Page 66 of Mind Maze

Now she wears the shimmery gold gown well. Her spine is straight, shoulders back, and dazzling smile in place. In a way, she reminds me of Eva. Sweet and beautiful, but missing something real inside. Like they hollowed out what made her unique and replaced it with something generic.

Will she ever be the girl I knew again?

Caius

Romy felt it too.

There was something about Huxley’s speech that unnerved me. Whether it be him or the words coming out of his mouth, something wasn’t right about it.

Maybe he just puts me on edge because his son is a twat. I can pick out assholes from a mile away. Takes one to know one. Doc Junior—what kind of stupid name is that anyway?—is a carbon copy of his father.

Doc Junior and his buddy Dr. Portman had a predatory vibe I’d been able to pick up on the second I laid eyes on them. It wasn’t just because they were salivating over Romy like she was a part of tonight’s dessert menu. There’d been an arrogance there like they’d known they could have her if they truly wanted.

Over my dead body.

I’m not thrilled with my recent obsession with her. I realize I’ve thrown away everything I’ve worked so hard to build to be with her. It’s messy and dangerous, yet I can’t seem to stop. The game I’d been so skilled at playing feels as if it’s over.

She’s the queen with all the power moves.

“I’m going to go say hello,” Romy says, gesturing to Bastian and Megan. “You coming with?”

At least she’ll be marginally safe from admirers with her brother. I’m not exactly keen on carrying a conversation with him, so this is a good opportunity for me to see what Dad is up to.

“I’ll come back for you in a bit. Stay with your brother.”

Romy smirks at me. “Don’t be gone too long or Dr. Portman might come sweep me off my feet like he promised.”

Hearing his name makes my eye twitch. Naturally, this amuses Romy to no end and she laughs. I grab onto her delicate jaw and press a chaste kiss to her lips in lieu of a goodbye. Her smile falls and her eyes grow hooded with desire.

Who’s the better player now, little girl?

Before I change my mind about leaving her, I force myself to pull away and go on a hunt for Dad. I’m also keeping my eyes peeled for the CUP Star soldier, the dimwit doctor duet, and the mysterious S. This event is exactly what I’ve been working up to my entire life. It’s a culling of who’s who, giving me an eagle-eye view of the most elite and powerful this country has to offer. If there are clues to be had about Calista, at the top is where I’ll find them. I know this deep in my bones.

Calista, I haven’t forgotten about you.

It’s definitely crossed my mind several times that the texts “she” sent could have been fabricated by someone else. But, even if they were, it won’t change my objective to find her. That just means whoever has her is working overtime to make sure I don’t find her.

And that thought always circles me right back to my dad. He knows my desire to find Calista.

As if I have the power to make him materialize, I find Dad in conversation with a couple of men. When I approach, I recognize them to be Gideon Langston and President Huxley. They all three turn to see me at the same time. The tension that forms at my presence sends my senses on high alert.

What is it about me that they would all react that way?

Several theories assault me at once, but I don’t have time to ponder any of them thoroughly. I offer my hand in greeting, shaking hands with both Gideon and Huxley.

“Gentlemen,” I say in a forced, amicable tone. “What did I miss?”

Dad’s gaze remains impassive while Gideon’s jaw muscle ticks. They’re hiding something. It’s then I realize Huxley’s expression wildly differs from theirs.

He’s beaming at me.

Not that fake, practiced smile from on stage earlier.

No, this one is real, genuine, and honestly, off-putting.

Huxley continues to watch me like one might as their toddler takes his first steps. There’s a familiarity and pride there that makes me want to turn on my heel and run far from this weird fuck.

And yet…

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