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She took each step slowly, her long gray-and-white dress dragging on the stairs behind her. At first Damon thought Ariana had changed her costume — it was impossible to see the face behind the elaborate skull mask — but then he realized it was Bella. She must’ve decided against the corn on the cob for this ensemble. It was a mixture of several of Ariana’s from previous years, and Bella had made it into something entirely new.
If Rita was upset before, she was sure to be furious after seeing this. While Damon didn’t disagree with how she felt about her sister’s plight, she was being overbearing. Rita wasn’t Bella’s mom, and the last thing Bella needed was another parent. Especially considering the actual parents she’d been dealing with her whole life.
Damon couldn’t imagine having to put up with his father’s demands into adulthood. He had already been on his own since high school. After his dad’s arrest, he found a foster family who let him stay at his family home as long as he checked in with them regularly. With as much as his dad had traveled before, it wasn’t much different after his arrest, except that he had other people checking on him.
Ariana tugged on his arm. “Rita’s going to flip out.”
“Exactly what I was thinking.”
“If her dad shows up, I think he’ll know it’s her. Even with her face covered, he could recognize her figure. Have you seen anyone suspicious?”
“No, but I’ll take a closer look at everyone. Somebody could’ve slipped in while I was in the garage.”
“Thank you. I’m going to stay near Bella and make sure she doesn’t leave with anyone.”
“Good thinking.” Damon looked around at the guests, making mental notes of who was there.
He could account for everybody he came across.
Grayson came over to him and adjusted his eye patch. “This party is amazing. Rita told me I’d be impressed, but I had no idea it would be anything like this. It’s pro level.”
Coming from the local celebrity newscaster, that was quite the compliment. “You’ll have to tell Ariana. This is her baby and always has been. Her family jokes that she was born wearing a costume.”
He chuckled.
Damon glanced around as they continued the discussion.
Grayson must have picked up on his thoughts. “You haven’t seen Rita’s dad, have you?”
“No, but I’m keeping my eye out.”
“I appreciate it. Rita’s really worried about Bella.”
“So are we. I had an unstable father too, so I know the danger.”
Grayson cocked a brow.
“That’s a topic for another day.”
“Rita mentioned something about you having a sordid family history too.”
“You could say that. It’s more complicated—”
The doorbell rang, and someone nearby opened the door.
In stepped a lone man in a hockey uniform and mask.
Damon straightened his back, trying to tell who that might be. It was nearly impossible to tell with all the padding. He could be muscular or skinny, or anywhere in between.
“That’s not Diego,” Grayson said. “He’s shorter.”
“Could it be Neil?”
Grayson scratched his beard. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never met the guy. You don’t recognize him?”
“No.”
They exchanged a worried glance.
