Page 30 of Hollow House
“I—” I started but stopped. “Felix is my friend.”
It was all I could think to say. My cheeks warmed, embarrassed by how secluded I’d let myself become with my work. Felix had his own life now. He would always be my best friend, but he had a partner now, amazing writing opportunities. Even the sex toy shop was a part of all that.
“Join us,” the Wraith offered again. “We can be everything you crave, every desire you’ve ever had…”
“What do you know of my every desire?” I snapped, throwing my hands over my mouth, unable to stop the words.
The Wraith barely flinched. Instead, a wicked grin curled his lips. “I know you work at the local magazine. I know you’ve never once been offered a promotion or new opportunities. You get passed over for the ones who suck off their boss. I know the pig you work under. I know you wish to leave this town, to make it big, work for the top magazines. We can give you that. Anything you desire will be yours if you accept.”
“I don’t understand,” I said, the words barely a whisper. Not a single thing he said was false.
“How do you think the wealthy and powerful get where they are?” he asked.
“Nepotism,” I scoffed.
He let out a gentle laugh and pulled me closer to his body. The heat of him pressed against me, providing the perfect balance to the cool night air. I took a deep breathe, his scent something like bourbon. It was inviting, something I wanted to stay wrapped in.
“That is certainly one way, but there are other ways too. Powerful people pull strings. They work to put people in positions that serve them.”
“Are you saying that’s what you do?” I asked, spinning to face him, my brows raised.
Shit. If that were true, this was it. This was the single piece of information I needed to make sure my article was my way out.
“Those with power need lawyers, politicians, agents, journalists…”He trailed off, his eyes shifting from the town beneath us to me. Even in the dark, I could see him perfectly. His dark eyes settled on me, and I almost lost my train of thought.
“People like me make that happen,” he said. “I’m a ghost to the world, a shadow pulling the strings of power.”
“I barely know you. Why me? Why, after mere hours, are you offering all this to me?” I asked, a sinking feeling filling me as I suspected his answer.
“Because I’ve been watching you far longer than those hours,” he said.
A lump formed in my throat. All those times I felt watched …
“It was you in the bar?” I asked, and he nodded. “And in my house?”
He didn’t move, but his eyes gave him away. I backed away from him, taking him in fully. The man I’d spent my entire night with had been stalking me?
“It’s my job. I’m a shadow. I find those society gave up on, who deserve a shot at greatness,” he said.
I shook my head, unable to process it.
“Join us,” he offered, holding out his hand to join him at the edge.
I swallowed hard, weighing the option. If I took it, could he really give me a way out? It was what I yearned for and worked my ass off to find. It never came easy, and still, I hadn’t found that big break.
This could be it.
I knew I should take it. My boss would never actually give me what I wanted. He didn’t even have faith in me to write the article I promised—the article I now had all the information I needed for.
I hesitated, and the Wraith watched me with such intensity, I took a step back.
“I think I should go…” I started.
I hate the words the second they left my mouth, each one like poison on my tongue. The look of hurt that flashed across his face only made it worse. I didn’t want to disappoint him, but I barely knew him.
“Sloane,” he started.
“Just let me go,” I interrupted, not strong enough to put up a fight if he argued for me to stay.
