Corrupted Chaos (Tarnished Empire)(74)

Lucas sat up straight, in disbelief, like he was a dog who’d heard a suspicious sound. His ears were perked, ready to attack or protect his best friend. Me.

That’s why I decided to tell him. Why I knew he’d be the one to understand.

So as people danced around in masks and had the time of their lives, I told my best friend everything. And he listened. His jaw may have dropped when I told him about the cabin retreat and about my first love, but he didn’t judge me. He didn’t even wrinkle his nose at me.

And at the end of my story, he leaned in. “Was he at least good?” Lucas whispered close to my ear, and I threw up my hands before dropping my head on the bar.

“You’re a terrible friend, you know that?” I asked without picking up my head.

“I’m your best friend,” he growled before pulling my hair so I would sit up. I glanced at him. “And I ask the questions that matter. Because you know what will happen if he’s good?”

I rested my elbow on the bar and set my chin in my hand to give him the full attention he wanted as he dragged out his point. “What will happen, dear Lucas?”

“You won’t get over him. You’ll find your way back again and again.”

“I told you it was mostly hate fucking.”

“Hate fucking is the best fucking, and we all know it.” He held up a shot of rum and ticked his head at mine. “Cheers to you and the dumpster fire that your life is about to be.”

“I’m not cheers-ing to that.” I had lifted my shot glass but pulled it back.

“Fine. Cheers to me pulling you from the dumpster fire that you’re inevitably about to fall into.”

I rolled my eyes but clinked my glass against his before I downed it. “I hate that you’re probably right.” I took a deep breath. “I already told him we’re going our separate ways.”

“Ri-i-ight.” He dragged out the word. “Cade Armanelli doesn’t let go of something he wants.”

“We don’t know that he wants anything more from me,” I said quietly.

“He does. And I’ve read that the man could have single-handedly managed the hacking of this election, Izzy. He’s a freaking god amongst us, even if we want to pretend he’s not. He won’t let you go.”

I rubbed my eyes and then swore because of the makeup I’d put on. “Get more shots, Lucas. We’re going to need them.”





Our night should have progressed into a blurry fun mess, but instead, Lucas told me he was going to the bathroom and that I should stay put.

Instead, I decided to wander around and see if I knew anyone. Most of our team hadn’t mentioned coming out to the Halloween party, but I knew people had to let off a little steam.

It was only minutes later that I saw that mask.

It was in the corner of the club, hidden so well that most people just passed by him. But I felt his eyes. His dark stare. My whole stomach clenched in fear, anticipation, and hunger.

Cade Armanelli had shown up in that same Scream mask from our last pre-Halloween event at Stonewood Enterprises.

Not even a second later, the lights cut out in the whole club.

Screams rang out, and I gasped when, a second later, someone grabbed me. I jerked away, ready to fight until I heard the gravel in his voice close to my ear. “Fight me, dollface. We’ll both enjoy this more if you do.”

“Are you kidding me right now, Cade?”

He shoved me up against the club wall as people milled around, trying to get their bearings in the dark. “Why would I kid about fucking that pussy? The lights are out for a reason.”

“Jesus, that was you?” I glared at him and then hit his dark shoulder.

His head lowered in the mask, and I shivered as adrenaline coursed through my veins. He leaned in and whispered against my ear. “You like the mask, baby doll? Want to fuck a stranger instead of the guy you’re trying your best not to love?”

Love.

I knew I loved him. It was the reason my soul felt alive right then, why my skin felt the shock of his touch. His hand was at my thigh, and I whimpered. “People are going to notice, Cade. There’s no music or anything. We can’t do this.”

It only took a moment of him sliding his phone out and pressing a few buttons for the music to blast on with a few of the strobe lights. People screamed in celebration, and then his hand dropped his phone back into his pocket, only to pull out that switchblade he always carried with him. “Now, I’m pretty sure I can do what I want to the woman in black.”

“I thought we weren’t playing my silly game?” I lifted a brow.

“Aren’t we? You’re at the club, showing off half a dress, talking to any guy who holds you hostage, in a mask.”

“Hardly showing it off when the lights are out.”

He chuckled. “Exactly.”

The fucker had done it for that very reason, I bet.

“I’m done.” I tried to push past him, tried to play it off as him being ridiculous. It was my best excuse to avoid my heart beating so fast that it might jump out of my chest and into his hand where he’d have control of it, where I’d never get it back.

Yet, Cade wasn’t done with me. And Caden Armanelli had come to play. He grabbed my hair and shoved me against the wall, then put his knife at my neck. “Did I say you could be done? Do you think you get to walk around swaying that nice ass for someone other than me?”