Page 2 of The Devil's Deceit
I grin. “And who knows? You might bag yourself a rich dude tonight. The place will be crawling with them.”
She waggles her eyebrows. “They’d be lucky to have me. I mean, Iama catch. Twenty quid to my name, but I can suck dick like a champ.”
A laugh bursts out of me. “God, I love you.”
“Same, girl. Now, get dressed, and we can go.”
The gold, sparkly, floor-length gown Juliet somehow unearthed at a charity shop that sells designer clothes slides over my curves. I could never afford something like this brand new. I have Uncle Daniel to thank for my surgery costs, even though I hate that he went into debt to afford it.
After Mum and Dad died, Arron and I found ourselves in a financial pickle. I thought they might have had life insurance, but they didn’t. I guess no one ever thinks they’re going to die young. We almost lost the house until a kind benefactor stepped in and paid off the mortgage. Despite my brother’s crazy IT skills, he never found out who. The news of the collapse was splashed across all the news outlets because of the notoriety of the De Vils, and we think that’s what saved us in the end.
I’ll forever be grateful to that kind stranger. Selling our family home would have broken both our hearts. All our memories are here, and it’s all we have left of our parents.
Juliet zips me up, and we nestle in close, heads touching as we gaze at our reflections for a few seconds.
“He’s going to fall fast and hard. You mark my words.”
“That’s the plan.” The words stick in my throat, another wave of nervous energy flooding through me. This is it. Do or die. Fight or flight.
Arron taps on my bedroom door thenenters. “Car’s here.”
I nod at him, rubbing my lips together before I reach for my gold clutch and slot the invitation inside, then pick up the ornate mask I came across on an online auction site. It only cost me a few pounds, too. The fact the De Vils are throwing a masked ball plays into my hands. It’s something to hide behind while I test the waters. Another layer of protection so to speak.
“Let’s do this.”
Arron captures my arm as I pass, his expression steeped in worry. “If you’re even one percent concerned for your safety, you call me, and I’ll have you out of there in a heartbeat. I know this is what we want, but not at risk to you.”
“I’m sure Uncle Daniel will be thrilled if I fall at the first hurdle.”
While I love my uncle, he’s… I guessintenseis the right word. He was extraordinarily close to Dad, and losing his brother and sister-in-law hit him hard. He never married, either, so he’s got time on his hands to let his hatred fester. We all need answers. Without them, we can’t move on, but maybe he needs them even more than we do.
“Don’t let him push you into taking too many risks. I know he’s a forceful character, but your safety is what I care about most. Sure, we long to know what happened to Mum and Dad, but losing you isn’t a price I’m willing to pay for the truth.”
My brother is one in a million. Annoying as hell sometimes, but that’s older brothers for you. I lean in and kiss his stubbled cheek. “I love you.”
“Love you more.” His voice is gruff as he pulls his eyes from mine.
Pivoting, he jogs down the stairs, and Juliet and I follow. A warm breeze coats my bare arms when Arron opens thefront door. As I pass by him, he gives my hand a quick squeeze.
“Remember what I said.”
Nodding, I swallow the lump of fear in my throat and pick my way down the path to the car idling at the roadside. I climb into the back, and Juliet gets in beside me. As the car door closes, I can’t help feeling like it’s a prison door slamming shut. What’s worse is that it’s a prison of my own choosing.
Like Juliet said, there’s always a choice, and I’m making mine.
Doesn’t help ease the lump of concrete that’s settled on my chest, nor the glut of butterflies in my stomach.
The drive to Oakleigh Hall takes forty-five minutes. A security guard stops us at the gates and asks to see our invitations. I take a breath and hand them over. He checks the names against a list and, seemingly satisfied, hands them back to me before he directs the driver to the main house.
The sun hasn’t quite set when we pull up behind a line of imposing SUVs with blacked out windows. Juliet slides her mask into place and alights from the car. I do the same with mine, then follow her. We blend into the crowd; the invitations clutched in our hands. More security greets us, and our names are checked once more. I hold my breath, but then we’re waved inside and swept up with the horde.
“Check this place out,” Juliet hisses in my ear.
“I see it.” Keeping my head up and facing forward, I trace the footsteps of those in front of me who, from the looks of them, have been here before. Eventually, we enter a ballroom with high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and a floor clean enough to eat off. At one end is a stage where a violinist is playing soft music, and at the other, a table laden withenough food to feed what must be at least five hundred guests.
When the De Vils throw a party, they throw aparty.
“How are you going to find him in this crowd?” Juliet murmurs. “Especially as everyone’s wearing masks.”
