Page 131 of Drowning in Darkness

She shoves me out the door, but I don’t care. She’s right—I know how to be unseen, and I have to be out there. I need my eyes on Stephanie. I need to keep her safe.

And that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

FORTY-SIX

STEPHANIE

Sometimes we have to be brave for those with less strength than ourselves.

I feel like a super spy with the discreet listening device tucked into place and concealed by my mass of curls. The trackers are split between the inside of my bra, my clutch, and the lace on the top of my stockings. What’s the worst that happens? Christopher realizes that I’m trying to fuck his world up? Sure, but I’m in a crowded room, and he’s already been hunting me. He just doesn’t realize the prey has turned the tables, and he won’t until it’s too late.

I won’t live scared anymore. It’s barely surviving.

Honor walks me into the ballroom, and I scan the area which looks so similar to where it all began, with an odd conversation with a man on the patio. I didn’t know it then, but that was the moment Christopher chose me.

It’s grand and expensive, filled with those same types of people who’ve never had to lift a finger. I remember that world, know it like the back of my hand, and it all feels so wrong. Evil creeps below the surface, and people are either too distracted by their own lives to notice or willfully ignoring it. Either way, it tells you everything you need to know about what kind of people the rich and powerful really are.

A live band plays music in the background, and partygoers mingle and gorge on thousand-dollar hors d’oeuvres and champagne.

Honor’s presence next to me is a comfort, but I know it can’t last. Christopher won’t make his move unless I’m alone. Right on cue, Honor stops near a quiet corner of the room. “Alright, I’m going to leave you to it. But I’ll be nearby, and we’re all keeping an eye on you. You’ve got this.”

I nod, smile, and wave my hand at her as if we’re having a normal conversation and I’m shooing her off. “I’ve got this. Thank you.”

Honor leaves. This is really happening. I blow out a breath, forcing down the rising panic at the way the hairs on my nape prickle with awareness. Someone’s watching me. Focus, Stephanie.

“Sweetheart, I’m right here with you.” James’s voice is like a soothing balm to my nerves, and I let it bolster me, giving me strength.

I accept a glass of champagne from a passing server who winks at me and taps his ear. I’m not alone. I straighten my shoulders and sweep my gaze across the room, already knowing who I’ll lock eyes with. Christopher raises his crystal glass full of amber liquid in my direction, and in that one look, I read my future misery and eventual death.

That right there is why I’m doing what I’m doing. He needs to be stopped. No more women. No more victims. I’m not an idiot; I know I can’t rid the world of all its scum, but I’ll damn well do my part by not shying away when the opportunity to make a difference presents itself.

Now, I need to appear strong but pliable. He enjoys taking a woman in her prime and destroying her piece by piece until there is only him. I wish I had the time to spare to give it right back to him, but I’ll have to settle for him facing the charges he should have eons ago.

The evidence collected tonight needs to be irrefutable, and the victims strong enough to give the testimony needed to bring him down. Therein lies the problem in our plan—the variable we can’t control. If we mishandle it, he’ll walk away free, and he’ll rightly believe he can get away with literal murder.

I remember there’s a glass of champagne in my hand after I’ve stood still for a hair too long. Sipping it, I shut down any ounce of nervousness that won’t help me right now. I channel the reserve I have inside me, the one honed by everything I went through. I turn away from Christoper, letting him get an eyeful of my back. I won’t be scared of him. If he wants to sneak up and make a move, that’ll just play right into our hands.

Putting my arm across my chest so that I can rest the opposite elbow on it, I walk around this side of the room, looking at everything Honor and her team painstakingly set up in this grand space, immediately sensing someone closing the distance behind me.

I’m not about to make this easy for Christopher, though. One, that wouldn’t look very believable, and two, I enjoy jerking his chain a little.

I finish the flute of champagne and look around for another server. In doing so, I catch a glimpse of Christopher. He’s much closer now, and I realize that in finding someone with a fresh tray of drinks, I’ve wandered closer to the employee back room, a place no one else is hanging out.

No sooner do I have my drink and the server is gone again, than I hear the click of high-end loafers steadily approaching me. I keep my back to where I last saw Christopher, and James’s voice rumbles through the earpiece.

“Stephanie, he⁠—”

The next thing I know, Christopher is standing in front of me, nonchalant as ever, champagne in hand. I swallow hard, hearing James curse.

“Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in.”

My stomach does somersaults despite the fact that I knew he was coming. Shivers rush down my spine, and I have to forcibly keep myself still, my expression neutral.

“Do I know you?” I snark, trying to get under his skin.

“Don’t rile him up, Stephanie. An angry Christopher is a dangerous one.” I can’t reply to James to remind him that he’s always dangerous. So instead, I just smile.

“Now, now.” Christopher steps closer, using his size and body language as an unspoken form of intimidation. “There’s no need to be rude, especially when I know you’re lying. I know you went into hiding, Stephanie. And why would you do that if it wasn’t about little old me, hmm?”