Page 28 of Beautiful Liar

I broke cover and entered the space with all eyes on me. My soles squishing on the otherwise glossy wood floors as I walked to Dasher. He gave me an eyebrow raise.Everything’s fucked.

I plopped down on my rolling chair.

“What’s going on? You must know something.” Ashlee asked, bypassing the greeting part. She’d been Kieran’s longest girlfriend, and everyone knew she wanted him back. I couldn’t help but eyeball her hand to see if she had a brand. Nope. I didn’t see one. That didn’t mean she didn’t have one somewhere else.

“Why don’t you ask your ex-boyfriend,” I cranked out, bristling with jealousy I hoped didn’t prod through. “He’s back.”

Her eyes lit up as if she’d been given permission to binge eat rocky road ice cream with extra fudge.

“Ashlee, drop it,” Ashton said. “The fucker doesn’t care about anyone but himself.”

I pointed at Ashton. “Smart man.”

But they still weren’t leaving.

“Look, all I know is that Jack’s drugs were tainted, so keep away from that shit. That’s it. That’s all I got.”

“Can’t you get more information? You’re one of them.”

“I’m not, and no.”

Micah shook his head and stormed out. He wasn’t my responsibility. None of them were. Let them find their own information. I was about to tell them that when Micah returned, and he wasn’t alone. The god of chaos stood at his side. Or at least that’s what the guy looked like. He was about my age, if not a few years older. Not bulky, but elegantly lined. He moved like liquid death—not the H2O kind. Slow, languid, but lethal. Everyone in the room seemed to have held their breath. I was sure Ashton was going to piss himself any minute now.The newcomer slowly dragged his whiskey-colored eyes over everyone in the room. Pulling things apart in slow increments. He quickly dismissed the girls. Roved his eyes over Dasher with a flare of his nostrils and perused Ashton longer.

I looked between them and felt bad for Ashton. He may have been an entitled prick but he wasn’t a bully. I hated bullies. Never mind that I used to be one when I ran with my brothers.

“Tomás?” My name sounded like warm syrup on his lips. The guy’s voice was smooth stone, edged with enough grit to make him sound sultry. Or threatening without trying to be threatening. His wavy brown hair was parted in the side and fell across his eyes.

Ashton looked strangely relieved and pointed at me.

Thanks, dude.

My throat still hoarse, I managed a croaky, “Hey,” drawing the guy’s attention. Dasher sneered at me. I shrugged. Too late now. “Welcome to the theater department.” Charity gave me her glare of death. Considering I almost got her killed after the flag wars, I didn’t blame her for being cautious of my brilliant ideas. “I’m Tomás,” I rambled on like a Mack truck with a busted engine. “Are you considering joining the theatre?”

The whispered groan from Dasher suggested that had been the wrong thing to say. The corner of the guy’s lip twitched, and his eyes gleamed with a hint of malicious mirth. They were warm brown, lighter than even mine. Except warm was the wrong word to use with this guy. His eyes were intensely focused, rigid. Not cold but something that drew attention to my very mortal lifespan. I understood why Ashton had looked about to pee himself. Ashlee held on to her brother while Charity refrained from her usual flirty self. Dasher stood so still I almost forgot he was there. And Micah had already bolted out of the building as soon as he’d been forgotten.

Those whiskey-colored eyes were laser focused on me. I’dseen the eyes of madness in Miguel. He’d never been diagnosed as a psychopath, but we all had suspected something off about him. But even with Miguel’s crazy stare, I’d never seen eyes so deep in darkness. There was a lulling drift to them. The danger an allure that made me curious. It wasn’t exactly the way I felt with Kieran. Throughout it all, Kieran always gave me control when I needed it. This guy would not give me control. He’d take it freely.

“I’ve heard so much about you,” he said. His voice vibrated the air between us. Ashton and Ashlee started for the door but stopped as soon as this guy glared at them. “Don’t leave on my account,” he said. He oozed next to Charity who remained like a statue. She revealed nothing. Not the giddy flirt she’d been with Wren. Not the concerned friend she’d been with me for a moment. Her arms crossed in front of her body, she simply gave him a side look. “Please, continue your discussion.”

He hadn’t answered my question and he had everyone obviously afraid of him, and I hated bullies.

“We were actually leaving,” I said.

I felt the collective relief of the group. “But if you and your secret name wants to join theatre, you should go see Mrs. Comiskey.”

I pushed off the desk. The others followed my lead, scrambling to get the fuck out. Except Dasher, who remained at my side. But this fucker wasn’t having it. He clamped a warm hand on my arm, stopping me dead in my tracks.

“You’re upset,” he said, a slight cock to his head. I hadn’t expected the question nor the touch. I also didn’t yank my arm away.

Everyone else scattered.

“Maybe,” I said.

“Why?” the guy asked.

“You ignored my question.”

“I didn’t want to tell you who I am. Yet.”

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