Page 56 of Speak of the Devil (New Hope 3)

“I just want to see how you think.”

“You’re not paying me to think.”

“I could be.”

“No.”

“No, what? I haven’t even asked a question.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Have dinner with me.”

I check the time, even though it’s pointless. “Downstairs?”

“Is there somewhere else you’d rather go?”

“Anywhere else, in fact.”

He chuckles at that, and I think it’s the first time I’ve ever seen him laugh. “I think something new sounds perfect.”

“Good. I know a place…”

“Oh, but before I forget,” he says, holding out his phone. His eyes meet mine. “I never make the same mistake twice. I need your number.”

“Why?”

“Why else? To call you. What we have is not a very efficient method.”

“I’d say it was very efficient.”

He shoves the phone closer until I can’t not take it from him. “Just add it in. For scheduling purposes.”

I type in my number. I leave the name blank on purpose. He notices.

“I wasn’t a big fan of Amanda.”

“I could tell.”

“I was just wondering,” he says, glancing down at the phone and then back at me, “if I could call you Emily.”

I can’t tell whether or not he’s serious, but there’s something in his expression that I find off-putting. “My name is Vanessa.”

“Sure it is.”

He doesn’t believe me, which is smart. Vanessa wasn’t my given name; my parents were far too religious for that. It was the name I was assigned in Siren school, so I could become someone else, and not just in theory. This seems like more than he needs to know, so I raise my brow and finally offer a shrug. “I suppose Emily is as good as the next thing.”

He smiles. “You have no idea.”

“Where is this place?” he asks again. We’ve been driving for half an hour.

“East,” I say.

“You said that forty-five minutes ago.”

“Your math is a little off, but whatever. If you’re that hungry, take the next exit.”

“What is this place?” he asks, pulling off in the dirt.

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