Page 122 of Awakened
Remember who you’re talking about. Don’t you see how they’ve spun The Gathering fall out in their favor? Not only that but now they look untouchable to those they want to hurt. You’re underestimating your enemy.
The douchebag was right. Fuck. I was looking for some clever move, but what’s more clever than painting yourself as the victim? The old phrase “the greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world that he did not exist” flashed in my mind.
How do we turn the tide?
Right now, you keep doing your momma wolf thing. We’ve got you covered.
I sat straight up. They had to be kidding.
The last time you had my back, I had to fight for my freedom, was kidnapped, and nearly blown up. Excuse me if I don’t trust putting my life in your hands.
Their response came through immediately.
You were never alone. One of us always had eyes on you. We knew you could take care of yourself, and you did. When you couldn’t, we stepped in. You will never be alone. You can trust me.
Trust them? Just them, not the Howlers? Can I get more information from my texting shadow agent?
Hmmm, I can trust you but not the collective us, huh?
Read into that what you will. At the very least, know I have your best interests at heart. But the collective will not fail you either. You may get hurt, but you will keep breathing.
Comforting.
Don’t pretend you are anything less than an alpha destroyer. Isn’t that what the women at The Gathering were calling you? I know I don’t want to tangle with you.
That’s the smartest thing you’ve ever messaged me.
Well, I don’t want to tangle with you in that way. ;)
And you’re back . . .
#sorrynotsorry
#secretdouchebagisahashtagloser
#Leslovesmyhashtaggame
I started to laugh. It felt good after all that had happened.
I feel like we’d be friends if you weren’t a shady ass secret agent who let me pass out in a fire.
We are friends. Who else would talk you through your paranoid yet justified ramblings?
True, true. One thing I have to know is whether you are the only one texting me or if it’s a team.
Mostly me, but I can’t be everywhere at once, so you have communicated with a few of us by now.
My fingers itched to type “Who are you?” but I knew it was useless. I sighed, tossing the burner at the end of the bed. Needing to distract myself from the texts that were becoming far too addictive, I flipped on the lamp and grabbed my worn copy of Pride and Prejudice. Turning to a dog-eared page, I reread Darcy’s failed proposal.
I was so caught up in the dreamy asshole and his clumsy, insulting words of love that I didn’t notice the burner buzzing until I’d received three new messages.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a smartphone must be in want of a friend to chat with.
That was creepy, wasn’t it? Note to self—don’t use super-secret surveillance to creep on your charge.
What are men to rocks and mountains, or Austen? Eh?
Ah HA!
