Page 38 of The Villain

That’s going to stop. If Shade can’t trust the bio as a father or a boss he needs to go. I can think of several ways to get that accomplished. I go with a normal answer first.

“Quit,” I suggest.

He grinds his teeth and looks away. “It’s the only link I have left to my mom. It’s the only thing keeping me talking and he knows it. He gives me updates on her. He’s smug about it, but I can deal with that as long as she’s happy.”

Damn.

“No one verified your story?”

“No.”

“Receipt from the repair shop?”

He gives me a surprised frown. “They emailed it a week later I think. I was busy convincing Tera I wasn’t a piece of shit. I may still have it.”

“Look now,” I point at the phone he’s clutching tightly. “Send her and bio a copy. And the pictures you took at the wedding.”

“How did you know I took pictures?” He asks suspiciously.

Because Tera would have done the same thing and tortured herself looking at them. They’re twins. Maybe they should get a blood test.

“Guessed,” I shrug.

He stares at his phone without doing anything.

“Have you ever had a falling out with one of the only people you know loves you?” He asks me seriously.

I get a flash of my Dad’s face when I was being arrested. My Mom’s horror. They didn’t want to believe that I had done it. Broken someone’s bones in retaliation for an attack that left scars. They thought I was magically becoming a better person and reality slapped them in the face.

“Yes,” I shake all those images away.

“What did you do?” He looks up at me with a face filled with tension.

“I owed. I paid.”

His eyes narrow. “That’s all I get? No back story? I just spilled my guts to you. Shit only Tera and Andi know about.”

“And I will never tell a soul.” I assure him grimly. My past is just that. A past. Moments in time that helped shape me. No one has reached out to me since I got out of juvie. It’s better that way, for both sides.

“Give me your phone,” he demands suddenly. His teeth are grinding in rage.

“I don’t have it,” I tell him with a smirk.

“Prove it.” He spits out.

I raise an eyebrow and stand to turn out my pockets. I’m not sure what else to offer him.

“I need to know something about you, dammit,” he snaps, slamming his phone down in frustration.

He did share a piece of himself that I’ve wanted. If I reciprocate he might tell me more. But what can I tell him? Anything I can think of doesn’t have much emotional investment behind it. I’m not like him. Things don’t affect me the same way.

Maybe that’s it. I can tell him about one of the very few times I felt something.

“I’ve got it.” I retake my seat as he sits up and crosses his arms over his chest.

“I’m waiting,” he says impatiently.

Little brat. He’s lucky I find him adorable instead of annoying.

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