Page 60 of Devious Lies

“Um, I have to leave after this,” she says,

“What? Why?”

Even though I was just thinking the same thing, I don’t like that Maria brings it up first. Her leaving, that is.

I don’t want her to go.

I want her in my house.

Right fucking here.

But I’m being crazy.

I mean, I want this woman like mad, but I can’t just keep her here.

I want to.

But I can’t.

What am I going to do? Lock her up like a prisoner. Or some kind of fucking caged bird.

Yessss, hisses my inner Viper.

I rub my hand over my face.

Shit.

Yeah, I really do want to.

But I can’t. I just fucking can’t.

And it is pissing me off.

“It’s S-Sunday. I, uh, I go to church,” she says, and I can’t hide I’m stunned.

I’m over here getting all jealous, imagining a dozen fucking scenarios, all bad, and Sweet Baby Girl over here just wants to go to church.

I’m a complete asshole.

“Of course. I’ll drive you home after we eat and get dressed, okay?”

She nods, her smile a little dimmer now, and that pisses me off.

But I’ll make it up to her.

CHAPTER NINETEEN-MARIA

“You’re on at six, right? I’ll send a car for you here at 5:30,” Luc says, pulling up outside my apartment.

“What? No, you don’t have to do that,” I say, but he’s just looking at me like don’t be stupid.

So, I accept it.

After that minor uncomfortable moment at breakfast, Luc and I had a quick discussion about work and responsibilities.

He sometimes gets called out of town for the Vipers. And I totally understand and respect that.

Just like he understands I won’t take money from him. I have to work. And if he won’t let me work at the Den. Then I’ll go elsewhere.

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