“And now he’s back, richer and more influential than ever.” I think on that for a minute. There are certain people—like Tess, like Paul—who are used to being inside the inner circle of this town, members of a very select and elite club. And now? Here is this outcast sauntering back in and starting a new circle, one whose members are decided solely based on his own wants and desires. That is bound to piss off the wealthy and powerful even further. “Tess seemed surprised that Seamus was in on this whole thing.”
Maxx makes a bit of a face, but I can tell that he doesn’t understand the politics here any better than I do.
“She thought she and Seamus were friends. I think him allowing Justin to not only stay in one of his vacation rentals but also to host his launch party at his house is sort of a blow to her. She doesn’t understand it.”
“And your parents?” I query back, but he just shakes his head again.
“I don’t know. Maybe they invested in the app? They’ve been friends with the Vanguards since like forever ago. I don’t even remember meeting Parrish; I’ve just always known him. You know that my dad worked at Paul’s office as an accountant until recently, right?”
I blink at him in surprise.
“Actually, I didn’t. To be fair, we might have chemistry, but we don’t know each other all that well.”
Maxx’s lips curl up in a very real, very sexy sort of smile.
“Chemistry, huh?” he asks, and I frown on the pretense of keeping the situation serious. In all reality, I’m fighting back a blush. “I look forward to getting to know you better, Kota. Whatever it takes. However long it takes.”
My heart skips a beat, but I don’t play into his flirtations. I’m too nervous. Tonight, whatever happens, it’s going to be intense. Even if it’s just a party full of lying, scheming rich people that’s being hosted by a charming but very talented murderer/software developer.
“Introduce me to your parents tonight, okay?” I ask, and Maxx gives a nod and another smile.
“Happily.” He pauses for a minute, narrowing his eyes slightly before glancing over at me. “How would you like to be introduced? As a friend? As my crush?”
I don’t have an answer for that. Not one that’ll make everyone happy. Him, me, Chasm, or Parrish. Because I intend on telling Parrish everything as soon as I get the chance. He deserves the full truth.
“How about as Kota?” I ask, and Maxx smiles softly, giving another nod.
When we approach the horde of reporters—it’s grown in size since this morning, so I’m guessing the extra fed activity is stirring them into a frenzy—I yank my blazer over my head and duck down.
Maxx blasts right through them, punches the gate code in, and up the driveway we go.
I don’t let out a sigh of relief until the garage door is closed safely behind us.
Once inside the house, I see what Maxx means. There are all sorts of people in here—including the two FBI agents. The dark-haired one is staring at me again which sort of freaks me the fuck out. I’ve been questioned before—on more than one occasion. The day after Parrish went missing and then again a few days later. I’m very clearly not a suspect but maybe I should be?
“You’re Dakota, right?” the woman asks, coming over to stand in front of me. She’s stunning, with long raven hair and a power suit that rivals only those that Tess wears on the regular.
“That’d be me,” I agree, glad that she’s calling me Dakota and not Mia. The last two times I was questioned, I was exclusively referred to by my birthname.
“I hear you’re attending a party tonight,” she says in that patronizing way that adults sometimes use with teenagers. I even heard Tess say something to the tune of ‘oh, they’re still just babies’ the other day. I get that we don’t have a lot of life experience and that our brains still have some growing to do, but Jesus Christ. Fastest way to piss a teenager off: call them a baby or talk down to them. Control them.
See how far that gets you.
“Yep,” I say, as Maxx tucks his hands into his pockets and waits patiently behind me.
“My name is Itsumi Takahashi, and I’ve been working on your brother’s case for the last few weeks.”
My brother. Sigh.
“That’s great,” I tell her honestly. But you have yet to solve it. Meaning Justin is better and cleverer than the FBI. How fun. I’d say my life was like a teen novel, where all the adults are idiots and somehow the teenagers run circles around them. But really, everyone is an idiot compared to Justin Prior. He’s the one running circles. Maxx, Chasm, and I are being led by the nose around the arena, a team of horses meant to be broken. “I really hope you find him soon.”
