Clay
My favorite part of the day is hearing the island come to life as the sun sets over the horizon. We run the whole place as an all-age theme park year-round, and people travel from all over the world to visit. But they are only welcome here during daylight hours. After dark is when the real fun begins, and entry is by invitation only. It’s our biggest moneymaker, and the twilight hours become an over twenty-one paradise for adults.
I manage security for the island, ensuring everything runs smoothly. Every day my security staff have to check every place you can imagine for stowaways: the people who have heard from their friends about our after-dark activities and want to see them for themselves.
“Found one.” Kodi’s voice comes through the earpiece.
“Escort them out and take their picture. They are banned from the island.”
“Will do, boss.”
We do not give second chances. We cannot afford to. You try to stay without an invitation, and you get a lifetime ban.
“Clayyyyyy.”
I grind my teeth and turn to see my little sister walking toward me. She is the last person I want to see right now. I love her more than anything in this world, and the little shit knows it, but she is not allowed here after dark. Murder is not something I would like to add to my resumé, but I will if I have to.
“Clay Aaron Rourke, when are you going to stop?” she huffs, and I glare at her.
“I am busy, Jess. This is my job, and I need to make sure no one is left on the island before nightfall.”
A smile crosses her face. “Why? So, you can do your kinky little night chases?”
My mouth opens and snaps shut. I swear to fucking god, whoever told her is going to die.
She breaks out into a fit of laughter.
“You should see your face, but don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. What you do here is your business. But you know I’m not a child anymore, right? I’m twenty-two.”
I try to compose myself. “You are my baby sister, so you are still twelve,” I snap, and she pouts in response. “Is there a reason you’re here? I really need to get back to work.”
“I need your help.”
I sigh, then speak into my comms. “Kodi, take charge of doing the exit reports—my sister needs me.”
Kodi doesn’t argue; he wouldn’t dare. I am the head of security, but also the only one our boss trusts besides Nixie to make sure everything runs smoothly.
“Follow me,” I tell Jess. “I hope you can walk and talk at the same time.”
Jess laughs. “Have you met me? I can talk underwater, brother. So you know how I told you I’ve been dating that guy for a while now?”
I grunt. She won’t tell me his name—as if she thinks that will keep him safe. But I already know everything there is to knowabout him: his name, age, address, and where every person in his immediate family lives. I don’t tell her, of course, and so far, he seems to be treating her well, though I know she will get bored soon and move on.
“How could I forget?” I reply sarcastically.
“Well,” she says as we walk toward the big tent. “His ex is proving to be a bit too much. I thought I could deal with her myself and she would go away eventually, but she isn’t.”
“I don’t have time for college bullshit,” I snap as we slip through the entrance to the circus tent.
“She is stalking us, Clay—she’s everywhere we go. She even threatened to blow up his car with us inside.”
I stop and Jess runs straight into my back, then I pivot and grab Jess around the waist, throwing us to my right as a knife blade sails past my head.
Jess laughs and claps her hands as Karo bows.
“Too slow, motherfucker,” I tell him, and he flips me off.
“What does he do with that wheel?” Jess asks as Karo steps to the side and lights it, flames immediately surrounding the edges.
