Page 40 of A Devious Arrangement
Something’s off the second I walk in, and my mouth drops open as my coffee cup drops to the floor, spraying everywhere. The place is completely empty. Chairs, sofas, rugs. Not a single thing left in place. I stumble backward until my shoulder blades connect with the door. It’s clear I’ve been robbed, but it’s such a strange thing to steal. It’s not like there’s a black market for used furniture.
I inhale deeply, slowing down the rapid beating of my heart. I need to think this through. Who would do this? Better yet, what could they possibly want?
A squirming buzz crawls under my skin, as I race my way to my bedroom. I nearly collapse when there’s nothing there. It’s been completely cleared out, just like the rest of the house. Myfeet are already running to the closet, and I collapse to my knees when there’s not a single piece of clothing.
They took the mask and the robe.
I’m bent forward, my forehead pressed against the floor, when my phone rings in my purse that I slung over my shoulder.
I drag myself up, the wait of just how screwed I am threatening to break my shoulders. Nikolai already explained that the punishment for losing the mask is worse than death. Obviously, since whoever has it could sneak in just like I did.
It rings again, and I clench it in my hand. I’ll probably break down if it’s my brother.
Unknown: Princess. It’s time you move in.
Unknown: 155 Torried Rd
Me: Give me my stuff back.
He ignores me, and my fingers twitch, gripping my phone hard enough the screen might crack at his next message.
Unknown: Key is on the counter.
Fire ignites, starting from my chest and exploding down to my fingertips. I’m going to kill Bash for this.
Sure enough, there’s a black key pass shaped like a credit card to easily fit into a wallet. I want to crush it into a million pieces. No, to burn it to dust.
I’d been so terrified for Nikolai, and it was all some devious plan to get me to move in with him?
Instead of crushing the card, I slip it into my pocket. I have a better plan.
I’m going to make Bash regret ever picking a fight with me.
Chapter 19
Bash
My phone screenis lit as the feed switches from camera to camera, following Stasia racing through her house. I’ve been impatiently waiting for hours to witness exactly how my girl would react to my move.
Would she play along, or would she attack?
She’s in her empty closet, mouth opening and closing as she gawks at the cleared-out room. The smile growing on my lips shatters when her face goes ghostly white and her knees hit the ground. There’s a sinking feeling in my stomach as she lays her head down, her shoulders collapsing in.
Fuck. This isn’t what I expected at all. My girl’s fire, not this defeated image of misery. My eyes travel the empty room, searching for what would make her react like this. I don’t believe for a single second it’s because of a piece of clothin?—
My thoughts catch on the word. I’d personally taken the Saint’s mask and robe, not considering what losing it would mean to her family.
She needs to know it was me.
I send her a text and zoom in to see her reaction. It doesn’t disappoint. Her fists clench, and there’s a twitch in her jaw, but it’s the rage in her eyes that has my heart skipping.
There she is. There’s the girl who strutted into a private gambling room like she belonged there. Who snuck into one of the world’s most exclusive ceremonies only to then try to steal from the Order of Saints.
She’s fire and damnation as she crashes out her front door, the look on her face making it clear she’s coming for me.
“This will be fun.”
It’s when the door slams shut that I notice something strange on the paper cup she dropped in the entry. I zoom in closer, seeing the name of the cafe, and right beside it, written in red, is a fucking phone number.
