THE VILLAIN
“Didyou really have to give her your number?”
I was leaning over the bar so I could keep an eye on Violet and Weave. She was more relaxed than I thought she would be considering who sat next to her. Eva was grinning as she wiped down the glass in her hand.
“I was going to give you a whole big lecture but after meeting her… I totally get it. I would have gone too. She’s adorable. I hope she calls.”
“What happened to the plan comes first?” I scowled at her.
She picked up another glass.
“It still does. But she can come second.” She paused, smirk growing on her face. “Naw, once I get my hands on her, she’ll come first. At least a dozen times.”
My scowl deepened. “Eva.”
She laughed at my tone.
“Relax,Matthew.” I hated when she said my name like I was a petulant child. “I’m not trying to steal your girl. Well… Maybe.”
“She’s notmine. She’s just a girl. Woman.”
Eva shook her head, grabbing another glass.
“Then stop stalking her.”
I glared. “I’m not.”
I wasn’t. I had to do a bit of research after she tracked me down to make sure she didn’t have connection to any of my enemies or the police. I’d searched a few of her social media pages to learn her full name, and then I looked at the Heroes for Sick Kids web page to confirm she did actually work there. There was a little blurb that she’d worked for the organization for six years right out of her undergrad program. She was one of their best volunteers according to the information I found. Most of the kids, or families of the kids, that she worked with left glowing reviews about how amazing she was.
After Weave asked about her I decided to do a more thorough background check. She passed with flying colours, so I got a hold of her contact information from the hospital and gave it to him.Onlyhim because he was relatively harmless.
But the story of how much fun I’d had, spread like wildfire. Hemlock, Whisper, and Boil had practically begged me for her name. The Weaver was one thing, but the other three were a completely different story.
And their threat level hadabsolutely nothingto do with their attractiveness.
Eva snorted.
“Whatever, dude. You want to live in a river in Egypt, be my fucking guest. As long as you’re sticking to the plan, I don’t care what you do with your free time. Just don’t let her find out about it.”
“Yes, thank you. I’m not an idiot.”
“Could have fooled me.”
I was starting to worry my scowl would become permanent if I didn’t leave soon. “Shut up.”
She laughed. Not exactly my finest comeback, but I was too focused on Violet’s laugh hitting me over the music. Weave wasn’t funny. Was he? I’d only met the guy a handful of times, but he was so weird. Did he have a personality? Like all the time? Or only with her?
“You look like a lovesick puppy, Matt.”
Back to glaring. Apparently, those were my only two faces.
“I do not. I am not. Don’t you have customers to go flirt with or something?”
I shouldn’t have said that. Her smirk was back.
“Why, yes, I do. Thanks for reminding me.” She was gone back in Violet’s direction before I could get another word out.
I sighed. I didn’t know what I was thinking telling Weave to meet her here. That it was my home turf so I could keep a better eye out? That the regulars would look the other way if I needed to step in? That Eva would help me if I needed her to? All of those were stupid reasons.
