Page 17 of Pretend
Ravenmore opens his mouth, but the deep, crisp, masked stranger replaces his voice.
“I’m aware,” Daegan mumbles behind me, bored. I’m glad our family quarrel is keeping him very entertained.
“It’ll be fine. You won’t even know he’s there. He has a reputation for acting like a shadow and his stealth of silence.” He gives me a sarcastic smile, his green eyes flashing anything but comfort. “I would have had Grim babysit you but—sorry, not babysit, bodyguard you. But Grim is on leave for God knows how long, and I only want the best for you…someone I can trust. And I don’t trust that vexatious cowboy. He has a reputation with...never mind, it’s not important. So I’m assigning Creature.”
I raise my hand, my index finger pointing up like I’m about to list about a hundred reasons why I don’t need a babysitter, before Ravenmore quirks a brow, daring me to resist and disobey.
I snap my jaw closed.
“When does this start?”
Ravenmore studies me, then glances at the corner of the room, throws his glasses on the bridge of his nose again, and gives Hannibal a nod. “I’ll send you a text with Creature’s contact information since the deployment is coming up.”
I pout, turning my lips into one flex to the left side.
“Am I dismissed?”
He nods, not looking at me, and I pivot my foot and head for the door. But then he stops me again.
“Oh yeah, cancel your initial travel plans. You’re going on a plane to Iraq with the Executioners instead.”
He says it so casually like it’s not a big deal. It’s like he’s making this already so weird. But I guess I have to trust him. Maybe he feels like it's safer to be with them on the ride there.
Still, I don’t like the idea of someone intruding on my privacy and whereabouts for six months.
“Now you’re dismissed.” Admiral barks out his order through a clenched jaw.
I bite my lip and walk toward the exit.
Creature salutes the admiral and holds open the door for me right after in one swift movement.
I glare at the ice-cold eyes before I stomp into the hallway, making my defiance known.
I decide to take the stairs this time, wanting to avoid being trapped in a small enclosed space again, not bothering to see if my ‘bodyguard’ is close.
As I descend the stairs, heat runs into my cheeks at the thought of people wanting me dead. On top of that, I’m being babysat like a child.
Are those the people that shot at my fucking window last night? Missing me completely? Was it an assassination attempt to send a message? Well, they have shit aim. They completely missed Jack and I.
What is my life right now?
“You couldn’t even last ten minutes in an elevator with me without getting antsy. I want to see how scared you’ll be on a plane ride that travels across the world,” Hannibal coos behind me mockingly.
6
ALESSIA
The whole stuck-in-the-elevatorsituation and the conversation with my mother’s husband about requiring a bodyguard made me livid.
Now, I’m taking a flight with a masked operator who doesn’t say much, and when he does, it’s sarcasm. He’s always playing with a bullet or watching my every move. It’ll just be the two of us on a flight, and I’m not looking forward to it.
The rebellious part of me wants to give him a hard time and test his patience because I would really be testing Ravenmore’s patience. I can frustrate him through Daegan…
A light bulb turns on in my head, and my lips curve mischievously.
This airplane flight will be fun.
“Your flight is soon. I have orders to drive you there. You’re mine starting the day of our plane ride.”
