They don't.
Before I can say another word, she reaches under her dress. She pulls off her black panties and steps into the red thong, then shimmies into it.
"What are you waiting for? Get dressed," she orders.
I shake my head but turn and pull the shirt off the hanger. I remove my clothing, get into the tux, then spin.
My mouth salivates.
Her dress pools at her feet. The curve of her waist dips beautifully, displaying a thin satin strip between her ass cheeks. She reaches behind her, unclasps her bra, and drops it next to her dress.
She spins confidently, head held high, yet the sconce light shows the flicker of vulnerability.
My eyes drop to the white V across her torso and chest.
She stiffens.
I drag my eyes to hers. "You're still beautiful, Minx."
Shame washes across her face in a way that guts me. She puts on her eye mask and orders, "Put your mask on."
I glance at the skull mask, wondering what Sean's father was thinking when he created the hollow, soulless, twisted empire it represents.
"Please put it on," she begs.
I clench my jaw and slide it over my face.
"Ready?" she asks.
"No," I answer honestly.
"Sorry. The Underworld doesn't wait." She opens the metal door.
A deep, vibrating, "Ooooooohhhhhmmmmm," rattles my bones. It echoes off stone pillars and swells into the warm night air. Stars fill the sky, there's a full moon, and I glance around in awe.
It's a massive outdoor arena. Thousands of masked figures stand around the perimeter in tuxedos, holding lit torches. Women wear long, red dresses and fancy eye masks, mirroring Valentina's.
The chanting grows louder.
"Ooooooohhhhhmmmmm. Ooooooohhhhhmmmmm."
A huge stage sits in the middle. The only things on them are two steel tables. One's flat, meant for lying down. The other table is a two-top. Two tattoo artists in black leather aprons and masks like mine sit waiting, machines gleaming, needles already loaded. The one at the two-top has an empty chair across from him.
A man in a black robe with a black-skull mask steps forward. His voice booms, "Welcome to the Ceremony of the Scarlet Seal."
My blood runs ice cold.
What the hell are they going to do to us now?
Valentina flinches so slightly that no one else would notice, but I do.
I put my arm around her waist and tug her into me.
She glances up at me in surprise.
The man in the black robe steps closer.
"Don't touch her," I snarl.
