Page 58 of After the Fall
I turned to allow her to tie the ribbons of the mask at the back of my head, then finished the look with the top hat.
“Now, mine.” She handed me a black lace Venetian mask.
When I was done, she stepped to my side and smoothed her dress over her hips. “We look perfect.”
“We look like we’re about to attend a high-end orgy.” I sat on the bed and put on my shiny black shoes, feeling jealous of the crew that were busy putting on their hiking boots, getting ready to break into the Genocorp lab.
“We’ll see where the night takes us.” Her voice was practically a purr.
I stood, and she dragged her fingertip down the lapels of my coat. “I have missed that perfect cock of yours. Now that you’re free from that vanilla Girl Scout, maybe you’re ready for a real woman again.” She stepped in close, her breath mingling with mine.
“Your pussy is the last thing on my mind right now, Valentina.” I shoved her aside. “What kind of game are you playing?”
She shrugged. “Just keeping my options open.”
“You and I,” I pointed at her and then at my chest, “will never be an option again. It shouldn’t have happened in the first place.”
“Can’t blame a girl for trying.” She sashayed to the door. “I’m sure you’ll be back for more someday. You Northerners can’t resist me.”
Her confidence was bringing out my rage. I’d been microdosing the white moss all day, knowing that I’d need to keep my wits about me, but her immature pestering had me feeling like I’d just had a cup of red moss tea. “I will never be with you again, Valentina. Because your pussy isn’t that good.”
The look on her face surprised me. I’d never seen her appear stunned. I doubted that anyone had ever rebuffed her, and clearly no one had ever critiqued her bedroom skills.
“I’ve had ordinary women who were better in bed than you, so you’ll have to excuse me if I’m not jumping through waterfalls to stick my dick back inside you.”
The shocked look on her face was fleeting and her Cruella de Vil grin came back. “Come on, Prince Charming. You don’t want to be late for the ball.”
For a second, I felt guilty about speaking to Valentina in such a crude and ungentlemanly manner, but it passed. She didn’t deserve my respect, and once we had all the bullshit with Genocorp sorted out, I was going to figure out a way to distance our community from hers, once and for all.
Valentina and I didn’t speak as we made our way to the car. My mind was racing, running through the potential scenarios of the evening. Tank sat in the driver’s seat, wearing a tuxedo similar to mine, only he had a forty-five holstered under his jacket. As a member of my security team, the weapon had been cleared. The other piece, strapped to the inside of his ankle, was not, and I hoped to hell the night wasn’t going to require it to make an appearance.
Trick-or-treaters scampered along the sidewalks,their costumes obscured by raincoats and umbrellas. The thunder and lightning had ceased, but the rainfall hadn’t let up. “Atticus and the guys are going to be soaked.” Valentina seemed entertained by the thought.
“I’d rather be out there than walking into this nightmare,” I said.
The valet took the keys from Tank and he opened the door and helped Valentina out of the car. “Thank you, Tank.” She held onto his hand for longer than necessary. My colleague’s facereddened, and I made a note to order him to stay away from Valentina.
Tank’s sex drive was his weak link, and Valentina knew that she could use it to her advantage. She had done that exact thing in the past.
My eyes adjusted to the dim lighting of the ballroom and I scanned the room, which looked like a goth kid’s wet dream. Black roses cascaded down extravagant centrepieces, and pillar candles burned on wrought iron holders, dripping on silk linens the same shade of red as Valentina’s dress.
“It looks like you’re wearing a tablecloth.” I couldn’t stop myself from getting in a little dig at her expense.
“I’ll blend in better.” She shrugged, although I knew it had to be bothering her that it really did look like she’d draped herself in one of the table linens.
The masked orchestra played “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor”, one of my favorite Bach pieces, as the room filled with mask-wearing guests. Even at a runway party, Valentina wouldn’t fit in, but I wasn’t going to tell her that.
Scanning the room, I spotted Savannah. She was wearing a headpiece and had a clipboard in her hand. Over her left shoulder stood a hulking figure wearing a Phantom of the Opera mask – Connor. As much as I shouldn’t, I admired the wolf. He wasn’t going to let Savannah out of his sight, and that fit in perfectly with our plan.
Savannah’s eyes met mine and she gave me a subtle nod, which I returned.
“Well, Valley Girl. Are you ready?” I crooked my arm and let Valentina wrap her long, bony fingers over my suit jacket. “It’s time to get some answers.”
TWENTY-NINE
HARPER
“Trick or treat.”The tiny ghost held out his loot bag.