Page 128 of The Invite
“If you are Anonymous, I’d hate to kill you, Miss Nessa,” he threatens, completely disregarding my words. So casually as though we’re discussing everyday news over breakfast.
“Oh, so you weren’t going to kill me otherwise,” I retort flatly.
“I don’t like anyone threatening my sister’s life.”
“I didn’t hurt Amber,” I snap, glaring up at him. I can’t believe he’s actually accusing me. “I didn’t even know she wasn’t Capri. There’s no way I could’ve known since I just moved here. Half the time, you’re attached to my hip like a damn parasite. Where would I find the time to plot her murder, much less execute it? Besides, between the two of us, you’re the most likely suspect. The evidence lies in your nightly proclivities, Mr. Grayson.”
“What proclivities?” Freeing my wrists, he drags his hands down my sides to my hips and rests them there.
“Stalking people.”
“Not people, just you.”
“Breaking into strangers’ homes.”
“Again, just yours,” he tsks, while he rubs distracting circles around my waist and the top of my ass. “And I’d hardly call us strangers.”
I swallow, grabbing his biceps in an attempt to stop him from trailing his palms lower. The material of my leggings does nothing to contain the warmth of his touch from burrowing into my skin.
“Your perilous fascination with knives. The command with which you use them. You made me stab you. Not once but twice!”
“Which made you come so hard that you passed out,” he finishes with a carnal glint in his dark orbs.
My mouth opens and closes, unable to form a comeback. I lamely settle for grumbling, “Like I said, the signs paint you guilty too.”
“Fair enough.” He drops his hands and steps back, pocketing them.
My brows pull together at the distance he’s created. I burn and feel forlorn.
Does he suffer from multiple personalities? His mood swings will give any woman whiplash.
“I believe you aren’t Anonymous, but that doesn’t mean you’re innocent or trustworthy,” he confesses in a chilling tone. Regarding me under his lashes, he says, “You aren’t who you say you are, Nessa. Your history is a well-crafted lie. Because if you really came from a sweet middle-class family, you wouldn’t be in this predicament. Hell, you wouldn’t even be in this town.”
I go absolutely still. Every word out of his mouth makes my throat go dry because he’s hit the nail on the head on thefirst try.
It takes everything inside me not to react.
Pretend he isn’t opening a can of venomous snakes waiting to wrap around my body and choke me before delivering the deadly bite.
Augustus’s interest in my past doesn’t bode well for me. Somehow, it’s more terrifying than him stalking and tormenting me. I’m watching my greatest fear come true. The safety of my future hinges on me being a nobody.
Yet becoming Anonymous’s target has put the attention of the worst man on me.
Or maybe it’s vice versa.
I’m struggling withwhat to believe at this point.
“I don’t know why I was chosen, but you couldn’t have missed the mark more when it comes to the reasons you think,” I reply, refusing to show him he’s burrowing under my skin. “All I know is two madmen are after me—you and him.”
He crosses his arms and slants his head. “I don’t think anyone’s insulted me as much or called me as many names as you do.”
I gape at him, speechless. “You seriously have no right to be offended.”
“You know, men hate it too when women tell them how they should feel.”
Unbelievable. No wonder he’s the head of the debate team and has won championships. The man can argue with a wall and come out as the victor.
I silently fume.
