After pulling into the parking lot and one of the last open spaces, I waited, keeping my eyes peeled on the road. The car slowly drove by. I couldn’t tell the make or model, but it was older, completely black with tinted windows. I could only imagine the adventures if Xander used his car.

  As I climbed out, I laughed softly to myself. I was one twisted woman if that’s the way I was thinking. Life was an adventure. Xander had just kicked it up a notch.

  Ashley and Stephanie were already inside, both laughing at something while I approached.

  “There she is,” Ashley told me and squeezed my hand. “Steph told me you got the job with Blackwell.”

  “I did,” I said, grinning as I sat down. “You ordered wine. You two are incorrigible.”

  “Well, it’s a celebration. You do have a hot new job. And without all the trouble you expected too,” Stephanie said. There was a strange look on her face. She’d found out something. I was certain of it.

  “You know what? I was looking forward to the last contest. I know it sounds crazy, but to be able to test my skills in real-life scenarios is rare.”

  “And terrifying,” Stephanie added.

  “Not if you know what you’re doing.” I glanced over my shoulder, noticing the same dark vehicle. Was he planning on staying across the street the entire time?

  “What are you looking at?” Ashley pushed.

  I glanced from one friend to the other. “Nothing. Just my own private security team.”

  The two women glanced at each other. “Maybe you ought to rethink working for Blackwell.”

  Stephanie obviously had discovered some details. I’d asked her to grill her father and see if he knew more. “What did you find on the brothers?”

  “Their records are locked down tight. No one can get to them,” Stephanie answered.

  “Not even the boys?”

  She shook her head. “Some court order that has already been challenged by Wilder Blackwell. He got nowhere.”

  “Except for finding his brothers. Right?” Ashley asked.

  I nodded. “Xander mentioned something like that. Why can’t they find out anything about their birth parents? There must be a logical explanation.” I toyed with my white wine, swirling the liquid in the glass.

  Stephanie leaned forward. “After Dad told me to drop it, I pushed on that question. He said the only reason the information would be locked down was that something horrible either happened with the children involved or one or both of the parents were… well, either criminals or worse. There is no way to break the court order that he knows of.”

  “So Xander will never know why he’s the way he is.” I was musing and almost regretted my words instantly.

  “I, um, did find one thing,” she said. The flush on her face was surprising.

  Ashley and I looked at each other. “Okay. What?” The tone was demanding, but if I needed to learn something about Xander then now was the time.

  She grabbed her purse, pulling something into her hand. “I did a deep dive on Xander’s name. There was pretty much nothing I could find until after the Blackwell Group began to become successful. Except for this.”

  As she slid whatever she had across the table, I took a deep breath. Stephanie curled her fingers when she removed them as if whatever she’d found had driven her to anger or sadness. I couldn’t tell which. When I unfolded the paper, I realized it was a copy of an old newspaper article from over twenty-five years before.

  There was very little information about a little girl who’d been killed except for the person who’d found her. A very young Xander Blackwell, and the girl had been his foster sister.

  Poor Amy. I couldn’t imagine what she’d gone through.

  A chill coursed down my spine. “He tried to save her,” I said absently, not really talking to either of my friends.

  “Are you sure about that?” Stephanie asked, wincing as soon as she did.

  “Yes, I am. That’s what…” That was why he’d taken upon himself to become judge and jury. And why he was determined to protect me. I looked away as a swarm of butterflies made their home in my stomach. He wasn’t a bad man after all, just… Just misunderstood. What in God’s name had he suffered?

  “Aren’t you terrified of the man any longer? Didn’t you hate him?” Ashley asked and gave me one of her tough girl looks.

  “Things change. He’s not as bad as I originally thought. I’m not afraid of him. He inspires me.” That was the truth.

  “Wait a minute,” Stephanie mused as she sat back in her seat. “From what I remember, you were out for revenge, which was your reason for you going after this job. Now, you like the man?”

  Shrugging, I lifted my glass of wine, finally taking a sip. “As I said, things change. He’s… amazing.”

  The two of them stared at me for a full ten seconds before we all started laughing.

  “Our girl finally met the man of her dreams. And she’s in love.” Stephanie was far too excited, but I could easily see the continued concern in her eyes. She lifted her glass as if for a toast.

  “Don’t embarrass me,” I chastised and leaned forward so we could click our glasses together. When I did, I knocked my purse off my lap. Half the contents spilled out, including the mail I’d picked up. “Shit.”

  “Aww. He makes her nervous. You need to tell all, girlfriend. Is he good in bed?” Ashley continued to laugh.

  I couldn’t help myself, giving her the finger as I placed the wineglass on the table and reached down for the contents of my purse. As soon as I snagged the mail, I realized there was another black envelope I hadn’t noticed.

  A rush of excitement tickled my system as I retrieved it.

  “A love letter?” Stephanie teased.

  Exhaling, I turned the envelope over to see the return address. “It’s from the Blackwell Group.”

  “Well, open it. Maybe it’s some invitation to a fancy party.” Ashley’s grin was mischievous.

  A slight hint of nervousness drifted over the initial excitement. But when I opened it, the excitement returned.

  A reset. A dark moment. A necessity in time.

  You’re invited and don’t be late.

  The time of your life awaits.

  Test your skills, your resolve as well.

  Once completed, your competence will tell.

  You can use the tools provided for a dance with the devil.

  But beware of untold trials.

  Make your way to the other side and you’ll be deemed the winner.

  If not, you’ll be labeled a sinner.

  Come prepared…

  For if you win, you’ll become a member of a very special society.

  The invitation was for tonight, the time listed. Well after dark. I sat back and Stephanie grabbed the card from my hand. The location was different from before, but exactly what Xander would choose. Plus, this time it was very private.

  I was also being directly invited to the Obsidian Society.

  Excitement surged through me. I did so adore his games.

  “I thought the contest had been postponed,” she said.

  “Yeah, so did I.” There was no reason for me to feel as nervous as I did, but the anxiousness had returned and I nonchalantly looked out the window. The car from before wasn’t anywhere in sight. “But it’s not just for the job, but entrance into this special society.”

  Had Xander sent a private invitation? That was entirely possible. I slowly turned my head.

  “If you ask me,” Ashley said as she placed the invitation in the middle of the table, “the whole thing is creepy as fuck. Why are you going through hoops when you already have the job? This society sounds crazy too. Besides, don’t you know terrible things happen in the dark?”

  Her words broke the strange spell. “Ha ha. Maybe I shouldn’t have taken you to see the movie. Come on. It’s a game. That’s it. I assure you Xander won’t allow anything to happen to me. It’s all in fun.”

  “Why don’t you call Xander and tell him no. If he cares about you, he’ll understand.”

  I glanced at Ashley. “That’s not how the game is played. I’m not supposed to know who’s involved. Remember? Plus, if what we all suspect is true then I’ll have some very nice perks by being in the society.”

  Stephanie sighed. “Maybe so, but I don’t think you should do this. Anything could happen to you. I agree with Ashley. It’s creepy.”

  “Oh, come on. This isn’t new for them. Do you honestly think the company would allow anything bad to occur? They vet out their sites and have staff working on this. My guess is that location will be the most highly secured place in Chicago.”

  My statement was true enough except if the game only had two participants.

  How could I explain to my best friends that events just like this one had brought Xander and me together or that our strange fascination with dark and depraved activities fueled the raging fire between us?

  “You’re probably right. I don’t need to do this. It’s silly. I already have the job.” I snagged the invitation, shoving it into my purse. They didn’t need to know all my business. They’d only continue worrying or try to stop me.

  I was barely able to contain my excitement. Xander was one wild man. My thoughts drifted to the article I’d just read. I understood so much more about him and why he’d done the things he had. While I still couldn’t condone his actions, a small part of me admired him.

  “I’m glad to hear you say that,” Stephanie said.

  “Me too,” Ashley piped in. “Xander Blackwell is hot, but this is just… weird. If this is his idea of romance, you need to run far away. There are plenty of hot guys out there.”

  I took a deep breath, still uncertain about what I wanted to do. What I did know is that the invitation was exactly the kind of romance Xander enjoyed.

  Me too.

  Yet I was still asking the same question.

  Was I completely out of my mind?

  CHAPTER 36

  Xander

  The winter air howled with bitterness, ominous shadows embracing me as I stared at the shadowed trees of the dense forest. Yet I wasn’t cold, thriving in the cooler temperatures. I stared up at the sky, the moonless night unforgiving for those not used to the rough terrain.

  This was my playground. Hers too.

  “Amy. Where are you?”

  I moved through the trees, stumbling twice from the fallen limbs. I was certain she’d come this way. The woods were her safe place like they were mine. I stopped to catch my breath, listening for any sign of her. It wasn’t like her to be gone this long.

  She’d told me just the night before she was so afraid, but wouldn’t tell me why. “Amy. Where are you?” I had to keep my voice down. He might hear and if he did, he’d hurt both of us. I pushed forward into the shadows, the air already frigid as night set in.

  I should have brought a coat, but I hadn’t been thinking. I had to find her. That’s all that had been on my mind.

  My feet were almost numb, but I forged on, pushing my way toward her favorite spot by the river. After going a few more steps, I pulled out the flashlight I’d stolen from his garage. He’d punish me for it, but I didn’t care. Amy was all I could think about.

  I’d told her I’d always be her protector. I’d told her I would care for her when no one else would. I made a promise I had to keep.

  The beam highlighted just how dense the forest, the recent storms blowing down trees in almost every direction. Even as limbs slashed against my face, I continued pushing forward. I was almost there.

  The sweet taste of copper assaulted my mouth as a trickle of blood slipped past my lips. My exhales were fogged as the night air settled in. I swung the beam from one side to the other, thankful I was almost at the lake. She had to be freezing by now. I’d need to get her home quickly before anyone noticed we were missing.

  I wouldn’t allow her to get another beating. I’d kill the bastard first. The sound of running water pushed me even harder. I moved through a club of thick foliage. “Amy. Are you here? We gotta go home. Ralph will be looking for us.”

  Other than the water trickling over rocks, there was no other sound but the light breeze floating through the remaining leaves on the trees. I swung the light, walking closer to the water. When the beam caught sight of something, I jogged toward whatever it was.

  “Amy?” I lowered the beam so that the light was concentrated on the ground. “Amy?” I dropped to my knees, struggling to breathe as I peered down at her. “Amy!”

  Her little face was covered with dirt, her vacant eyes staring up at me. Her dress was torn, her panties ripped away. “Amy. Wake up. Please. I’ll get you out of here. I promise.”

  Only my promises could never be fulfilled. As I pulled her head into my hands, I realized how much blood was everywhere. My sweet Amy, my best friend and the girl I’d promised to protect was dead.

  “No! No!”

  Push harder.

  Move faster.

  Remain invisible.

  The basic mantras had kept me going during my childhood, the reminders typically keeping me from enduring brutal acts of punishment. Every challenge I’d faced I’d met head on, every brutal savagery done to my body providing inspiration to hone my skills.

  I closed my eyes and lifted the weighted bar several times, hoping the exertion would drive the ugliness away. Usually, it did, but not tonight.

  Why had I thought of Amy right now? It had been years. Fucking years.

  She’d been so young, so beautiful, and so sweet.

  “Fuck,” I hissed. The last two weeks had dredged up too much of the past. I wasn’t prepared to go down memory lane any longer than necessary.

  I’d always known I’d been born with violence running through my veins, yet Amy’s murder had driven me into the world of retribution. I’d been unable to protect her or destroy the person responsible. That had changed me from a deeply disturbed young man to a monster. Maybe I needed the reminder.

  As sweat rolled down both sides of my face, I took a deep breath, holding the air deep within my lungs as I pressed the bar of weights up to my full arm extension. I’d enduring almost a full hour of working out, but it wasn’t nearly enough to contain the heightened level of testosterone in my body.

  I was agitated, still harboring certainty there were unseen forces out to destroy the company. Yet there was no evidence to that fact.

  While Elizabeth was ceremoniously going through every employee to ascertain the person responsible for the leak, I still had my doubts the individual involved would ever be found. That didn’t bode well for my mood.

  As I positioned the two-hundred-pound bar onto the stand, I thought about Jessica. She’d become my obsession. Was it healthy? Well, hell no, but I’d never worried about what was good or bad for me before. The sentiment simply didn’t exist in my world. What I continued to find interesting was that Jessica was the only person to truly understand why the darkness inspired me.

  I hopped off the bench, immediately grabbing the towel I’d tossed on another apparatus. My body was covered in sweat, but at least my muscles were taut. I snatched the bottle of water, ripping off the cap and tossing it aside. As I chugged, my needs rushed to the surface.

  Staying away from her wasn’t an option. I needed her and I would have her.

  Again and again.

  The thought always brought a smile to my face. I blotted perspiration from my face, ready to head to the showers when I heard my doorbell. No one just stopped by.

  A sweep of anger rolled through me as I headed for the door. It was entirely possible one of my brothers had dropped by. I certainly wasn’t in the mood for company. When I opened the door, I was taken aback by the roughed-up man standing on my doorstep.

  “What the fuck are you doing here?” I snarled. Visions of blood and gore invaded the forefront of my mind. Sadly, some inner voice was reminding me I couldn’t touch him. Not yet anyway.

  Dorn.

  “Please. Please. You gotta help me.”

  “Why the fuck should I help you?” I laughed in his face. He’d been used as a punching bag at some point, although the blood on his face had already dried.

  “Just let me in. I can explain. Please.” He looked over his shoulder as if he’d been followed.

  Reluctantly, I let him in. “What do you want, Dorn? As you might imagine, your company is not welcome.”

  He took several deep breaths as he placed his hand over his heart. “Yeah, well, I’m the only man who can help you solve the riddle.”

  “What riddle are you referring to?” I folded my arms and glared at him as he scanned the foyer, paying close attention to the various works of art on the walls.

  “I was fucking arrested. Did you have anything to do with that?”

  Nothing about this was funny yet I burst into laughter. My cunning Jessica had some mad skills. “Do you really expect me to be sorry about that after what I witnessed you doing?”

  The man was antsy, shifting from one foot to the other, constantly looking over his shoulder. “I know what you think of me, but I didn’t want to hurt Ms. Waldrop. I wasn’t going to do anything else. It was just meant to scare her. Then you showed up.”

  I took a deep breath, fisting my hand. “How much were you paid?”

  “Ten thousand. Like I said, it seemed harmless.”

  “Who fucking hired you?”

  “The same asshole who paid me to write the fucking article. I had no idea what a shitstorm it would stir up.” I’ll be damned if the man wasn’t acting as if he had less of a conscience than I did. “Hey, man. Don’t you want to know who hired me to ruin you and your brothers?”

  My pulse hitched a beat. “Go on.”

  “Not until you pay me. I gotta get out of town before they find me. They did this after I did your bidding and retracted the article.” He stuck out his hand.

  I snagged his wrist, bending to the point he howled in pain.

  “My bidding?” I laughed in his face again. “You’re not getting a dime from me, Dorn. You’re a pinhead prick who extorts from anyone you believe you can. Give me the information and you’ll live.” I bent another few degrees until sweat broke out over his upper lip before shoving him away.