Meet Jade Cross, New York City's infamous heartbreaker-better known as the Black Widow.
She plays with guys at her will and, once she's had her fun, leaves them with a broken heart and a red kiss at the corner of their lips-her trademark.
Her latest...
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Jade's POV
Liz sighed loudly. "I can't believe she would actually go through with something like this."
"Mhm."
My phone buzzed in my hand, and I unlocked it to find another message from the unknown number.
Unknown: Miss me?
No.
A second message appeared before I could put the phone away.
Unknown: You're not that much of a talker, are you?
Me: I was hoping me not answering would give it away.
Unknown: Lucky for you I like feisty.
I stared at the screen for a moment before typing back.
Me: You're disgusting. Take a hint.
The reply was almost immediate.
Unknown: :)
"I don't think she's anywhere in or around the gallery," Liz said from a few feet ahead of me.
I looked up from my phone. Whatever irritation had been showing on my face must have been obvious, because her expression immediately shifted into concern.
"Something wrong?"
I locked the screen and slipped the phone back into my pocket. "No."
Liz raised her eyebrows in a way that made it perfectly clear she didn't believe me.
I rolled my eyes. "Everything's fine." I glanced around the nearly empty exhibition space and considered the situation for a second. "In fact, it's getting a little boring."
She tilted her head, confused.
A smirk slowly crept across my face.
"Let's go find this bitch."
Liz's expression changed instantly, matching mine with alarming enthusiasm.
"There she is," she said like a proud mother.
⸻
Since Victoria had apparently disappeared from the gallery, Liz and I took our search outside.
"Taking one of your final-grade pieces seems a little too specific to be random," I said as we walked. "She knew exactly where to hit you, which means whatever this is, it's personal."
"It is. Her name's Victoria, and she's in my art class," Liz explained. "I recognized her earlier and we got talking."
That still didn't explain much.
I scanned the surrounding campus for any sign of pale blonde hair. "What could she possibly have against you?"
"Honestly, I'm not sure. If I had to guess, she's trying to take out the competition." Liz tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I've seen some of her work before and she's really talented. Maybe she thinks I'm a threat."
