Page 7 of Midnight Rebel

My mind races, trying to piece together what just happened. Who was he? And why did those men pull him away so abruptly? The reporter in me itches to follow, to uncover more about this mysterious “Ghost.”

But I force myself to focus. I came here for information. I came here for answers. Now, all I can think about is seeing him again.

It’s ridiculous. I shouldn’t crave this—I should go back to investigating The Manor and do what I came here to do. Not get distracted by some masked stranger.

I shake my head, finally returning to myself long enough to weigh my options. I have the investigation to finish.

I came here to prove myself, to uncover the truth behind the accidents plaguing the Montgomery Estate. That should be my priority.

But I can’t leave. Not yet. Not before I see him again, whoever he is.

I grip my camera tighter, its weight a reminder of my purpose here. The cool metal grounds me, pulling me back to reality. I came here for answers, and I won’t leave without them. But now, those answers include him.

Whoever he is, I have to know more.

With renewed determination, I turn back toward The Manor. There are still areas I haven’t explored, secrets waiting to be uncovered. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll cross paths with my mysterious dance partner again.

My senses are on high alert as I move through the shadowy gardens. Every rustle of leaves, every distant laugh from the party inside, sets my nerves on edge. But beneath the tension, an undercurrent of excitement lurks.

Tonight has become about more than just the story I came to chase. It’s become about unraveling two mysteries: the one surrounding The Manor and the one wearing a raven-black mask who called me Firefly.

Chapter 3

Colt

My jaw clenchesas I force myself to focus on the task at hand. I’m here for a reason, and it’s not to chase after some woman, no matter how intriguing.

The estate’s security is my responsibility tonight. I need to keep my head in the game.

“What’s the situation?” I ask Phoenix.

Even crammed into a tailored tux, he’s the size of a brick wall—towering and solid, impossible to miss as he strides toward me. “Some locals were breaking into the east wing. It caused a stir, but it was only some kids sneaking in booze.”

Damn it. The east wing—the same place where the chandelier fell and the electrical issues cropped up.

“Did you handle it?” I ask.

“We escorted them out quietly. No need to cause a scene, but I thought you should know,” Phoenix says, eyeing me carefully.

I nod, relief mingling with my annoyance at the interruption. “Good. Let’s keep a tight watch on that area. We can’t afford any more incidents.”

I stride back into the ballroom, jaw clenched. We’ve addressed the security breach, but a bigger problem lingers. Firefly.

The mysterious woman who fit so perfectly in my arms as we danced. Did she follow my order to return to the ballroom?

I cut through the glittering crowd of costumed partygoers, their laughter and excitement nothing more than static in the back of my mind.

The sea of velvet and silk surges around me, but I barely register any of it. My eyes sweep across the masked faces, all the tension winding tighter inside me.

She’s here somewhere.

She has to be.

“You good, Ghost?” Hawk mutters as we cross each other near the entrance of the ballroom.

I nod once, short and terse.

Hawk follows my gaze and smirks. “Looking for someone?”

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