Page 93 of Pretend
Rooker and Lopez stand puzzled at my threat. I don’t like to talk or voice my opinions on anything, but this is different.
His eyes turn into slits. He knows exactly who I’m talking about. Alessia’s co-workers and nurses are from the on-base hospital. The man has a long sheet of women he’s fucked in the workplace. If he wanted to shoot his shot with my girl, I wouldn’t put it past him.
“The last time I checked, Valentín was single.” His eyes narrow at me suspiciously.
I might be making it obvious that I care for this girl…and yet. There’s not a single part of me that gives a fuck.
I arch a brow at his comment.
No one can know this girl is mine. No one. It’ll be my job, my career…my new family, I’ve found. But why does she feel like my new home?
“She’s the Admiral’s daughter, Texas. Don’t go there.” Rooker shakes his head, eyeing the both of us as he did at Kane and Grim at the military ball. “Creature, get your shit ready and report to the airfield tomorrow. We’re leaving tomorrow night,” he says, walking away from me. His southern accent is thick, cold, and curt.
When it’s just Lopez and I in the room, I see black and don’t know what comes over me. The dragon, the invincible creature, is waiting to burn him alive. I can’t control my emotions.
I’m always in control, but when it comes to her. I break, I shatter, I burn for her. She does this to me, and I will do everything and anything for this whole fucking world to know she is not one to fuck with. Not when she has me taking care of her.
She doesn’t need me. But I want her to need me. However, I’m pissed off at everything right now. I’m mad at the world, knowing that people are getting tortured right now. And I’m angry that Alessia looked at me like she feels sorry for me.
Still, I lose control. I always lose control for her.
I push Lopez up against the wall, my blade at his throat.
“What the fuck!” His brown eyes glare at me with shock. He tries to push my forearms off his chest. I’m taller, stronger, and bigger; no matter how much he tries to struggle in my hold, I keep him where I want him to be.
Under my knife while I make my statement.
“The Admiral’s daughter is already shaken from everything that’s going on right now. She’s overwhelmed with this being her first deployment. If I find out you’ve touched her in any way or even breathed the same air as her, this blade will not graze your skin; instead, it’ll be underneath it, in your heart.”
36
ALESSIA
Daegan was supposedto be here tonight, but he’s not, and it’s making me question everything. Kane is not the one who’s supposed to be watching me right now, but he stands outside my door, awake and on the job.
I’ve sent him multiple text messages, but he hasn’t responded. I may be coming off as needy, but all I want is transparency. Is he already going back on what we agreed on? Does he regret it?
I close the book I’m reading and get dressed in civilian clothing. I put on leggings and a black tank top. My dog tags are still on, along with my seashell necklace, which I got as a gift from my biological father when I was in college. I love the beach. It’s always been a place where I can relax, no matter how bad things are.
I replay the way his eyes looked painful in the conference room. We found another high-value target that works under ‘The Surgeon.’ It must be triggering for Daegan, knowing we’re so close to catching him. It’s personal for him,I know it. How can it not be after what he’s been through? He’s witnessed firsthand the brutality this person holds.
After putting my shoes on, I swing open my room door, and Kane looks up at me.
He puts his phone away and stands. “Umm, hi? Where are we going?” Kane asks while putting his hands in his pocket.
I give him a contemplative look and purse my lips together.
“Where’s Hannibal?” I ask, trying to keep my tone calm.
He sighs, readjusts his posture, and then stands straight again. Then he places his hands behind his back.
“I don’t know. All I know is that he’s not in his room, and he asked me to take over.”
My shoulders sink down, and I look around the hallway, thinking of all the places he could be at this time of night.
“I need to ask him something, and he’s not answering me.”
“He likes to be alone, Alessia…for the most part. Let him be.”
