Page 58 of Fatal Scheme

“You’re all insane,” she breathes, sipping her fruity seltzer as she pretends to be unfazed, but I can see how fast her chest is rising, the small vein protruding from her neck.

“Come on, Ellie. Let’s dance,” I say, swooping in to her rescue, looping her arm through mine.

“What did we say, Carter?” Tyson rasps, stepping in front of us like security, but I only raise my eyebrow in response.

“I’ll be … right there,” I say, pointing a mere five feet away from where they’re standing, keeping my promise of staying within an arm's length.

“Don’t make me kill someone tonight, my little Angel of Death.” Jasper wraps me into his chest, pressing a hungry kiss to my lips and biting the lower one as he pulls away.

“Have fun, baby girl,” Tyson smiles, pouring himself a drink as he leans against the counter, his dark eyes locked on mine as I walk away, turning back over my shoulder to catch his gaze one more time.

“You are so in love, Bad Witch,” Ellie laughs, moving with the music as we spin each other around.

“Times two,” I add, tipping my head back as the song changes, and the liquor burns through my body, nearly setting me on fire.

Finally, I’m getting a taste of freedom, even if my boys are only a few steps away, and I could stay in this spot all night, dancing until my legs give out.

“Let me get you another?” Ellie asks, shaking her empty seltzer and motioning for my red solo cup.

“No, that’s okay. Tyson gets my drinks,” I say, sticking to the firm boundary set forth, but when I look over my shoulder, they’re actually engaged in a conversation with another human being, rather than staring at me, and instead of disturbing that monumental achievement, I go with the flow.

“Screw it, vodka no ice, please.”

“Back in a jiffy!” She cheers, and I continue to sway with the bass, watching my boys as they spend a little too much time with someone I don’t recognize.

Before I can react and butt my nose in, Ellie practically slams the cup into my hands, the liquor splashing against my dress.

“Sorry, girlie!” She slurs, a little drunker than she seemed a few minutes ago, and suddenly, everything feels off, like I’m stepping into a carefully curated trap.

It’s like my beer goggles were removed, and as I glance around the room, I see multiple sets of eyes focused on me, waiting for me to take a sip of this drink.

My innocent roommate isn’t as much of a pussy that I thought she was, and I can’t help but smirk, actually impressed with how well she got one over on me.

When my eyes meet hers, I see that Ellie is still staring, waiting for me to take a drink, like she’s a trained babysitter, and my guard is all the way up, but I’m always ready to play the game.

On one hand, I could alert Tyson and Jasper, let them know that we’re surrounded on all sides, but what’s the fun in that?

In a split second, I down the entire cup, feeling whatever pills she slipped into it dissolving on my tongue.

If she wants to fight, we absolutely can, and I’ll never go down without swinging.

Besides, if whoever she’s working for is bold enough to try and drug me, they’re going to learn exactly who they’re dealing with.

Before the room starts spinning, I meet her eyes again, a bittersweet smile crossing her lips as I stumble, attempting to catch myself, but failing miserably.

“I’m so sorry, Carter. He made me do it,” Ellie whispers, looping her arm into mine and assisting me toward the front door.

As a last ditch effort before the drugs take over, I try to scream out, but my words are slurred, eyes rolling back as the crowd becomes nothing but blurred figures, and colors.

The darkness tries to take me under, but I push on, continuing to fight. I’m stronger than some silly little pills, and I want to know who’s after me – us.

TWENTY-SEVEN

TYSON

I don’t like parties.

The music is always too loud, people are sloppy, and you can always find kids dry humping each other on any surface available, but I came down here for Carter.