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Chapter 16
Perhaps it was how well things were going between the guys and me, but the entire week leading up to the night of the masquerade felt like I was consumed in a bubble of happiness. I watched movies with Bellamy and Texas. I laughed when Texas cooked dinner and switched out the sugar for salt, resulting in a less than appetizing gallon of salty rather than sweet tea. I held hands with Marv as I went with him to run errands for Iris—small things like dropping off packages or meeting with a law firm downtown about sponsoring a charity building. I sat with Knix as he mapped out the continuation of Grayson's pool house—which would apparently have another bedroom added on. I even visited Grayson at work a couple of times, thankful when Justice wasn't there eithertime.
It was as though I had fallen into an alternate reality. Teddi wasn't calling or badgering Grayson. I didn't even catch anyone attempting to follow us. If I didn't know any better I would have said that she had given up on us. But on the night of the masquerade, Grayson received a text message fromher.
As we all stood in the living room, dressed and ready for the night, Grayson held his phone up to Knix, who took it and read the textaloud.
"I look forward to seeing you and your friends tonight. Please tell Harlow I said hello. See you soon. Love, your mother." And just like that, the bubble of happiness we'd all been floating in was popped as reality came crashingdown.
Tense silence echoed throughout the living room. Grayson's jaw was clenched so tight, I was half-worried he might crack a tooth. Bellamy turned and paced away, his broad shoulders stretching the suit coat he wore. Just under the open end of one of his sleeves, I noticed a smudge of paint on his hand as he lifted it to run through his previously neat hair. I sucked in a breath as Marv crossed his arms and waited patiently for someone to saysomething.
I didn't know what tosay.
"She must still be having us followed," Texas said, breaking thesilence.
"Or she probably saw the guest list and realized that most of us were coming and would be bringing the others as guests," Marvsaid.
"So, she knows then," Grayson growled as he ran a hand roughly over the top of his head. "She knows that we're not caving to her and she's prepared forthat."
"Do you think she's going to do something here?" Knixasked.
"I don’t know,” Marvanswered.
Tension ate away the earlier relaxed air between us. I drummed my fingers against my thigh as I held my mask in one hand.Think—I had to think. What were we going to do next? What wouldshedo next?Knix had been extremely careful about his mother since the last time he saw her. My eyes drifted to him. There was no worry that she would show up again to throw us off. Marv had called his parents and double checked that they would be opting out of this charity ball as well. He would be going in theirstead.
My eyes flitted around the room, taking in each of their expressions. Their worry was my worry. "What do you think, Little Bit?" Knix asked, turning towardsme.
I lifted my eyes and met his dark ocean blue gaze head on. "There's no use in backing out now," I finally concluded. "She knows we're going, but that doesn't changeanything."
Bellamy came to a stop at the end of the couch. "She's right," hesaid.
"It's not like we're planning anything naughty," Texas added with a grin. I shot him a look and he immediately put his hands up. "What? I promise! I haven't doneanything."
"Yet," Marv clarified. "You haven't done anythingyet, but don't think that I don't know you well enough to know that you've always got something up yoursleeve."
Texas shrugged. "You can't get mad at me for something I haven'tdone."
"But I can be suspicious about what you plan to do," I said before Marvcould.
Texas grinned my way but said nothingmore.
Knix scratched at his stubble as he looked at the rest of us, meeting my gaze briefly before he finally sighed and nodded. "Then, if that's the case, we should probably get going. It wouldn't be polite to belate."
Marv moved first, heading for the door with Texas trailing behind him, swaying as he went as though he were listening to some upbeat theme music the rest of us couldn't hear. I laughed as he went. Bellamy followed after them and then Grayson. I stayed behind just a moment to see if Knix had anything more to say. Instead of speaking, though, he merely reached out and took my hand. I squeezed his rough palm, letting it envelop my hand with his warmth and strength. My gentlegiant.
I tugged, catching his attention and when he looked down I motioned for him to bend over. When he did, I pressed a quick kiss to his lips—a thank you. He seemed surprised when I released him, but not displeased. In fact, he stood taller—his shoulders back as we headed for the front door. When we got outside, my jawdropped.
"You hired a limo?" I gaped at the long stretch of black as it moved around the front of the house. Texas jumped up and down, clapping as he whirled and looked back at myexpression.
"You should see your face!" helaughed.
I scrunched up my nose and stuck my tongue out athim.
"Don't sport it if you don't want to use it," Grayson warned. Despite the tension now flowing off his shoulders, there was still a small amused smile gracing his lips as he watched ourexchange.
I rolled my eyes and let Knix tug me down the rest of the steps and into the limo as Marv popped open thedoor.
Once we were all inside, the driver pulled away slowly. "Before we get there, there are some things you should know," Knix began. "There will be reporters. There will be cameras and people behind lines askingquestions."
