“You know just the perfect words to make a woman eager to hop in the car with you,” she joked.
He winked. “I also know how to kill someone in less than five seconds.”
She looped her arm through his. “Now you’re showing off.”
“Anything to impress the gorgeous woman I am with,” he said, leading her out of her apartment.
In the lift, on their way down to the car park, she contemplated his words. Since he used to work for Falcon, his fighting skills had to be good. They didn’t seem like a company that hired pen-pushers. And, from Devlin’s physique, she guessed he worked out a lot to stay in shape. A sudden chill veiled around her when they left the lift and walked to his car.
What if he does know how to kill someone that quickly?
21
Unforgettable Gala
Annalise nibbled on her lower lip as they presented their invitations at the City Hall’s entrance. Her heart was beating like a drum to the point where she thought it was going to burst with anxiety. Sucking in a deep breath after they passed the scanners, she moved away from Devlin to rest her body against the wall.
“Are you unwell?” he asked, his eyes reflecting concern.
“I’m fine, maybe a little nervous.” Annalise planted her hand on her chest and tried to think of everything other than the engagement announcement. To her dismay, she didn’t get a chance to do that.
Her father came over with a huge smile on his face. She couldn’t tell his fake smiles from the real ones anymore. He spent his entire life refining his outward mask. “At last, you two are here.” William shook hands with Devlin and spared a glance at her. “Pull yourself together! This is not the place or time to show your weaknesses.”
She straightened her back and pressed her lips together to restrain her rebuke.
Her father went on, “After the dinner, there will be a dance at the Grand Hall. We will announce your engagement there. Regina and I have donated some artworks from the twentieth century as part of the charity auction at the end. I hope you didn’t come empty-handed.” His stern gaze locked on Annalise, and she cringed.
She had forgotten about the charity auction with everything else that was on her mind.
Devlin patted William on the shoulder with a laidback smile. “We have put our heads together and arranged for something to be delivered.”
Annalise gaped at him but swiftly hid her surprise from her father with a smirk. Devlin had saved her from having an argument with her father. He must have known she was too preoccupied to remember. Her heart sank a little. He knew enough about her to prepare for such an eventuality, yet she couldn’t begin to place his personality and true feelings. She shook her head. She knew his feelings, and she was going to manipulate and toy with them while Falcon ruined his life. Her hands balled at her sides. She couldn’t let that happen.
She took Devlin’s hand, pulling him to follow her. “We need to talk.”
William glared at her. “Don’t do anything stupid tonight, Annalise. I have great expectations of you.”
Letting her father’s harsh words slide, she led Devlin to the first floor of the City Hall that was filled with offices. She pushed him into the first opened one, closing the door quietly behind her.
He ambled to the mahogany desk and sat on the edge of it. “Care to explain why you brought me to a secluded office? I may get the wrong idea.”
She wiped her perspiring palms on the sides of her dress. “There is something you need to know. Two days ago, I met with a—” Her wrist comms beeped with a message, drawing her attention. She skimmed the contents, and her breath hitched.
UNKNOWN Sender: If you tell him the truth, someone you care about will die tonight, Detective. Choose wisely.
“Met with whom?” he inquired.
With a paling face, she lowered her arm. Her wrist comms had been hacked. It must have happened while they were at that warehouse in Bronze. She swallowed, pushing down the knot that has formed in her throat. They had been listening to every conversation she had. They had heard about Monique and her feelings for David. Is she the target? Are my parents? They were in a public place, but that wouldn’t stop Falcon from killing someone. James Steinberg was murdered at the last ball, and no one batted an eye.
Devlin walked up to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “What is it? Tell me, so I can help you.”
She couldn’t do it, even if she desperately wanted to. “I—I met with Jamen and Calla. They don’t seem to like you much. So, I was thinking that we should figure out a way for you to…improve your working relationship with them somehow.”
He scowled at her. She knew he didn’t believe her. Instead of pressing her for more information, his gaze travelled to her wrist comms. “What was the message you got a minute ago?”
“It was from Chief Sunderland.” She pushed him away to create some space she needed to breathe. “He wants me to undergo a psych evaluation.”
“I see.” Devlin’s lingering gaze brought forth her feeling of guilt. He opened the door and indicated for them to return downstairs.
She was glad he didn’t keep insisting. He was smart enough to know that something was going on. Hopefully, she wouldn’t need to tell him. By dropping a hint here and there, she could guide him to the right conclusion. And, now that she knew that Falcon listened to everything she said through her comms, she had the upper hand. She could control the information she fed them. But, first, she needed to find a way to temporarily disable the microphone in her device without alerting them to the change. She could take her comms off when she needed to say something important, although she was certain they would figure it out sooner or later.
Her mind was elsewhere when she was guided to the dining hall. The glossy white marble flooring shimmered with the lights from the silver chandeliers that hung above everyone’s heads from the high ceiling. She spied her father and mother talking to a group of politicians she remembered belonged to her father’s party. On the left side of the room, Monique was standing next to the patterned arched windows.
Her best friend’s attention was on a man who stood next to one of the central tables that were adorned in embroidered lilac tablecloths. Annalise assumed it was Monique’s fiancé, Aaron Somerfield. He was dressed in a charcoal tuxedo with his short light-brown hair gelled back. A number of women had gathered around him like flies. Their false smiles and forced pleasantries told Annalise that they weren’t there for his humour or personality. He had rugged looks, but he paled in comparison to David. Since the modded weren’t allowed in the City Hall, David must have stayed behind or waited in the car.
“I think I’ll go talk to my friend.” Annalise separated from Devlin’s side and started walking towards Monique.
Her friend shot her a captivating smile when she noticed Annalise. Her long, glossy red hair was curled at the ends. The black deep V-neck maxi dress she wore showed off her generous cleavage.
Annalise paused in front of her friend to take in the delicate diamonds she wore on her choker and bracelet. “You look stunning!”
Monique pulled Annalise in and hugged her close. “Oh, thank God you’re here! I was getting the chills from the old creeps who keep on staring at my boobs.”
“Didn’t you want them to do that? I mean that dress—”
“Ew, no. I would have worn a sack, so I wouldn’t be noticed by these old geezers,” Monique explained, drawing back. “But Aaron insisted. He wanted everyone to know that I’m his new obsession.”
Annalise frowned. “Why aren’t you by his side?”
“Why aren’t you with Mr Hottie you walked in with?” Monique playfully elbowed her in the side. “You told me he looked nice. From where I stand, there are only three men who commandeer the female attention in this room. Your father because he is the leader of the Anti-Modded Party, my fiancé because his pockets are lined with gold from all the real estate his family owns, and your partner who is a walking sexy mystery.”
“I guess
he can make a few heads turn.”
Monique cocked a brow. “You’re insufferable, you know that?”
“You love me really,” Annalise replied, grinning.
“Of course, I do.” Monique hugged her again. “I seriously hate these events. I feel like I’m on display for others to judge.”
“You are.” Nodding in the direction of the women around Monique’s fiancé, Annalise added, “They have judged you from head to toe the second you came in. Because you’re not clinging to him as if he’s your property, they think of it as an opening. What they don’t realise is that he has been stealing glances your way every now and then.”
Monique hugged her waistline. Her voice came out full of uncertainty. “Do you think he cares about me? It’s hard to tell. I secretly wanted him to pull me along with him and not to leave my side tonight. But when I said I didn’t want to meet-and-greet people, he told me to wait here for him.”
“He did what you asked. I don’t see why you’re upset…”
“You’re right.” Monique’s shoulders sagged.
Devlin strode up to them. He greeted Monique and offered Annalise his hand. “The dinner is about to begin. We must get to our table.”
She slipped her hand into his, feeling the warmth of his skin on hers. His fingers gently wrapped around hers, and she turned to her friend. “I’ll see you at the dance.”
“I don’t think I’ll stick around. I may feign being sick and go home early.”
Annalise pouted. “Don’t be silly. If you are going to marry Aaron, you have to do this much for him. Remember, appearances are everything in our world.”
Monique’s eyes glistened with her sadness, even though her lips tugged into another practised smile. “You’re right.”
At their table, Devlin leant in to whisper in her ear in his husky voice, “What you said to your friend, is that how you feel about us, too?”
Drawing back from him, she adjusted the napkin on her lap. “You know as well as I do that we cannot change what we were born into.”
Her parents took their seats at the table. Another four people she didn’t pay attention to were also soon present before the food was served and drinks were poured by the staff. Annalise zoned out for most of the meal. So far, with Devlin by her side, she was able to stay out of the conversation. He kept the table busy with tales from his genetic research and anecdotes from his Academy days. But when the dinner ended and a staff member announced that the Grand Hall was ready for the ball, her worries resurfaced.
Upon entering the Grand Hall, Annalise’s breath was taken away. No matter how many times she had seen the Sistine Chapel ceiling’s replica, she was always in awe. The painters of the old could bring out such beauty into the world, whereas modern art and hollo-projections were bleak imitations in comparison. Sometimes, she wished she could go back in time to see that masterwork being created. Too bad time machines hadn’t been invented—not for the lack of trying.
“Annalise, I am going to take this chance and do the announcement,” her father said, heading for the podium on the other end of the room.
The attendees stopped what they were doing, directing their attention to William as he cleared his throat.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I am overwhelmed with happiness today,” her father began, and Annalise grimaced. “Not only are we here, gathering money to help renovate the rundown schools in Bronze, but my daughter, Annalise, is engaged to the son of our family’s greatest benefactor and supporter.”
Annalise’s brows drew together. She didn’t know anything about that. Since when did Devlin’s family become financially involved with hers?
William raised a glass of champagne into the air, and the others in the hall followed his lead. “To the union of the Storms and Falcon.”
Everyone in the room cheered to the news while Annalise felt like the ground under her feet had opened up to swallow her. Slowly, she turned her head to the man standing next to her. It has to be a lie. Devlin left Falcon. They shot him…twice! Was it an act?
People crowded around them, throwing their congratulations on deaf ears.
“Annalise?” Devlin’s voice broke through her horror. “I didn’t think he would reveal it like that… I was waiting to tell you the truth.”
She stumbled backwards, bumping into an older man and causing him to spill his drink on his shirt. Mumbling an apology, she fled the hall. Tears stung her eyes. They had lied to her. All this time, she was a pawn in their game. Her parents, Devlin, Mr X…they had to be in cahoots with each other. She burst through the doors that led to the balcony that faced the park. Dark clouds hung over her head, stealing the beautiful view of the stars. Her pace slowed, and she grasped the stone railing. No. Mr X wasn’t with them. He wanted the engagement to fall apart, narrowing his identity to one person who would benefit from this chaos.
As if her thoughts summoned the man himself, Mr X spoke behind her, “I am pleased you went along with my plan, Detective. As a bonus for being such a good girl, I’m giving you the address of the man you wish to see the most.”
She whirled on the spot, glaring daggers at him. “What are you talking about?”
“Your beast, of course.”
Her heart jolted with happiness. But, her apprehension took over as her eyes narrowed. “You’re Devlin’s brother, aren’t you?”
Mr X seemed taken aback for a moment. A sluggish smile tugged at his lips. “I see that my half-brother has mentioned me.”
“Why are you doing this? Why play this game?”
“Because he doesn’t deserve what he has.” He invaded her personal space and bent down to whisper near her ear, “Devlin is someone much worse than me, I assure you.” With that, he sauntered out of the balcony, leaving her alone to ponder his words. Her wrist comms beeped with a message from the Mr X, telling her the address of where Mavel was staying. She had nothing holding her back anymore, so she ran to the exit.
On her way there, Devlin caught up with her and pulled her into an empty hallway. “Annalise, let me explain.”
“Explain what?” She yanked her hand out of his grasp. “That you were lying to me from the beginning? My parents knew who you were and who you worked for! Why did you come to the HPD? Were you there to sabotage our investigation? And getting shot by Falcon, they were all tricks to get me to lower my guard, right?” Her head was beginning to hurt with the endless questions. What pained her most was that she felt betrayed. On some level, she had put her faith in him as her new partner, and he had shattered that trust in a second. For someone who had been lying to her for so long, he didn’t appear guilty.
“I kept my identity a secret because I knew you would react like this,” he said in a calm voice.
Slapping him would alleviate some of her anger, but she refrained. His brother was going to get exactly what he wanted, and she didn’t feel bad about breaking the engagement anymore. A cruel smirk appeared on her face. “I am not marrying you. Not after Falcon has taken my servant from me and kept tabs on everything I do. You being by my side proved that you are nothing more than a spy who is here to keep me and my department in line.” She pulled the engagement ring off and thrust it into his hand.
“Annalise, please…”
“Don’t ever call me by my name again. I’m going to see Chief tomorrow and tell him that I want a new partner.”
He lowered his gaze. “It’s true. I am working for Falcon. But, you have to believe me. The succession race wasn’t my idea. The Board of Directors and my mother were behind this.”
“I won’t believe anything you say from here on in.”
Devlin stepped back from her. “The engagement must remain intact, for your sake.”
“I don’t care for your excuses, Devlin. Stay away from me.”
Annalise left the City Hall and caught a taxi back to the Tower. She changed out of her dress, dumping the jewellery on the bed next to it, and went down to the car park to get in her car. Her heart and mind were beginning to fill
with Mavel as she drove to the bowels of the Green District.
22
Her Beast
Rain battered against her windscreen when she passed the final barrier and drove into the Green District. Her cheeks were wet with tears that wouldn’t stop. Along with the sadness came her revulsion. She was a fool to believe Devlin and her parents for a second that they wanted something good for her. From the start, they had planned this joke of an engagement to gain more power. Her feelings or thoughts weren’t considered in the slightest. But, it wasn’t their indifference that drove the dagger home. It was Devlin’s betrayal. Throughout the time they had spent together, he told her that he no longer worked for Falcon; that he had nothing to do with them anymore. Yet, here they were, at the end of the cycle and ready to go again.
Her wrist comms kept beeping with an incoming call from her father for the past fifteen minutes. She ignored it, turning the device off. Seeing Mavel was the only thing that was keeping her from breaking down. She needed some anchor to cling to.
She parked her car outside of a rundown hotel. The green neon lights on the windows and the overflowing bins outside made her question if she had come to the right place. After putting on her coat, she wiped away her stray tears and got out of the car with her hood up. She crossed the cracked road to the other side, noticing eyes of the modded on her. It was dark out. The streetlights that continued functioning were at the crossroads, twenty feet up the road. No one would notice if she went missing here.
Taking a steadying breath, she entered the building with her hands shoved into her pockets. The alabaster at the reception had ruined his beauty with a multitude of tattoos on his face and neck. His hair and eyebrows had been shaved off. The rest of his scrawny body was covered in baggy clothes, but she guessed he had more ink under them.
“Do you have someone named Mavel Green here?” she asked, resting her arm on the counter.
He looked up from the game he was playing on his terminal. “We don’t give out private information.”
Case: 1: A Dystopian Mystery (Annalise Storm Chronicles Book 2) Page 16
