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“Thank you for coming,” Richard glad-hands everyone, puffed up and beaming in his designer suit. “We thought it was high time we look to the future, after everything this family has gone through. You know, times of tragedy teach us to treasure the good times, and that’s what we’re celebrating here tonight.”
Psychotic asshole, throwing a party after everything he’s done.
My blood boils, and I’m tempted to go confront him now, but I force myself to slip away, and take deep breaths to calm down.Stick to the plan,I remind myself.
Soon enough, they’ll know the truth about him.
I slip down a back hallway, remembering Sebastian’s instructions. He drew me a layout of the house, and I recall it now, heading away from the party, and down a corridor towards the kitchens. He told me there was a side door, leading to the outside from a utility room, and I check every door that I pass, searching for the right one.
“Excuse me?”
A voice makes me whirl around. “Yes?” I yelp, startled.
Shit.
It’s one of the catering staff, with a tray of hors d’oeuvres in her arms. “This area is off-limits to the guests,” she says politely. “Staff only.”
“Really?” I try with wide-eyed innocence. “I’m so sorry, I was looking for the bathroom.”
“Back that way,” she points.
“I know,” I wince, “Except they were all occupied, and that champagne goes right through me! Is there one here I could just nip into for a moment? Please?”
The woman relents. “There’s one just down the hall,” she points. “Don’t tell anyone I let you, though.”
“My lips are sealed!”
She turns to return to the party, and I wait until she’s out of sight before finally locating the utility room.
Yes! I hurry past the laundry machines to the exterior door, and check that it’s unlocked, then find a box of laundry powder to wedge it open.
There. Sebastian should be able to sneak in the back now, without anyone noticing.
I sent up a silent prayer that the rest of the evening goes just as smoothly, then return to the party. I mingle discreetly, on edge, one eye on the clock as I count down to ten p.m.. Every passing moment is torture, and my nerves are on edge.
Whatever promises Sebastian has made to me, I’ve seen the raw fury in his eyes. There are only two ways tonight is ending. Either Richard is led off in handcuffs, exposed for all his crimes.
Or someone winds up dead.
Finally, the clock strikes, drowned out by the music and chatter of the party. But I hear every chime ring out.
It’s time.
I look around for my target. Richard has just finished up chatting with a group of important looking older men. He heads back through the party, to the casino room, where he takes a seat at one of the tables, and gestures for champagne. His laughter echoes, smug, as I approach the room, and I have to fight to stay calm.
I should be used to smiling through my rage, but somehow, knowing this man has hurt the one person I care about now more than anything…
Sebastian isn’t the only one with pure rage running in his veins.
Making sure my masquerade mask is fastened securely in place, I take a seat at the same game as Richard and smile pleasantly across the table. “Room for one more?” I coo lightly, and he gives me a smarmy grin, his gaze focused on my chest, not my face.
“The more the merrier. Let’s play.”
Game on.
21
AVERY
