Page 264 of Stay Scared

A pause. “Yes, alone.”

Cade reaches the bottom of the stairs. I hear him coming up.

Owen extends one hand.

I look at it, then at him. “What happens if I take it?”

His fingers curl. “You find out.”

That answer is better.

I take his hand.

Owen yanks me through the doorway and slams the door behind us. Cade hits it seconds later, hard enough to shake the whole frame.

Owen keeps his grip on me as my back hits the wall. His other hand closes around my jaw, the white mask hovering inches from my face.

“You have been impossible all week.”

I grab his shirt. “You planned an illegal after-hours hunt because I annoyed you?”

“It is our building.”

“That is not what illegal means.”

“Then stop smiling.”

I kiss the blank mouth of his mask.

His grip closes harder around my waist.

Behind the door, Cade hits the frame again. “You have ten seconds before I break this.”

Owen glances toward it. “He will.”

“I don’t doubt it.”

Another impact cracks the latch.

Owen makes the mistake of looking toward the door.

I slip under his arm and run.

The door bursts open behind me, and Cade comes through like something escaped containment. Owen swears and follows.

I hit the stairs.

Ash waits at the bottom, wearing the Voice and filling the landing.

“You planned nothing.”

His real voice sits beneath the mask. “No, I didn’t.”

“You let Owen start this.”

“Yes, I did.”

“That seems unlike you.”