Page 111 of As the World Falls

I shove him harder, making him stumble back as I finally break free. “I could never, ever want you or anyone over James. You could never compare to the man that he is.”

He chuckles again, and it starts building some fear inside me. The man was clearly delusional and losing it over his rivalry with James. “I thought we could form an alliance, Cecilia. We could take him down together. Don’t you want to help your brother? You’ve already lost your father. You don’t want to lose him, too, do you?”

I lunge at him, my hand flying to smack across his face, but it stops halfway from connecting. I look at my wrist, which is enclosed by a giant fist. My gaze snaps to the man it’s connected to, seeing another mask-covered face on the body of someone else I don’t recognize.

“Don’t do this here,” he murmurs lowly. “You don’t want James to see, do you?” I blink quickly, dropping my hand just as he releases it. Chuck laughs darkly from behind us, and the man in front of me turns his way, snatching him by the collar of his shirt and holding him nearly nose to nose. “If we weren’t where we were, I’d kill you where you stand,” he growls. Chuck’s smile drops from his face as it instantly pales, and although the man threatening him was terrifying and obviously dangerous, I can’t help but smirk. “And if you don’t leave her alone, I will,” the man adds.

He drops Chuck back onto his feet, and he quickly scatters off like the rat that he is. The man faces me again, and I take the time to observe him, trying to figure out who he is. His accent was Italian…not a surprise to me anymore. His hair was dark and wavy, and his skin was caramel-colored. He wore a matte black mask that left his chiseled jaw and full, pouty lips on display. I couldn’t see his whole face, but I knew he was handsome beneath that mask. He was also built like a semi. Hewas broad with muscle that I could see the definition of under his black suit. He was tall, like really tall.

All in all, he was handsome but extremely terrifying. He was like Batman.

“Thank you,” I manage to say.

He towers over me, his mouth curved in irritation. “Don’t thank me. James is going to be pissed when he learns you’re here.”

“How do you know James?”

He scoffs, tearing his gaze from me. “Don’t worry about it. Worry about yourself.” Then his mouth quirks into a faint smile, and he leans in, dropping his mouth near my ear lobe. I suck in a breath at his sudden closeness. He leans his face into the crook of my neck, and for a second, I fear he will kiss me there as he lingers. “He’s coming this way. Better run, little owl.”

I gasp and look up at him as he chuckles darkly before disappearing into the crowd. I look over my shoulder, seeing James walking through the crowd, his curious gaze on my backside. “Shit,” I mumble and take off into the same crowd that the mysterious man also disappeared into. Tonight’s events were giving me whiplash, damn it.

The party had become much more crowded since I’d gotten here, and I was doing my best to barrel through everyone without shoving people aside. What’s with people standing directly in the center of walkways and having conversations? They were in the damn way.

I needed to get out of here. I didn’t need James to find out I came here for him, thinking he actually wanted me here. How embarrassing. Even more so since the invite was from Chuck Fireux, the man he told me to keep an eye out for. He was going to be so freaking pissed.

Thankfully, I never took my mask off, so he can never exactly prove that I was here. He may just think he saw me, but hopefully, he’ll forget about it.

I finally see the opening to the room I came from, but just as I reach it, two giant double doors start shutting, keeping me from entering. “Wait,” I call out. I rush up to one of the staff members who is closing the doors. “Excuse me, I need to be let out, please.”

“The mayor is about to give his speech, and we need to keep out the paparazzi. You can leave after.”

This is even worse than I thought. “Can you open it a little and let me slip through the crack?” I suggest. He shakes his head sternly. “Fine,” I grumble and turn back toward the ball. I look to my side and recognize the man from before with the triple-face mask, leaning on the wall of the building on the other side of the doors, staring at me. I look away, an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach blooming. The lights brighten at the front of the dance floor, and I make friends with the wall again, my gaze roaming everywhere for signs of James or my brother.

“Can I have your attention, please?” Chuck’s voice booms over the crowd. “I want to thank everyone for coming to New York's fifty-third annual charity masquerade ball. We are so grateful for everyone’s participation in strengthening this city. Without you all, I wouldn’t be able to do what I love most, and that is keeping the people, my people, of New York City safe and taken care of.”

Ugh. Gag me with a freaking spoon.

“I hope everyone is having fun tonight. Everyone looks amazing, but no more amazing than my date tonight, which I can’t help but show off.” My stomach drops. He wouldn’t…would he? Just then, a single spotlight shines on me from where I’m standing, nearly blinding me, but I see Chuck’s eyes and vicious grin lock onto me. “Come say hi,” he calls into the microphone.

Fucking fuck. This was not good.

All eyes were on me, and my fight-or-flight instinct kicked in. In fear of causing a scene, I walked up to where Chuck stood. The second I was in his vicinity, his hand wrapped around my waist and yanked me to his side.

“Everyone, this is my date, Cecilia. Isn’t she stunning?” he coos. I feel like I’m going to puke as cheers go off in the crowd. My eyes fearfully scan everyone when they land on James, barreling through the crowd like his life depended on it. Chuck spots him, too, and his grin grows wider. “Please don’t forget to check out all of our donation stations lined in the hall before leaving, and now, I’d like to invite all of our guests to put on their masks and join me on the dancefloor for our masquerade dance,” Chuck finishes, shouting at the end and getting everyone in the room excited.

The outdoor lights dim around us just as glitter confetti and bubbles from machines are shot off into the air like freaking canons declaring war. I lose sight of James as everyone puts on masks and comes together in a slow, sensual dance. The music is louder and trickles over everyone like a siren song, creating a celebratory atmosphere as they’re consumed by the glitter and bubbles dancing around them.

The doors are cracked back open, and I think about escaping, but I’m frozen in fear and astonishment. I can’t help but watch the sea of people move together, with all their different masks and gowns floating around them. The soft music and glittery bubbles in the air float around me like a dream that quickly turns into a nightmare when I see Chuck’s mask-covered face approaching me. I look over his shoulder, spotting the triple-faced one on his heels, but I’m quickly yanked back. I feel a hand at my waist and another grabbing mine and dragging me into the center of the dance floor, the sea of people swallowing me up.

My gaze whips at the scenery around me, unable to focus on the man who saved me. My heart beats wildly as he spins me, his hand resting on my hip as I meet his face again. He doesn’t say anything as he pulls me deeper and deeper into the crowd of people.

I finally looked at him again, realizing I was dancing with the man in the black mask from before. This is twice now that he’s saved me.

“Who are you?” I ask him.

“You haven’t guessed?” he says, spinning me again with his eyes locked onto mine. I didn’t know what to say because despite being scared of him, I didn’t feel like I was in danger.

I blink up at him. “I can’t really think straight right now.”

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