5. Laura

Chapter 5

Laura

I don't even know why I bother getting dressed.

This isn't going to happen.

There's no way Jackal is going to get past Angelo's security. The second he's in that building without authorization, they'll nab him and toss him out on his ass.

And even if he does reach the interior without any problems, he can't make it up to the roof. And if he does manage to get that far?—

There will be security footage of him.

Because there's no way in hell they'd let a massive, muscular man wander around Cage wearing a mask.

Which means even if he does get that far, I'll be able to figure out who he is.

I stand in front of a full-length mirror. It's eleven at night, an hour before our meeting. I'm wearing a pink, scoop-neck crop top, no bra, and a high-waisted skirt. My breasts are relatively small, though my nipples are hard and show through the thin cotton material. The skirt is tight and hugs my hips and cups my ass, and I can't decide if I want to wear hoops or studs in my ears. I keep going back and forth, even though I know it doesn't really matter. I brush back my shoulder-length hair, debating whether I want it up or down, and realize this is all so stupid.

Jackal isn't going to be there. It just isn't possible.

Unless he's a member of Cage already . Then all he has to do is bring his mask, sneak up to the roof, and put it on.

If that's the case, the security camera footage will catch him.

But is that something I really want?

I shiver and close my eyes. Do I actually want to figure out who he is, or would I rather not know? I feel so vulnerable and naked with him knowing my identity, but that's also part of the excitement.

It's like that night when I hung out over the city. I put my life in his hands—and that trust was rewarded.

Can I trust him now?

That night was fun. It felt good—so fucking good, if I'm honest. But that night was just a blip. It was a random, chance encounter with a gorgeous stranger, and we won't be able to replicate it even if we really do get the chance to try.

So why am I overthinking this?

I curse and pick the hoops.

It's not easy, getting out of the oasis without anyone noticing. And twice as hard for me, since I never go anywhere. Especially not dressed for a night out.

Which is why I asked my sister-in-law Stefania for a ride. She meets me outside of her house, and her eyebrows raise up into her hairline as she takes in my appearance.

"You promised you wouldn't say anything." I stare hard at her. "Remember what I said?"

"You said you'd cut my throat and enjoy it." Stefania sighs and closes her eyes. "And I believed you."

"Good." I don't smile at her. I feel guilty about the lie—if I cut her throat, I wouldn't be happy about it. Although I'd definitely do it. "Let's go."

Stefania drives me in a little old Corvette. The guards at the entrance do a double take when they see me in the passenger seat, but Stefania doesn't slow down long enough for them to question what's going on. She's silent on the drive over to Cage, but I can practically feel her buzzing with questions.

True to her word though, she keeps her mouth shut. I'm grateful, genuinely grateful, and this is exactly why I picked her to help me out. I get what Davide sees in her now. My older brother is like me—scarred by his past and barely functioning despite it—and it takes a special person to be able to handle that.

Any of my family members would've given me this ride, but only Stefania is able to keep her mouth shut.

When Stefania parks, she turns to me, and I wonder if she's about to ruin everything.

"I'll be back in two hours to drive you home," she says.

"Good." I push open the door.

"And please, Laura, be careful, okay?"

I look back at her. I should be annoyed about that comment, but for some reason, she looks so earnest. I give her a look then slam the door in her face.

Which is better than clawing her eyes out.

I'm nervous as I walk into Cage. I don't think anyone in here will recognize me—they don't know me as Angelo's sister. I have a pass though, and the girl at the front scrutinizes it with practiced efficiency before buzzing me in through security. Now Angelo and Claudia will know I'm here, but that can't be helped. If Jackal's clever, it won't matter.

But he won't be. This is just a waste of time. My heart's racing in my chest as I head to the stairwell. It's eleven fifty-eight, two minutes ahead of schedule, and I walk very slowly toward the roof. I can't decide if I want him to be there or if I'm afraid of what it'll mean when I find him.

What do I want from this?

That's the question I keep running through my head. For years and years, I've hidden myself away in my house and focused on my art. My family supports me, and I don't need to put myself in these stupid, risky situations if I don't want to. I don't like crowds, and I especially hate most men, and this is exactly the sort of stupid situation I should run away from.

Instead, I keep thinking about Jackal's hands on my body.

It's been so long since I've been touched, and even longer since I was able to enjoy it. All thanks to what happened all those years ago. I have my scars and they run deep, and I've never been able to push away the panic I feel whenever unfamiliar people come near me.

Until the masks.

God, I'm broken. I'm absolutely, unmistakably broken.

But I can't stop.

I reach the top of the stairs. Nothing looks different about the door—it's just an emergency exit that leads to the roof. I hesitate, and this is my last chance to turn around, but I push the bar and the door jerks open.

No alarms go off. I step out into the night and I take in the gorgeous view as I suck in lungfuls of fresh air.

There's nothing. Jackal's not here. I expect to feel relief—but instead, there's a crushing misery pounding down against my skull.

I'll never be normal.

I'll always be stuck in my house, afraid to face the world.

I can't even have this strange relationship.

"I knew you'd come, little demon girl."

I stifle a shriek and turn around.

Jackal's standing a few feet to the right of the fire escape door in the shadow of some ductwork. His mask sucks in all the light around him and the gold seems to glitter and sparkle.

Relief floods me and my knees go weak. I lean against the entrance to steady myself.

Jackal takes a step forward. He looks exactly like I remember. Lean and muscular in a sleek expensive suit and with that beautifully made jackal mask. The ears point at the sky and his snout seems to mock me as he tilts his head to the side. I can just make out his eyes, the dull, gunmetal gray of them.

"I didn't think you'd really show up," I say, feeling extremely naked and exposed. I wish I had my ram's horns for protection.

But this is what I wanted. No, this is what I need .

I straighten my spine and let him look at me.

"Do you want to play?" he asks, and I swear, he's smiling.