Page 88 of Wicked Games

Instead I tuck the strings of my mask into my back pocket. “Ignore anyone who knocks on the door. If it isn’t me, they don’t exist.”

“Okay.”

Irritation fills me as he blinks at me unseeingly, like he’s looking right through me.

I grab my keychain and work one of the keys off the loop.

“What are you doing?” he asks, finally giving me more than a one-word answer.

“What do you think?” I say, my irritation as clear as a bell in my tone.

“I don’t know. That’s why I asked.”

“Call it an insurance policy.” I toss the rest of my keys in my bedside table and shove the drawer closed.

“Insurance policy?” His tone is bored, but there’s an edge under it as some of his true feelings about what’s going on crack through his carefully controlled demeanor.

“Ever heard of a master key?”

He nods, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.

“Think of this like one of those. But instead of it being able to unlock any lock, it does the opposite.”

He scrunches up his forehead in confusion.

“This can lock any room in the house from the outside, and it can only be unlocked with the same key.”

His eyes widen, but he schools his features back into that damn neutral expression and leans back against his headboard. “You’re going to lock me in here?”

“Yep.”

“Isn’t that a safety hazard? What if there’s a fire?” He flicks his gaze to the window. “We’re on the third floor. I can’t exactly jump to escape burning to death.”

“The sprinklers and fire system will kick in if there are any issues,” I say. “And the smoke would get you long before any flames did, so burning to death really isn’t your biggest worry here.”

“Awesome,” he deadpans.

“Just don’t be an idiot, and there won’t be any problems. Got it?”

He nods.

“I have to go,” I repeat stupidly.

“’Kay.”

I stand there for a few more beats, but he just looks out the window, silently dismissing me.

Anger and something dark and ugly curls in my chest, and I leave without saying another word. Using my master key, I lock the door, then give it a little test to reassure myself that he’ll be safe.

I don’t know what the fuck is going on with me tonight or why I feel so off-kilter, but I try to shake off the feeling of unease that settles around me as I step away from my door and head downstairs.

I just need to get through this damn party, and everything will be fine.

21

FELIX

I checkmy phone to see if Eden texted me back for what feels like the thousandth time. I also look at the time and mentally curse when I see only two minutes have passed since the last time I checked.

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