The Monster Ball Year 2

by Heather Hildenbrand

  “Same to you.” He smiled. “I’ll never forget you.”

  “Or me you. I never forget a ghost.”

  “Be careful. You only get one heart.” He didn’t say what he was specifically talking about, but he didn’t have to.

  “I will.” At least I’d really, really, try.

  Chapter Eight

  “So he’s really gone?” I watched the spot where Adrian had disappeared.

  “Gone is a hard term. Is anything or anyone ever really gone?”

  “Okay. No waxing philosophical tonight. You know exactly what I mean.”

  “I do, but that doesn’t mean I can’t give you a hard time about it.”

  “We do need to talk.” I struggled to stay a few inches away from him.

  “Talk about what exactly?” His lips twisted into the barest hint of a smile.

  “You know precisely what I mean.”

  “Do I?” He captured my hand with his and brought it to his lips. “Do you even know?”

  “Stop. I know what you’re doing.”

  “I’m not doing anything.”

  “You’re an incubus.” I let my voice fall to a whisper.

  “Is there a reason you are whispering?”

  “I don’t know. Just seemed like I should.”

  “It’s not a secret.”

  “Then why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Didn’t come up.”

  I pushed his shoulder. “Hey. Stay serious.”

  “You know exactly why I didn’t tell you.”

  “Because you wanted to trick me and trap me.”

  “Trap you?”

  “I notice you didn’t correct the part about tricking.”

  “Because the trapping part seemed more important.”

  “It’s a pretty big thing not to tell me.”

  “But you know now. That’s all that matters.”

  “I don’t think it works that way.”

  “Sure it does.”

  The crowd surged around us, all heading up toward the roof.

  “Looks like the fireworks are starting.” He grabbed my hand and led us up the stairs. Once again, I had to wonder why I was following him blindly. I was acting nothing like my usual self, and that scared me.

  We found a spot and didn’t have to wait long before the sky lit up with every color under the rainbow.

  “Oh my gosh, they are gorgeous.” I looked up at the kaleidoscope of colors on display.

  “Not as gorgeous as you.” He was looking right at me.

  “I know what you are now. It’s not going to work.”

  “Hey, I’m just speaking the truth. I’m not trying to make anything work specifically.”

  “Sure. I believe you.”

  “What you feel is real.” He put our hands—which were once again entwined—over my heart. “It’s all real.”

  “So you say.”

  “I speak the truth.”

  “You also speak sexiness, so I don’t trust you.”

  “Speaking sexiness isn’t bad.” As if to prove his point, he gave me his big sexy smile.

  “Not bad. But dangerous.” I thought of our make-out session in the privacy cube. And the one by the wall. My whole body heated again.

  “Do you always run warm?” His hands found their way to my hips again.

  “Stop it.”

  “Stop what?” His eyes danced with amusement. He grinned. “Come on. Cut me a break. I’m not doing any of this on purpose.”

  “Or so you say.”

  “Honest. I’m not.” He gave me puppy dog eyes, which were hot on him. Of course they were. Everything was hot on him.

  “Am I ever going to see you again?” Maybe all my worrying was for nothing, and this was a one-time thing. I couldn’t help but feel incredibly disappointed at that possibility.

  “Of course you are.” He leaned in.

  “Oh?”

  “Soon.” He brushed his lips against mine. “Very soon.”

  “Confident, aren’t you?”

  “Yes. Even if it weren’t for our obvious chemistry. You want answers.” He bit down on my lip. “I have those answers for you.”

  “I know what happens when I ask you for answers.”

  His grin grew bigger. “You get warm. Very warm.”

  “See, stop.” I pushed him away before his lips or hands could do anything else.

  “Stop what?”

  “Nope. Not going to go around in a circle with you.”

  “You’ll get used to it eventually,” he teased, pulling me back against him. “For now, let’s enjoy the fireworks.”

  “Do most girls have this much trouble resisting you?” It was easier to ask these sorts of questions when I wasn’t looking at him, but it was made difficult by the evidence of his arousal pressed against me.

  “I’ve never seen anyone as affected as you.”

  “Hey.”

  “What? It’s true. Sure, when I’ve purposely turned the charm on, I have seen a reaction that big. But like I said, I’m not even trying. Plus, I’ve never been this affected by anyone before, so it goes both ways.”

  “I’m not sure if I should believe you.”

  “You have your proof right there,” He ran his lips down my neck.

  “When will I see you?”

  “I already told you. Soon.”

  “But when?”

  “I’ll surprise you.”

  “I don’t like surprises.”

  “What?” He turned me around in his arms so we were looking at each other. “That’s going to have to change. You’re with me now, and I am going to be surprising you a lot.”

  “We’ll see about that.”

  “Yes, we will.” His lips crashed into mine, and once again my body went on autopilot, responding to him, holding on as tight as possible, wanting all of him. Wanting him to have all of me.

  “Until we meet again, my Gabriella.” He broke the kiss.

  I opened my eyes and was blinded by a bright light. Before I could comprehend what was happening, I was back on my balcony. “Whoa.”

  I looked out at the dark night, immediately disappointed not to find Rexton out there. I opened the door and returned to my empty apartment. Living alone had never felt so lonely before.

  “Is this soon enough?” Rexton appeared as if out of thin air.

  “Wait. What. What are you doing here?”

  His hands returned to their usual spot on my hips. “What do you think I'm doing here? I’ve come to finish what I’ve started.”

  “Good.” Maybe it was reckless. Maybe it was stupid. But I wanted Rexton, and I didn’t care.

  “Uh, I should probably tell you, you’re not alone.”

  Rexton released my hips and spun around to come face to face with Ronny. “Who the hell are you?”

  “I’m Ronny. Gabriella’s new roommate.”

  “You have a ghost roommate?” Rexton slipped a hand around my waist.

  “No. I don’t.”

  “You do now.” Ronny grinned.

  “And this is why you don’t make friends with ghosts.” Rexton left a small kiss on my lips. “I’ll let you handle this job alone, but I’ll see you soon.”

  “Wait. You’re leaving?”

  “Not for long.” He ran his hands down my arms. “I couldn’t stay away for long even if I wanted to.”

  He disappeared into thin air.

  “So how was your night?” Ronny grinned.

  “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

  “Try me.” He took a seat on my sofa.”

  I sighed. “Maybe tomorrow. Tonight I have some very sweet dreams to enjoy.” I walked off toward my bedroom without another glance back. Harriet had been right about one thing. Sometimes it was good to take a night off.

  The End—For Now

  Look for more from these characters coming soon!

  Turn the page for more Monster Ball…

  Spies Like Us

  By

  Stacey Rourke


  Chapter One

  I was very well aware that I fucked up.

  Never fall for a mark.

  Never become personally invested.

  Those were S.I.A. 101 introductory principles.

  Not that I ever believed Lannister Collum was my happily ever after… as if such an archaic concept could even exist. No, he was a pure blood vampire whose family ties date back centuries, and I’m a dhampir mutt. Half human, half vampire; never fully accepted by either.

  Still, when I met him at a rooftop club in Soho, I was taken aback by his chiseled good-looks and dapper perfection. Even though I was there under the guise of a bartender, he slathered on the charm and made me feel like the only woman in the room. So, yeah, my dumbass bought into the act … for a while.

  I told myself I was gathering intel as he showered me with attention and whisked me off to exotic locations. But that was a lie even I wasn’t buying. Now, don’t get me wrong; it wasn’t love that I was feeling for the guy. That would imply some element of trust. Knowing what I did about him, I was well aware of the need to proceed with the caution of tip-toeing into a snake pit. What I felt for him was a raw, fascinated interest of being so close with something so deadly. Consider it like stumbling on to a dragon. You know eventually you’re going to get burned, but—until then—you’re going to enjoy the hell out of riding it.

  The first sparks of that looming flame flickered into view one week ago.

  That’s the night when Lannister was dragged into our penthouse suite by two of his men with a UV bullet lodged in his shoulder. I gave him my blood to keep him alive and dug out the bullet fragments with a pair of tweezers. Then, playing the part of the doting girlfriend, I positioned myself by his bedside and snuck a glimpse at the cell phone that seldom left his hand. I found a few suspicious numbers, a plethora of incriminating messages, and a text to someone he called Bunny where he revealed his agenda for me.

  I was a publicity stunt.

  A trophy he intended to parade through something called The Monster Ball in an attempt to boost his public persona. Whispers of his criminal activities against other supernatural species had begun to spread. What better way to showcase himself as a well-rounded, likeable guy than to show up with a half-breed like me on his arm?

  Knowing that I was being used by that narrow-minded asshat was the only inspiration I needed to fix my attention back on the mission. See, I had been stationed in that rooftop bar for the sole purpose of getting close to the infamous vampire bad boy.

  My name is Teigen Hodge, and I’m an undercover agent for the Supernatural Intelligence Agency. Lannister’s activities landed him on our radar after he started a turf war with a dangerous Lupine pack in Chicago.

  The pack had been selling and distributing drugs to humans for longer than the S.I.A cared to admit. Just when we thought we had brought down the leader of the organization, an even more corrupt alpha took the seat of power. Lannister escalated their growing feud by distributing a batch of meth laced with vampire blood. That was when the S.I.A called me in to learn all I could about his underground organization.

  And I learned enough to bury him…

  Thanks to dhampir strength, speed, and agility, I am exceedingly good at my job. I was even able to tail him the night he was shot and make it back to the penthouse before his thugs dragged his sorry carcass in. I know exactly what happened and just how monumentally he fucked up. Under the flickering streetlights surrounding an abandoned warehouse, Lannister met with the alpha of the Blood Moon pack. Seems they learned of the secret, highly-addictive ingredient in his meth supply, and wanted it off their streets. Lannister, the dumbass, offered them a payoff—in a move that reeked of elite vampire privilege.

  As it turned out, his gesture was not warmly received. The alpha reached for his gun, but Lannister pulled his first and shot him in the heart with a wolfsbane cartridge. Falling in a trembling heap on the blood-soaked pavement, the alpha died in an agonizingly painful instant. Pack members returned fire, one landing the shot they prayed would be fatal as Lannister dove for cover in his getaway car and sped off in a cloud of burning rubber.

  I have no doubt that the media would have portrayed it as just another gang related shooting… if the public ever learned of it. The entire mess was covered up by representatives from both sides that happened to have the connections needed to protect their assets still in play. But, if the truth were to come out that Lannister pulled the trigger, it would start a war between wolves and vamps… or lead to his public execution.

  And I have everything I need to implicate him in the murder at my fingertips.

  My team is in place. But it will take every ounce of skill we have to pull this off. Success means the world will see Lannister Collum for the criminal he truly is.

  Tonight, I trade my gun for Manolos in what is, without a doubt, the most complicated mission of my career.

  What can I say? Hell hath no fury like a spy scorned.

  Chapter Two

  Grabbing the layers of taffeta from the skirt of my designer gown, I hitched up the hem enough for me to bend over without stepping on it. Moving down the alley of bathroom stalls, I peeked under the slotted black doors to make sure each was vacant. As ladies rooms went, it was one of the trendiest I had ever seen. Black and white subway tile lined the walls and floor. Cement countertops added an urban chic flare while the occasional potted greenery softened the look with an earthy warmth.

  Positioning myself in front of a mirror with a sleek black frame, I glanced in one direction then the other one final time. Puffing my cheeks, I exhaled through pursed lips and examined my reflection. How my team scored a Christian Dior gown, I had no idea. Without a doubt, I owed someone big time. Granted, I knew shockingly little about fashion, but it seemed like a masterpiece. The form-fitting bodice was a tapestry of different textured black ribbons that exploded out in rippling cascades of fabric that fell to the floor in a grand sweep.

  Diane, our team tactical specialist and guru to all disguises, tried to convince me to curl and pin my chin length bob into some sort of elegant coif. Yeah… no. A little pomade, and I styled my cherry-cola strands into stylish punk disarray. You can force the girl out of her jeans, but you can’t make her tame the ‘do.

  Squeezing one of my tear-drop diamond earrings, I did a quick equipment test. “Sebastian?”

  Nothing. Not even static.

  “Shit,” I grumbled. Remembering the first part of a very simple two-step plan, I gave the back of my earring a half-turn then tried another quick pulse.

  Thankfully, this time there was a crackle from the miniscule earpiece stuck inside my ear.

  “Teigen?” Sebastian’s voice was a welcome relief after a moonlight transport to God only knows where.

  “Okay,” Shoulders sagging, I audibly sighed in relief. “You were right. It would have been insane to try to sneak in a gun. The security was way too tight.”

  From the other end of the line came a shocked gasp. “I’m sorry, what did you say? I was right? I know that’s a pretty plush party, but are you sure no one slipped anything into your Cristal? Because the girl I know was insistent she could walk right in there with a gun shoved between her ass cheeks and no one would be the wiser.”

  Blinking at my reflection, I waited for his long-winded rambling to end. “You about done? Because I’d really like to get back to bringing down the crime lord. If that’s okay with you?”

  “Ugh, don’t call him that,” Sebastian tsked, “He’s not smart enough to be a crime lord. He’s a spoiled, undead, rich boy who got in over his head. Speaking of, let’s go over your asinine plan to bring him down one more time.”

  One corner of my mouth tugged back in a sarcastic smirk. “So supportive, even when you don’t agree with me.”

  “I’m just saying, we don’t need these theatrics, T.” Something creaked on Sebastian’s end, making it sound like he was forcing open a metal warehouse door. “The team is in place where the two of you were picke
d up. We have enough evidence to make the arrest. We could bring him down with minimal risk…”

  “He humiliated me, Bash,” I interrupted. “Tried to use me as nothing more than a PR stunt.”

  A beat of silence, then, “Well, he’s a fucking idiot. Look at you. Any man would be lucky to have you on his arm.”

  Feeling a hot blush spread from my neck to the tips of my ears, I bit my lower lip. “You’re sweet, for trying to make me feel better. That said, you didn’t even hang around to see the final product of my beautification process.”

  “About that, wave at the mirror. There’s a camera in your earring. It was the only way I could help you navigate through this. And, I put a tracker in there for good measure. Which is how I was able to follow you, and move into position in the red brick high rise across the street.”

  Mouth opening with a pop, my mind whirled to catch up. “That… was a lot of information to take in. I’m going to gloss over most of it by telling you to stay there. There are wards, security, and crazy-strict rules in place. Nothing good would come of you trying to break in.”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it. I like my life too much. I’m here to guide and nothing more. This party and plotting is all you. Speaking of, got the satchel?”

  “You mean Lannister’s man-purse? Yes, I have his man-purse.” Parting the top layer of my full-skirt, I revealed to the mirror an empty russet bag pinned within the fabric. “Diane had to have it expertly cleaned. Lannister had it on him the night of the shooting, and It was covered with Lupine blood. It would have set off all kinds of wards if I tried to bring it in. But, the goal is for Lannister to recognize it enough to be on edge that there is proof out there they will connect him to the murder. If he’s got an ounce of sense, he’ll be panicked at the sight of it.”

  I was mid-sentence when the bathroom door burst open.

  In dashed a gorgeous female with a very distinct look, one that could only be described as crazed and horny. Our eyes momentarily met in an awkward mutual acknowledgement of catching each other at a less than stellar moment.