Page 25 of Pretend
“What’s weird?” I ask, tapping my fingers on the wood.
“The rumors about Hannibal.”
I roll my eyes at her. “Oh gosh, there’s rumors? There’s actual drama surrounding him?”
“It’s not necessarily drama, but people talk. You know how there was a leak from the inside?” she whispers, closing the distance between us.
I nod.
“Well, there’s a few of us that think it’s a little weird that once Creature showed up, things started to go wrong. It makes perfect sense. He was captured, remember? Maybe he befr-“
“Girl, please don’t. What you’re saying is so wrong.” I interject, backing away from her.
I want to steal a glance at Daegan, but I refrain. I’m thinking hard about the rumor, refusing to let rumors taint how I view him. I mean, I don’t like him already, solely because of our situation. I don’t know the man personally, but I’m the type of person to get to know someone before I make my own judgment. I don’t let others tell me why I shouldn’t like them or not.
“Ravenmore wouldn’t have assigned him as my personal security if he had doubts.”
I can’t believe I’m defending him, but this is a silly rumor. I can’t imagine being tortured and having numerous people question it.
“Sorry, let’s change the subject, shall we? I’m going to introduce myself to that cowboy next to me. Be my wingwoman, please.” She hooks her arms into mine like a fish hook, yanking me towards the surface of the Navy SEALS.
“Well, hello there,senorita.” Lopez tilts his cowboy hat at Winters before he pops a fry in his mouth just as she slides in next to him. She’s on a mission tonight, and it looks like her eyes are set on Vicente Lopez, Operator Texas. He grabs a toothpick and chews on it. His eyes flicker as he flirts with my friend.
Daegan doesn’t eat. Instead, he stands, walks behind me, and plops on the bar stool beside me…closing the gap.
What does he want?
It takes everything in me not to let myself go rigid like stone. I don’t know how or why, but he has this foreign power over me…and I don’t like it.
“How’s your boyfriend doing?” His deep voice asks a familiar question, sending cautious alarm bells to chime. He raises the glass back to his lips. Heat pours like lava into my senses, and my eyes widen. My breathing hitches ruggedly, and Daegan’s tone is so serious, so tense, forcing a cold shiver to run up my spine.
The text message from the unknown number asked me that same question.
“What…what do you mean?” I turn to him with my brows pinched together.
Did the police tell Ravenmore about the shooting?
Suspiciousness and suspense claw at me. How does he know I have a boyfriend? We just met earlier today. The way his tone shifts into something dark sends shivers down my spine, but the way his sarcastic smile reflects across his beautiful, sinful face relaxes me.
It’s a weird combination of emotions.
Daegan smirks, and a devilish grin forms on his cheeks. He crosses his arms, his biceps tensing, grinning devilishly like he’s enjoying how I’m tensing up fearfully.
“How is he doing with the news of his girlfriend deploying? Your father told me you have a boyfriend when he assigned you to me,” he tells me nonchalantly.
Oh. Right.
Of course. Gosh, my paranoia is getting the best of me.
“He’s handling it well, I guess. It’s the best anyone can handle when their spouse is deploying.”
He holds the glass, his eyes never wavering from mine. A low, deep hum subtly joins the bar’s music.
God…even the sounds he makes are entrancing.
“Of course,” he finishes his drink, placing it down softly on the counter. “Didn’t know the Admiral’s daughter likes to frequent El Devine.”
I scoff.
