“Which one?”
“What are you drawing?”
“A girl,” she said, trying to avoid answering.
“Doing what?”
She turned it around, showing me the drawing on her tablet.
A girl stood facing a mirror, a rope of thorns wrapped around her with one over her mouth. The mirror showed another girl, this one perfectly beautiful, but a sinister smile on her face, with two little horns poking out of dark hair.
“It’s incredible,” I finally said, glad I could think of anything to say.
“It’s not, but I appreciate it either way.”
“Do you think I go around complimenting people on their art often?”
Her lips pressed together, the slight red hue to her cheeks making me stare at her now.
“No. I guess you wouldn’t,” she said, turning the tablet back around to glance at it. “I answered your question. Now, are you really just here to get to know me?”
I had too many things to do, but there wouldn’t be a good way to explain I was neglecting a lot of my work to stalk her so I could either kill her dad or ruin his life.
Or both.
My phone rang before I could respond.
“What?” I snapped.
“We need you back here,” Hero said.
“Why?”
“Trouble with a messenger.”
“Fine. I’ll be there in fifteen.” I clicked off, my eyes meeting hers again. “Well, you got your wish, Rebel. I have to go.”
Her eyes narrowed as she stared down at me. “Are you coming back tonight?”
“No.”
Her face fell the slightest amount, and I was surprised at how quickly she recovered. Would she really rather have me lurking around than be alone?
“Will I see you again soon at all?”
“No,” I said. It was a lie. I would be back another night and she would see me again, but the guilt itching its way into my brain made me tell her no. I would be using her, and she thought I came for her. I didn’t know when I started to feel anything like guilt or empathy, but I wasn’t okay with it.
I stalked back out to my bike I left hidden by the street. I had shit to do, and taking care of one lonely rich girl all night wasn’t going to be on the list.
Eleven
Regan
Ididn’t know what I was doing. What had I been thinking?
I held on tighter to Jake, my stomach churning at how stupid of an idea this had been. This felt nothing like riding with Rook. Rook had been a wild driver, but I hadn’t felt like I was about to fall off every second.
Jake, on the other hand, was currently making me wonder if jumping off the back of the bike would be safer.
