Page 7 of Hide From Me

Despite her words, there’s a smile she can’t fight—whether it’s from all the blood rushing to her head or simply from me, I’m not sure.

“I could only be so lucky to be important enough for you to file a piece of paper to keep us apart,” I muse as I pull her up with a twirl. She bumps into my chest, and I take a moment to focus on her dark lashes fluttering as she stares at her hands, which are firmly placed on my chest.

I have no shame in admitting how hard my heart is racing.

“That wasn’t a compliment,” Her voice is much softer this time, like a whisper of wind before a thundering storm. That only means I’m about to feel her mood shift.

“Now get out, you monster! I have to clean your dirty boot prints!” She playfully jabs at my chest. I tighten my grip on her hip, silently asserting that I'm choosing this, not just following her orders. I don’t mind letting others feel like they're in control, but in the end, it doesn’t matter who it is—I will always hold the power.

Her eyes lock onto mine, shifting from narrow to wide, the green deepening like a forest. I wish she wasn't so guarded; we could escape this miserable world for a while. But she’s different from other women. I'll need to be patient, sneaking into the darkest corners of her mind until she believesshe’sthe one making the choice—to fall for me, all of me.

“Okay, okay.” I raise my hands in mock defeat, letting her go.

“I always keep my promises.” Hopping off the bar, I extend my hand toward her. She doesn’t hesitate to take it this time and slips off the counter with me.

“But that doesn’t mean I won’t be back,” I say with a grin, raising my fingers to push a stray strand of red-streaked hair behind her ear. Her head jerks back, but not fast enough for to stop the pad of my thumb from grazing her jaw.

“I figured,” she replies, smacking my hand away. It’s okay; she’ll learn to lean into my touch soon enough instead of pulling away.

I can’t hide my smirk as I backpedal towards the door. “See you soon, sunshine!”

“Hopefully not,” she snaps, rushing around me to open the door. Even though she says it, I know better. Her shoulders are looser than they were when I arrived, and now she won’t look me in the eye, even as she slams and locks the door in my face.

She’s totally into me.

Dragging my tongue over my teeth, I pull out my phone to check Cordelia's message, but one from Caspian pops up over it.

Let’s make a deal. Come back and play some cards with me and Sam, agree to be my best man, and in return, I’ll help you find him.

My smile fades, and my stomach sinks as I realize I've successfully manipulated the one person who deserves the best parts of me into doing exactly what I want. I knew throwing a tantrum would change his mind; I knew it would make him feel guilty, yet I did it anyway. Despite the anxiety gnawing at my chest, I can't help but feel a sense of relief—I'm one step closer; I have a deal.

I glance at Raylen through the window. Pursuing her means I’d have to lie daily—something everyone has done to me. I refuse to play by society's rules; she deserves to know the truth. But I need to figure this out without facing the consequences. As the colonel's brother, I’d risk my job and my life. My team would stand by me, but bending the rules could unleash chaos if another faction found out.

God, I don’t even want to think about how Caspian would react.

I have plenty of time for everything, though. I can perfect a transition so subtle that neither she nor my task force will even notice. I can handle hiding the truth from everyone, including her, for a little while. It'll be just like wearing one of my many masks.

This will also give her time to accept that I’m exactly what she needs:a little nightmare for her perfect dreams.

I grin as I walk past the battered silver hunk of junk she drives. As her official, unofficial boyfriend, my first priority is to ensure her safety, which is why I don’t hesitate to slip a tracker under the fender.

While I may not have the time to do everything I want, I can start with the most important tasks: keeping the world in check, getting my brother married, and watching over my little ray of sunshine.

Two

Raylen

10-21-2025

Fae’s Diner

“Chocolate chips for table six! Hot plate!” Jack yells through the kitchen window like I’m not standing two feet away. I whip my head toward the little battered booth by the large glass window and growl under my breath. It’s eight o’clock at night, yet the monster demands pancakes to spite me.

“He can wait,” I mutter, brushing crumbs from the counter to clean up the sauce that a customer smeared earlier. Ever since that night, I haven’t seen him, and now he just pops back in as if it’s completely normal to disappear and reappear whenever he pleases. I scoff at my thoughts, realizing I sound a little crazy.

It’s not like we’re together, so I don’t have any real claim over him—bloody hell, I hardly know the guy. Just because he makes me want to laugh and does the cutest things doesn’t mean anything. I scrub the counter harder, trying to erase the sticky smear—and maybe even Moe’s effect on me, too.

“Raylen,” Jack warns from the kitchen.

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