Page 54 of The Villain

He’s propped up against the wall of the apartments further down.

He doesn’t approach me or give any sign that I exist other than staring as if he’s menacing. I turn in a slow full circle, catching sight of the twins in a car near him. Brody is hiding behind a car close to my truck.

Goodbye phone. It’s a cheaper pay as you go. I need to get something new anyway. Tera has been harping on me to get it done for months now. If I get something with visual options she can see me and still have her time when I lose my voice. Sign language is a gift.

Has Shade included them in our game? It makes me want to stop playing immediately. This is between us, not them.

I need to get used to their interference. He’s working his way back into their fold and I have to grin and bear it. Safe and happy. That’s it.

I wish Tera hadn’t taken the no contact ban away. I would be much more levelheaded about this.

They better not break my windows getting in. I have no problem making them pay up, Shade approval or no.

The apartment door opens and Shade comes out in his pajamas. I watch his smooth movements with a frown. Why is he in a rush? He doesn’t come out in pajamas anymore. It irritated me when it started. No more secret which animes do you like time. Today is one I don’t recognize. I need to stop staring. The character over his crotch isn’t going to clue me in any better than the other figures.

Maybe going off his routine wasn’t a good idea.

“What are you doing?” He asks in confusion.

“Were we not meeting again?” I frown back. Is he meeting with them instead? He must be, otherwise they wouldn’t be here.

“I didn’t think you would want to,” he blows out a heavy breath and shakes his head. “Of course you would. What was I thinking?”

“I can go,” I offer though I don’t want to. I’d rather stay and nitpick over everything the assholes do with him. Maybe a pros and cons list will help tip him into my lap.

“No,” he says firmly, his eyes laser focused on me as if he’s trying to read my mind. “I’ll get ready.”

Since he so clearly wants to know my thoughts I’ll be honest.

“I don’t appreciate your new additions to our game.”

“Game?” He asks, bewildered again.

“The phone? This was for us, not them.” My tone gets gritty with anger.

His eyes snap to my truck and narrow as his mask falls into place.

“No.” His tone has turned monstrous again. As much as I like it, I’m a little confused. Why is he upset?

When he tries to walk past me, I grab the front of his pants and jerk him close. The move surprises him into freezing, giving me a stunned expression at the move.

“They don’t have your permission to play?” I ask him carefully, my anger soothed by his. I thought they made amends and this was a taunt. If it isn’t, what are they doing?

“No, they don’t.” His mask has fallen back in place while I look at the window across from me thoughtfully.

I’m still holding the waistband of his pants. The backs of my fingers are pressed low against his stomach. It’s distracting me.

His heat is addicting, just like his cologne. Does he put it on first thing in the morning? That seems weird. My fingers have been rubbing across the band while I’ve been thinking. Pressing into his skin. Probably not appropriate but I’m not stopping. He hasn’t said anything in protest.

He sucks in a sharp breath. “Evie.”

His mask is faltering, his tone going deep and husky. I glance up at him with narrowed eyes. He’s not emoting over this. He wants me to stop.

“Let them play by themselves. Go change. I need caffeine.”

I take my hand away and give him a pointed look.

“I’ll be right back,” he mutters softly. His tone doesn’t match his expression at all. His focus is on me, searching for something.

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