Page 56 of A Wild Darkness

“Assurance?”

“That is correct.”

Sebastian’s palm hits the mahogany table. “I brought you my gun!”

Silas scoffs it off. “The gun you say you use for your kills? That isn’t good enough. It’s impossible to tell if that’s the actual weapon you use.”

Sebastian’s jaw clenches. He’s pissed. The angrier he becomes, the calmer I get. Maybe because he’s responding how I wish I could. “So, you want to watch me fuck my girlfriend instead?”

“Good job, you’re getting it now.” Silas’s smile sends a chill up my spine. “My friends over here need some type of entertainment, and since you’re the newbies, this is a good initiation to prove you’re truly who you say you are.” Then, he casually sips the expensive red wine swirling in his glass.

I squeeze my eyes shut, their exchange echoing inside my head. Sebastian and I need to keep our focus on the job we’re here to do. I remind myself that I’m not only doing this for myself, but for my clients, too. And although I want to throw that fucking glass into Silas’s face, I can’t. Uncontrolled emotions won’t bring them down. This entire operation is bigger than Sebastian and me.

I rest a gentle hand on Sebastian’s forearm. He looks at me with frustration and subtle defeat.

“It’s all right.”

“What?” His forehead furrows with confusion.

We need to negotiate with the group. They crave power, and I have to make them believe they have it while also keeping our own. I feverishly flip through all the scenarios where we could do this with the least amount of humiliation.

“I have some rules.” I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this, but I’m more stubborn than letting the simple act of public sex with my fake boyfriend deter me from what needs to be done.

“I love a good deal,” Silas responds viciously.

“We keep our clothes on,” I demand.

“Ste—Annabel.” Sebastian slips my name before catching himself, but I ignore him and list my concessions.

“And?” Silas encourages, ignoring Sebastian’s protests.

I swallow hard. “Each one of you will need to maintain your distance.”

“How far away?” he asks, entertaining the idea of my requirements.

“Every single one of you must remain seated in your chairs. And no touching yourselves.”

A collective sarcastic chuckle moves through the room.

“What type of animals do you think we are?”

“I don’t fucking know,” I say. “We’re all serial killers, right? I can never be too careful.”

He tsks me. “No one ever said we were serial killers.”

He’s right, they haven’t made a direct statement like that, but we are all here for a reason, and I don’t like him playing coy. “Whatever. You don’t trust us. And we don’t⁠—”

“This isn’t about getting our dicks hard or pussies wet,” Silas interrupts me, bound to get his motivations correct. “It’s about loyalty and proving yourselves.” Now his tone is harsh, as if he took offense to my assumption.

“Fine,” I reply.

“And no talking. No fucking comments,” Sebastian adds as he quickly scans around us. “And we will do it in that corner.” He points to a large bookshelf on the far wall. Covered in shadows, it’s the darkest area of the room.

Silas glances at the others, then turns back to Sebastian and me. “Your pants must be down. I don’t like being lied to.”

My heart jumps with nerves—and fear.

Suddenly, Sebastian grabs my hand. “Let’s get this over with.”