking with a man on his left, but due to our position, he was in the shadows, standing away from the table. I peeked over, but I couldn’t make anything out about him, and it made me all the more curious if this was the “he,” but it wasn’t worth it at the moment.
Taking the chance, I looked over at the Mascro table, hoping to catch someone’s eye, even if it was just to let them know I was there, alive. But we were too far, and no one looked in this direction. From what I could tell, Atticus and Loren appeared to be in a heated conversation, and I wondered what had developed there. The feeling of missing out on something settled into my stomach, and I had to look away, the tears wanting to return as I remembered too much of Cami.
Darren had taken so much more than just my finger. He’d stolen my time with my friends and loved ones. He’d taken my life hostage, making me bow to his demands and whims. He’d stolen my sense of pride, control, and agency.
