Page 66 of Trick or Treat

Getting tothe cemetery, sinner looks even more confused than she did when we pulled up at my apartment… probably cus she thought we were going to the park. But that was before Riley switched the plan around at the last minute. I hate to admit it, but I like this one a lot better. The four of us get out of the car, but she refuses to budge, being stubborn as fuck like always.

"Get out of the fucking car, Scarlett." I use a deep, authoritative tone, making her brown eyes widen as she slowly slides across the seat toward the open door.

Holding out my hand, she takes it for help getting out of the car. She doesn't bother looking around the cemetery; she's seen this place enough in her lifetime now I'd say.

"Here, we got this for you, trouble." Saint hands her a black mask, making her nose scrunch as she looks at it in disbelief.

"I'm not taking that!" She screams, backing up into the arms of Nixon, who shoves her toward me like a fucking ball in a pinball machine.

I snatch the mask and grab her head, forcing her still and pinning her to the car with my body. "You're fucking putting it on, sinner. Stop fucking fighting it." Slipping the mask over her head, I gently tug it over her eyes, smiling proudly as I take a step back to admire her.

The four of us look at her in silence, probably thinking the same thing—how fucking sexy she looks in a fucking mask.

"You're one of us tonight, sinner," I whisper into her ear, leaning in just to touch her cheek.

She sighs softly, swallowing hard, and only nodding in response, probably too terrified to do anything else. Taking her hand, I nod to the guys to retrieve her surprise from the trunk as I lead her over to a darker part of the cemetery, right near the area where Carli is buried. Taking advantage of the moment alone, I pull her against me and slide my hand under her chin, gripping it between my fingers.

"You look even morebeautiful tonight than you ever have, sinner." Her eyes soften and the panic dissipates within them.

With her back turned toward the guys as they put their masks on, she can't see what they're dragging out of the trunk… but I can. Excitement rushes through me as I switch my gaze back to Scarlett, bringing my fingers to her mask.

"Do you like it?" I ask, gliding the tips of my fingers over the silky fabric surrounding her eyes.

"I like the idea of no one knowing who I am when I'm wearing it," she says, not batting an eye, a dead, distant look clouding them. The meds must be kicking in… I like her better when she's off them. Her crazy side is fucking sexy.

"That's true… you can dowhateveryou want, andnobodywill know that it'syou."

Licking the shell of her ear, she shivers, reaching out to grab the bottom of my shirt. Clinging to me, she leans in, resting her forehead on my chest, making this shit even fucking harder than it was earlier. Mother fucker. This needs to stop.

Luckily, the guys walk up, interrupting the moment that I needed more than I thought I did, but I needed to stop it.

"Turn around, trouble." Scarlett looks at me and our eyes lock beneath our masks.

I smile and nod my head, giving her a boost of encouragement even though she's probably going to fucking hate me in a second. Slowly, she turns around, gasping and falling backward into my arms when she sees the sight in front of her.

"Oh my… Melanie!" With her hands in front of her bound tightly in rope and her mouth taped, Melanie stands there between the guys, mascara stained tears and dried blood coating her fair skin.

"Surprise!" Riley laughs, twirling his knife in his hand as he puffs on his cigarette.

"Is thissome fucking joke?" Scarlett screams, clearly pissed off as anger finds her voice.

"Now, Scarlett. Have we ever fucking joked aboutanythingbefore?" Nixon drags the tip of his knife down Melanie's cheek, making her tremble even more. Oddly enough, Scarlett stops shaking.

"I'm not killing her, if that's what you're fucking planning." Saint shoves Melanie to the ground and storms over to us, snatching Scarlett by the throat. Getting in her face, he hisses through tightly clenched teeth, his eyes wild and wicked with each word.

"Yes you fucking are, Scarlett. You're not the fucking boss around here, in case you forgot—we are.And you're going to drop this fucking bratty attitude or I'll give you something that will make you fucking drop it." He throws her down so she lands at my feet, tossing a knife down with her.

"Now pick it the fuck up, trouble."

Scarlett

I feel numb and it's not from the crazy pills Nixon keeps feeding me. I feel numb from seeing my best friend bound and bloody in front of me… and numb from the fact that I'm the one who has to kill her.

Staring at the knife, Saint's loud, threatening voice thunders in my ears, but I ignore it.

"Pick it the fuck up, Trouble."

I reach for the knife because I want to—not because he told me to.