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I glanced around before deciding to knock on my neighbors’ doors and check if anyone had dropped it. Even though it was late, lights were on at each house, so I figured I’d see what I could learn about the mystery letter.
After introducing myself at each of the four households and asking if they knew a Sasha, I let myself into my home with the mail in hand, unsuccessful in my errand. I turned on the overhead lights before placing my keys on the kitchen counter.
“Alexa, play my favorite playlist from Spotify.” I leaned against the wall and stared at the open flap, then decided that, since there wasn’t a return or a recipient’s address, I wasn’t breaking the law by looking at the contents. I removed a white card, and my forehead creased while I read it.
You’ve been chosen to attend The Black Widow’s Secret Society initiation. Use this code to log in for additional information. Come alone and tell no one.
Confused, I flipped over the card, but it was blank. Overrun with curiosity, I hurried down the short, brown-carpeted hall to my room and grabbed my MacBook from my dresser. I plopped down on the unmade bed, powered up my computer, and typed in the website that was listed and waited for it to load. A large black widow appeared on the screen with a redenterbutton on its body. Moving my cursor to its back, I clicked the red circle. I rubbed my arms, comforting myself. I fucking hated spiders.
The camera followed an animated person in a black cloak as they walked down the hall, then pushed open a door, the creak ringing through my speakers. Fixated on the screen, I entered the code.
The figure sat in a chair, and my attention was glued to the white mask with black around the eyes. It covered the head and neck, meeting the cloak.
“Hello, Sasha,” a computer-generated voice said. “Thank you for replying. Please join me Thursday evening, September twenty-second, for a night you’ll never forget. Pay attention to the rules.”
I focused on the details scrolling across the bottom of the screen, grabbing my phone from my back pocket and plugging the address into my Google Maps app as soon as I saw it.Twenty minutes away. Once again, he impressed the importance of keeping the invitation and participation a secret.Like, who would I tell?Plus, I had no idea what the message was even referring to.
“I’ll be expecting you, Sasha. But before you go, complete the questionaire. When you’ve finished, any trace of this video and website will disappear,” the voice said.
I drummed my fingers against my thigh, watching the form load. A little shiver shot through me, making me wish I’d already changed out of my shorts and into my pajamas.
My mouth gaped, then I leaned closer to the screen while my attention scanned the questionnaire.
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
ChapterFour
Kane
It was tradition that a team member threw a massive party after the season’s first football game. Quinn had volunteered to host the get-together that week, which was packed, and the music was thumping. Before the crowd arrived, the team had moved the pristine leather furniture out of the way and covered the couch and recliners with sheets in a lame attempt to protect them. Then we set up tables along the walls and multiple trashcans all over the fucking house. His father was cool with parties as long as the mansion didn’t take any damage and was cleaned up afterward.
We’d kicked ass on the field earlier that day and had reason to celebrate.
I leaned against the living room wall, watching the crowd cheer for the guys playing a drinking game. A few girls were swinging around the white columns in the entryway, pretending they were stripper poles. Through the years, college parties had started to all look the same. Drunk people were grinding against each other and making out, and girls were dancing on top of any surface possible. Since the society members didn’t hook up with girls at a party, it was common for most of us to leave early unless it was one of our homes everyone was trashing. The evenings we left early, we returned to help clean up the mess, though.
I took a long pull from my beer as I mentally reviewed the plays in my mind where we’d fucked up, and the opposing team had intercepted the ball. I understood we had some work to do if we were ready for the playoffs. Oddly enough, running plays and possible scenarios in my head was how I relaxed.
Jagger Whitlock approached me, wearing a huge smile, and we bumped fists. “Hey, great game today,” he yelled over the beats of “Numb” by Marshmello and Khalid. Jagger had returned to the team after taking a season off due to medical reasons, and he’d scored our opening points within the first minute. Even though he was a little hotheaded, in the year Jagger and Ariana had dated, she’d managed to tame him some, which had also made him better on the field. Jagger was a hell of a player, and I was glad to have him back.
“You, too. I’m excited about this year.” My attention swept the crowd, spotting Ari and Teagan dancing. Teagan had hooked up with our running back, who had signed a pro ball contract, and she was back visiting Ari and the girls for the weekend.
Jagger took a drink of his beer, looking much more relaxed than earlier in the locker room.
“It feels good to be back. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed it until practices started. Not that I was looking forward to Coach busting my balls all the time, but the energy of the game is addictive.” He ran his fingers through his dark hair, his blue eyes narrowing in Ari’s direction.
I glanced over to where a few guys were trying to dance with the ladies. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t stop from chuckling.
Jagger glowered. “I gotta remind these fuckers who Ari belongs to. I’ll catch up with you later.”
“No fighting, Jag. Not this year. You’re too valuable to sit on the fucking bench.” I pinned him with my stare. As the team captain and quarterback, it was my job to keep the guys under control the best I could.
Jagger tipped his head and gave me a tight smile before moving his way through the crowd toward his girlfriend.
Quinn sidled up to me and handed me a red Solo cup. “Drink up, man. We’re celebrating, and we can sleep in tomorrow.”
I took the drink, sniffed the brown liquid, and took a big gulp. The rum and Coke traveled down my throat, burning all the way to my stomach.
“Thanks, Q. I probably needed that. Why aren’t you out there in the middle of the ladies?” I quirked my brow at my teammate.
