Page 96 of Tricked By Jack
Chapter 31
The Bride
By the time the sky outside the living room window has dulled from afternoon glare to pitch black, my head’s throbbing and my nerves are fried. Yet… I smile.
It’s not a genuine one; it’s the indulgent mask I used for patients in another life. Now it hurts my cheeks, but I keep it fixed in place to seem approachable. Because I know Shelby still hasn’t told me the full truth of what’s going on.
The detachment in her voice tells me that whatever she’s told me is her excuse, possible reasoning. But not the root of why I’m here.
The pizza box on the table is down to a single slice that I have no intention of eating. “You can have it,” I say to Caleb when I notice him hovering near the doorway.
He looks at me, his eyes sweeping across my breasts as he licks his lips. “If you need a release, I’m still willing,” he smirks, acting like me offering him pizza is code for please fuck me. “I can overlook you’ve had a Knight between your thighs.”
My heart contracts at the wordKnight. Caleb spits it like venom, and all I can think of is Jack—his mouth on mine, his hand at my throat, the way he says I’m his. Fuck, I miss him.
Straightening my spine, I square my shoulders, refusing to cower under Caleb’s glare. “How kind of you,” I spit. “Why? Isn’t fucking Shelby enough?”
This is all so surreal—a real mindfuck. From everything Shelby’s told me, this isn’t about me, but her thirst for revenge against the Knights. And me, I was just kind of in the wrong place at the wrong time. My temples throb harder, and I squeeze my eyes shut.
After we got to this house that smells too much of lemon oil and old coffee, Shelby started talking. Well, first she made sure I was comfortable. She made coffee and brought in cookies like we were just having a day of chilling.
She asked me more questions about Jack, wanting to know if he’s happy with me. Though I think he is, I downplayed it as much as possible. The look in her eyes was too wild to make me feel Jack’s happiness was a priority to her.
I need to stop thinking about the man I miss more than anything right now.
“The fire was just a decoy, and don’t worry, Eve. No one was injured. But I had to get Jack away from you so we could talk.”Shelby’s words play on repeat in my mind.
She left hours ago. I have no idea where she went or why. Before she left she warned Caleb not to touch me or make me uncomfortable. Like being here against my will is soothing.
I might not be chained or caged, but somehow, that just makes it even worse. It’s like dangling the finest cognac in front of a recovering alcoholic. I can see the door, and I’m sure I could make it there in seconds.
But… if it’s locked, I’ll have given away that I’m trying to escape. And since I have no idea where we are, there’s no way to prepare for what I’ll find on the other side. So, for now, I sit still and wait.
Caleb snorts, reminding me he’s still here. “She’s not as adventurous as you.” He says it like it’s a compliment. “And she fucking cries every time.” Disgust fills his tone.
“What do you mean she cries?” I ask, genuinely curious.
His broken arm hangs useless at his side while he props his chin with the other. “That’s none of your business.”
“Oh.” That’s all I can say. I swallow nervously, forcing myself to keep him talking. “Why—”
“No more questions,” he booms before turning on his heel.
A part of me wants to follow him and demand answers, but of course I don’t. I stay on the couch, forcing myself to sort through the different threads in my head. I need to get the upper hand to know which one I should pull.
From what I’ve seen so far, Shelby seems to be the one in charge, so the smart thing would be to follow her lead. For now, that means waiting for her return.
Looking around, I take in the living room I’m in. The walls are bright yellow, two of them filled with paintings and drawings, and it’s not the kind kids make. All the furniture is black, making the room a weird mix of artistic and minimalistic. It’s not dusty, so someone clearly lives here.
Before The Black Wedding, I would have said Caleb and Shelby were the people closest to me. Well, maybe not Caleb unless it was by proximity only. Nonetheless, I’m now realizing I don’t really know anything about either of them. Including if I’m sitting in one of their homes.
Hours stretch, and I drift off a few times. My neck’s aching from just sitting here, and my legs protest when I stretch them across the couch, resting my head on the back.
I’m half asleep when someone snaps their fingers in my face. Jerking up, I let out a startled yelp. “Hey.”
Caleb roughly shoves my legs down from the couch and takes a seat. The cushions dip under his weight, the smell of cheap cologne and sweat crowding my senses. How did I ever find him attractive?
His hand lands heavy on my thigh, fingers digging in through the fabric. The cast on his other arm bumps the cushion, a jarring reminder that he’s broken but still dangerous. He follows when I try to jerk away, a grin spreading across his face.
