Page 125 of Ghost Hunted

The wince turns into a full cringe when I recognize her name—she’s the person giving the gala. “Ah. Sorry about that. I’m, uhm, new here.”

“So I see. Who did you come with, Mrs. Cabello? I can’t seem to remember seeing your name on my list, but then, we invite so many important people that sometimes, it’s hard to remember the names of the lesser, I mean...”

She chuckles condescendingly as she glances around the glittering room, and I’m overcome with the sudden urge to punch her.

“I’m with him,” I say, waving my hand vaguely at the group Logan’s standing with.

“Ah, Lia Colt!” Her brow clears. “Of course. I’m so glad you could join us. You know, Logan and I go way back...”

“Really?” I ask, wishing I had something else to drink.

“Yes, I’ve known him since the very beginning. I was the first person to back him. Invested in his early endeavours. Not to brag, of course, but it’s safe to say I’m the reason he’s as successful as he is.”

“I see.” The polite smile plastered on my face is starting to hurt.

“Of course,” she continues, “you’ll remember that, won’t you? What I’ve said, I mean. I think my son is around somewhere—I’d love to have you meet him. His name is Jack. Maybe you could just mention to Logan, in passing, what a good student he is... very ambitious, plays football... he’s at Devil College, you know, and...”

I nod, trying and failing to keep up with her flow of words, and heave a sigh of relief when a boisterous voice cuts in.

“Ah, so you’re Logan Colt’s new girl?” I turn around to see a chubby little man walk up. “I’ve heard all about you. So glad he brought you out.”

“Oh, uhm... thank you.”

“Heard all those cage stories, too, haha! Hey, Logan! I’m surprised you didn’t bring her on a leash, eh?”

The man calls out to him from across the room before I’ve even had time to process what he’s said. I gasp when Logan turns around slowly, shock distorting his features when he realizes I’m not beside him. His expression grows cold as his eyes land on me.

“Lia.” He doesn’t say anything else as he reaches me, his punishing hand squeezing my arm the only hint that I’m in trouble.

“Never thought I’d see the day when you’d take her out!” chuckles the boisterous man. “Not in the cage anymore, huh?”

Logan’s hand practically crushes my arm.

“So, how are you celebrating your little evening of freedom? Can I get you a drink?”

“Yes, please,” I say, realizing that my smile is still frozen on my face. “I’ll have a... a... glass of champagne.”

“She’s got quite the taste for luxury, your little caged pet, doesn’t she?” The man snaps his fingers and the bartender fills up a glass. Then he hands it over to me, and before Logan can stop me, I grab it and gulp it down.

He scowls at me but doesn’t speak.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Logan this sullen,” chuckles the man. “You know, he’s known as the Devil clown. Oy, Greg!” he calls out, gesturing to another guy in a suit. “Join the cage group!”

“Alright,” says Mrs. Everton, flashing us all a smile that seems to say boys will be boys. “Enjoy your evening!”

She walks away, and the guy named Greg strolls over. “My man,” says the other guy, thumping him on the chest. “We were just talking about cages, and you’re like, Cage Guy #1.”

“Oh, stop,” chuckles Greg. “I just had a good idea, that’s all, and everyone’s copying me now.”

“But seriously, it’s a whole new level of fucked up,” says the other guy. “Logan, I don’t know if you’ve heard about it. His cage doesn’t have a door. Can you believe it, man? That poor girl has been in it for ten years now; hasn’t she? Greg can’t go inside or let her out for a walk. He uses it for one purpose only. I’ll let you guess what it…”

“Logan,” I whisper in his ear. “I need to use the bathroom.”

He nods, still not speaking, and starts leading me away.

“Logan, I’m sorry to have to say this,” the man calls after us, “but the bathrooms here aren’t mixed. Gloria Everton sure has some backward ideas. She set up a women’s bathroom only, and she enforces the hell out of it. So get those dirty thoughts out of your mind, man.” Logan looks back at him, and out of the corner of my eye, I notice the man’s expression faltering, but it doesn’t prevent him from talking again. “Hey, Logan! I can count on your support for my campaign, right? Remember, the elections are coming up!”

Logan doesn’t answer, pushing me toward a bathroom with a women-only sign on the door.