Mercy (Somerset University #3) - Ruby Vincent Page 0,62

ridiculous about you in that dress, Valentina.”

Maverick snarled low in his throat. “Is the next thrill you’re chasing being put through that fucking wall, Burke?”

“Oh ho,” he laughed. “Just an innocent compliment.”

Rowen marched us further down the hall. The music grew to deafening. In spite of our wardrobe, a loop of rock, pop, and rap thumped the speakers—so loud the chandeliers rattled over our heads.

Hayes’s home was and wasn’t what I expected for the kingdom of a health food conglomerate. I pictured an ode to life in green motifs, plants, and vibrant paintings of forests and animals.

I got the forest at least. Black and white birch trees adorned the walls, plunging us in a world without color.

Nearly everything was gray, black, white. Black lamps. White Chandeliers. Gray doors with white bucking stags locking horns where the wood met. Rowen pushed through and swept us inside.

I stopped dead on the threshold, thinking for a second my mind was playing tricks on me.

Colors swirled on the dance floor. Scarlet satin whispered past cream chiffon. The click of gold heels and tinkling jewels might not have been heard over the music if not for the hundreds sounding in unison.

“Who are all these people?” I shouted.

“We put out a last-minute invitation around campus to whoever could swing the dress code. We figured why not?” He gave us a little shove. “Go. Dance. Drink. Val, they’ll get you when we’re ready for you.” Rowen’s wink sought me through the mask.

“Ready for what?” Maverick bellowed at his retreating back. He swore. “Val, forget this shit. We’re going now.”

I opened my mouth to argue and found myself swept off my feet. Maverick tossed me over his shoulder, carrying me out of the ballroom.

“It’s a test, Maverick,” I said to his back. “You had yours and now I have mine. I pass or I’m out.”

“These people are insane.” He plopped me on my feet. “Whatever they’ve thought up for you, you’re not doing.”

I quirked a brow. “Surely that’s my choice.”

“You’re mistaken.”

I couldn’t help but smile. Can’t lie. More than a few times their overprotectiveness drove me nuts. Putting tracking apps on my phone for example. But most days—actually, every day when they showed up exactly when I needed them, I loved them deeper for how much they loved me. “It’ll be okay. They’re insane but they don’t have death wishes.”

“Not entirely sure that’s true. Two weeks ago, it seemed a slow painful death was exactly what they were after.”

Wincing, I tried to think of a rationale and came up short. “I miss the days when they were holding back.”

“But they’re not anymore.” Maverick cast a look around. Taking my hand, he pulled us into a nook between the wall and bookshelf. “We didn’t understand why the lies, or disappearances, or Aiden’s permanent shit-eating smirk. Now we do.”

“We’re only guessing,” I whispered.

“It’s a pretty good guess. The reason for all of this is—”

“Rick?”

I jumped.

“What the hell are you doing, man? Your tree-trunk self can’t hide behind—” Hayes stepped into view. “Ah.” He winked at me. “If you want to hook up, any room upstairs is yours. I know you like your privacy.”

It’s the world I walked into where not getting naked with my boyfriend in front of an audience was said with disdain.

“Thanks,” I said lightly. “We’ll take you up on that offer.”

“Grab a drink with us first. Loosening you up before the big event.”

Us came around the corner. Eve, Sabrina, Winston, and Phillipa got their hands on us and we returned to the ballroom. Through another lens, the party was magnificent. They leaned into the grays and blacks, weaving fairy lights around the room and setting up silver glitter machines that rained down on the guests. The shouting, gyrating, drinking, and cheering pointed to this being named the best party of the year.

Maverick and I drifted one way and the others went left toward the long table bearing drinks. It was impossible to tell who anyone was behind the masks. I assumed they were Somerset students, but who knew what circles the club members ran in.

“Whoo!”

Another cheer pierced the music. Maverick peered over the bobbing heads.

“Something’s going on,” he shouted. “There’s a crowd in the middle of the dance floor.”

It did appear the dancers were converging on one place. Curious, I pushed through the bodies with Maverick on my heels and then with him in front of me, shifting people aside with that hulking mass of muscles and perfection.

I stuck to him to avoid the pushy, braying dancers.