Page 26 of The Devil In Disguise

The last thing I plan on getting is a jug of juice. Making my way to the aisle with all the drinks, I curse whoever put my favorite drink on the highest shelf. My hand just barely grazes the handle of the Tampico jug, even with stepping on a shelf for leverage. On my last attempt, a warm and spicy woody scent envelops me from behind before a rough hand lands on my hip. The other tattooed hand appears before my eyes, pulling the jug down.

Kylo doesn’t step back after he has what he needs, and a part of me doesn’t want him to. Throat suddenly dry, I swallow and it’s loud to my ears.

“Kylo, what is poking me?”

“My gun.”

I have a heartbeat south of my chest. My mind wants to blame it on the accident, but danger has always excited me.

Since he won’t move, I push back my ass on him enough to worm my way out from under him, strolling back to where he left our cart. When I turn back to him, he’s still where I left him.

With a faux pout, I say, “Cat got your tongue?” I begin pushing the cart to the checkout without another glace. He didn’t speak again except for mumbling something I didn’t catch. When I pulled my card out to pay, he proceeded to snatch it from me, only to hand over his own.

The ride back was quiet, bar the low music playing from the radio. My eyes are on the view out the window, but my mind is planning what I’ll make for lunch and dinner.

Today is feeling successful. That invisible dark cloud that has been looming over my head hasn’t appeared once.

Kylo helps me bring most of the bags inside then leaves me to put everything away in its respective place. As soon as everything is sorted, I take out a big shirt and a pair of boxers that I bought today and leave it on my bed while I shower. Boxers are comfortable to walk around and sleep in, I stand by that.

When I step out into the kitchen, I regret not buying curtains while I was out. At least the windows are facing the woods where, so far, I haven’t seen anyone really go in. On the new phone Kylo got me, I play old Spanish songs that I grew up on, throw my hair up in a messy bun, and whip up a simple tomato soup with grilled cheese. Singing my heart out, I feel lighter than I have since I woke up in that hospital bed.

Chapter 12

For the past two days I’ve either been inside the house, attempting to occupy myself, or hanging out with Ace in the woods. I’ve offered to give the dog and some of the soldiers a cinnamon roll, but none of them wanted one—that just leaves more for me. I’ve been making them in the mornings for breakfast and snacking on the leftovers throughout the day. They will never stop tasting like a slice of heaven.

After I pull my cinnamon rolls out of the oven, I inhale the scent deeply, holding in my drool. Today, I’m also making a blueberry cheesecake in celebration—this will probably be the highlight of my day.

I hope I don’t see Kylo today. When I look into his eyes for too long, I become overwhelmed with emotions I can never put a name to. Pushing any thoughts of him away, my focus returns to the fresh cinnamon rolls that are practically begging me to take a bite while the cheesecake bakes. It smells like a bakery in here and it couldn’t be more perfect.

Three slices are all I eat of the cheesecake, for now. Some slices are in a container I found, hopefully the soldiers like cheesecake and accept it as some sort of peace offering.

I’m not surprised when they flat-out ignore me, again. At least Ace will sit by me in the woods while I do some training on my own. Yesterday, my body felt strong enough to try some more basic moves and the workout was exhilarating.

Any bruises I had are gone by now or so faded that they are hardly noticeable. No one has come back here to bother me and I trust Ace to alert me if someone does try, which is why when I hear a low growl, my body immediately halts and I pivot towards the unfamiliar face.

“I come in peace,” he says with his hands up in surrender, taking slow steps. Ace doesn’t back down, barking aggressively and I stand behind him with my arms crossed. The man is around my age. He’s robust with short chestnut hair that matches his eyes and light facial hair.

“Did you need to go into the woods?” I ask.

“Not really. I saw you trying to talk to the other guys earlier and how they dismissed you in the same way they did when I got transferred here last night. If you prefer to be alone I get that, but if you wouldn’t mind a partner to train with, I came over to offer.”

He sounds honest, but I won’t fully let my guard down. I learned my lesson the first time around. There’s an aura about him that gives me the impression he’s a good person, but lonely, too. Petting Ace and cooing in his ear to stand down, I walk around him and ask, “What’s your name?”

“Marco.”

“Well, Marco, I’m Amaris. Would you want to try a slice of blueberry cheesecake?”

I don’t expect him to say yes. My question seems to catch him off guard, but when he recovers there’s a wide, boyish grin on his face.

“Hell yeah, girl. You are speaking my language.”

We walk to the tree where I left the container of sweets by. I don’t realize I’m holding a breath until he takes a bite that makes his whole face light up with delight, allowing me to release it. Feeding people makes me feel warm inside. Knowing that they like what I made gives me a burst of happiness inside my body.

Marco bites back a groan on his second bite and doesn’t speak until he finishes the entire slice. “Where did you get that from? It was amazing.”

Glowing under the indirect compliment, I provide, “Baked it myself this morning, thank you. I was trying to share with some of the soldiers when they dismissed me, but it’s nothing new.”

Marco looks offended. “Alright, before we do any type of training, we’re going back and getting at least one of the guys to try this. They have no idea what they’re missing out on.”

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