Page 16 of Dance of Madness

I watched the three dots appear and disappear multiple times before they finally went away, like she’d been trying to figure out what the hell to say to me and then gave up.

Like she was annoyed. Like she expected more.

That’s when I knew, with complete certainty, that she’d sent me thereon purpose.

Which is…insane.

I mean, Alicia’s been a class-A bitch and an absolute cunt since we were in prep school together. She was a total menace during her time at the Zakharova, and wedefinitelybutted heads over her being a mean-girl bully to my friends more than once.

But sending me to a house where she clearlyknewa masked man was going to chase me and apparentlyassault me—something she herself probably set up—is fuckingridiculous.

It’s insane enough that I’m tempted to tell Papa. He'd rain down hellfire on Alicia and probably everyone she knows. Which is comforting and more than a little satisfying to think about.

But I’m not going to do that.

I fight my own battles. More importantly, tattling to Daddy means admitting to Alicia that her plan worked, and Irefuseto do that.

It’s way more satisfying to let her think her insane trap failed.

Even beyond that, there’s another thought that sticks in my head like glue: if I confront her, it makes it real.

Not just the fear and the danger—the other part. The one that lurks and lingers underneath the surface.

The dark thoughts. The nervous, eager yearning.

The demented spark of arousal that came with the adrenaline and the fear.

I’m not ready to acknowledge that yet. Not even when I wake up at night with my hand between my thighs and his voice in my ear.

There’s no such thing as monsters.

…Except for the one that’s living inside me.

“Did I hear you broke into a house the other night?”

Brooklyn’s voice shakes me out of my little black hole of thoughts and I turn to see her eyeing me dubiously with her arms folded over her chest.

“What?”

My gaze shifts from Brooklyn to Evelina, who’s standing next to her. Evie's face immediately goes crimson, same as it does if you mention words like “sex”, “cock”, or “blowjob” anywhere remotely in her vicinity.

“I didn’t—” Her shoulders sag. “I didn’t say youbroke in, I just mentioned?—”

“Jesus, Evie,” Val chuckles throatily as he walks up behind the two of them and slings his muscled, tattooed arms affectionately over their shoulders. “How does the daughter of a literal crime boss end up as such a nun?”

Brooklyn laughs. Evelina’s lips twist as her face heats even redder. “I amnot!”

“Cum slut.”

I swear, the poor girl’s whole face turns a shade of near-purplish-red.

“I rest my case.” He grins salaciously, shrugging his lean, sculpted shoulders.

“Give me a break!” she mutters back. “Anyone would blush if you blurtedpornwords into their ear.”

Val cocks a brow, then switches his attention to Brooklyn. He clears his throat dramatically and then leans closer. “Cum. Slut. Cock. Pussy. Facial. Anal. Gangbang. Good girl.”

In fairness, thereisa slight change to Brooklyn’s otherwise composed expression when he says that last one, but it’s gone pretty quick, and Val doesn’t seem to notice it before he turns back to poor Evie.

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