Page 56 of Nemesis

I bite my lip against that accusation. It’s a guess anyway.

It makes me think he’s suddenly reevaluating my relationship with Saint. He can’t know about the hate-fuck. If Saint said anything, he would’ve been in worse-off shape than Kade left him, and that would’ve just been from my brother.

Never mind what Jace and Wolfe would do.

I glance at Saint, who still isn’t fucking tuning in.

And just as Jace opens his mouth to decree his judgment, his phone rings.

He takes one look at the screen and swipes to answer it. Already turning away, already dismissing us without follow-through.

I roll my eyes and head to my car. There’s a towel in the trunk, and I shed the sopping-wet sweatshirt along with myshirt, wringing both out the best I can. I put the shirt back on, then slip off the bra and toss it into the trunk. I use the towel to blot the water from my hair, then wrap it around my waist.

My leather pants are shucked next, along with my boots and socks.

Saint leans against the bumper of my car.

Watching.

Judging.

“What?” I finally snap.

He lifts one shoulder. “Your secret boyfriend is safe with me.”

There’s an unspoken part of that sentence: for now. As in, as long as I keep his secret, he’ll keep mine. I don’t have a secret boyfriend, but I have secrets that I seem to be collecting.

I already told Jace that Saint wasn’t self-destructing. Who fucking knows, though, right?

“Don’t push me off a fucking cliff,” I retort.

“I won’t if you answer your damn phone.”

“It was in the condo,” I hiss.

“I know. I found it when I thought you had been kidnapped or something.”

My heart picks up speed. It’s that weird feeling again, the creeping dread. My heart is trying to outrun it. It hits a little too close to home… But Saint doesn’t know that.

No one knows that.

Forcing a bravado, I ask, “Do you know how ridiculous you sound?”

He eyes me, then snorts. “Whatever.”

“Bye, Saint.” I slam the trunk and drop into the driver’s seat, hitting the lock button before he can try to get in and pester me more.

He pushes away from the hood, still staring. Even as I drive away.

Staring and staring and staring.

15ARTEMIS

I slideinto the dark booth, eyeing the man who definitely shouldn’t be anywhere near Bow & Arrow. “Pretty sure my brother warned you away.”

Kade smirks. “He tell you about our little conversation?”

“He mentioned having a chat with you.”

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