30. Mina

THIRTY

mina

Halloween Night, The Masquerade Ball at the Windsor Estate.

“Don’t be nervous,” Brian whispers in my ear. But I can’t help it. In a strange way this still feels like the first real job I’ve gone on with Brian, and I can’t get past the idea that this seems all too easy, all too perfect.

“I’m fine,” I say, forcing a smile. We’ve been at the party for an hour and I can’t shake the feeling that this will all go terribly wrong somehow.

Once the target started planning his own murder with us, the murder wall just became a checklist of things that had been prepared or conveniently set up for us. Cameras off. Check. Weapons planted at various points around the house. Check. Kill room ready. Check—it’s the conservatory a little way off from the main house. The plan for getting our target to that spot… well, since the real target is still Windsor, that part is different, but still. Our path has been made far too smooth for us, and I’m waiting for some kind of double cross—some big Halloween jump scare.

Tonight Brian is wearing a tuxedo, like all the other men, along with a black masquerade mask. The women all wear a mix of black and white evening gowns with masks to match. I’m wearing the same dress I wore for the cocktail party because Brian insisted. He says that side slit is too convenient, and he didn’t get the opportunity to take advantage of it at the last party.

I’m sure he won’t get the opportunity tonight, either, because I can’t shake my nerves, and the last thing I’m thinking about right now is orgasms.

Drake Windsor hasn’t been unguarded or alone the entire evening, and I’m not sure we’re going to get our chance tonight. He’s constantly surrounded with friends and guards. How do we have weapons conveniently stashed in the target’s house, but can’t even get him alone to use them?

Brian leans in close to my ear. “Will you be okay if I leave you for a while? I want to take a look around, see if I can figure out a way to lure him away. Keep an eye on him for me.”

Brian has a syringe on him that he plans to inject Windsor with, so we can move him to the original planned kill location. He’s got clothes planted for us so I can wear my normal clothes and not have to maneuver in a dress, and so he can look like part of the help. There’s a large rolling cart with a sturdy bottom metal shelf and a floor-length white tablecloth over it to get the unconscious Windsor to our second location, but Brian has to get him alone and unconscious first.

I nod, even though I want to say no. But the last thing I want to do is make Brian feel like I can’t handle all this. I don’t know what’s wrong with me right now. I feel off . It’s as though that switch inside me never flipped at all, and I’m still the same Mina I was when I first came to the house.

When he’s gone, I grab a glass of champagne and some tiny food off a passing tray and watch the room.

Nearly half an hour has passed, and I’ve lost sight of Windsor and worry he’s gone to follow Brian. I put the empty glass down, intent on following him, when I’m stopped.

“You’re with Brian Sloan, aren’t you?” a man with an indiscernible accent says.

“Who’s asking?” I continue to scan the ballroom, not sure if I’m looking for Windsor or Brian, but I can’t go after Brian now. What if this guy follows?

“Dante Valentino,” he says with a small insincere bow.

I stiffen and smile tightly at him. I wonder if he knows Brian agreed to kill him for Windsor. How would he?

I’m so tired of these games.

Dante moves in close to me and grips my arm too tightly. He leans in, his voice a low growl. “Time’s up. I want Windsor gone tonight, or I’m going to become very unreasonable.”

He allows his gaze to sweep over my body. Oh, this man is a dead man. If Brian doesn’t kill him, I surely will. Unfortunately I don’t have weapons on me. We’ve been in the ballroom this entire time, and the weapons are… not in the ballroom.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m only accompanying Mr. Sloan for the evening,” I say, playing into the escort rumor and trying to sound as stupid and vapid as possible.

I relax when I feel Brian behind me, his hands sliding around my waist.

“Brian,” Dante says, nodding. “Good to see you. I trust everything is in order.”

I’m sure Brian nods, and probably gives Dante a glare for good measure, but I don’t see him because I’m still looking at Dante. My breath comes in sharply, as Brian presses a kiss to the side of my throat, then he takes my hand to lead me away.

“You too have fun, tonight,” Dante says with a weird creepy laugh.

“Let’s kill him,” I say under my breath.

Brian only chuckles, as he leads me through the crowd. I admire the view of his broad back in the tuxedo, and suddenly I’m thinking about getting it off of him.

He guides me down several hallways, and I allow myself to be pulled inside one of the rooms.

“Where are we?” I ask. The room is dark except for the small strips of moonlight coming in.

Brian pushes me against the wall, his mouth on mine, and my nerves slowly slide away as his hands move down my body.