“It’s a little more complicated.”
Wanting to roll my eyes, I tell her, “Then uncomplicate it.”
“I work for Declan.”
Unbelievable. “In what way?”
“I’m his Jaxson West—without the murdering and bloody parts.”
My heart stutters. “You know Jax?”
She grins. “I wish. That man is hotter than sin.”
I scowl at her, insanely jealous that she finds him attractive.
She stops smiling. “Sorry. I, um, know of him. From the…” She gestures to her laptop, screen blank and turned off, that is sitting open on the dresser.
That makes sense. Don’t “hackers” know one another online? Or at least, their monikers. I have no clue what I’m talking about.
Looping back around, I ask, “So, you work for Declan?”
“In a way, yes.”
“Jesus Christ, Tessa! Would you just give me a straight fucking answer?”
My angry outburst makes her jump. She hops off the bed and moves to the other side of the room away from me. Smart girl.
“Mr. Levine approached me about a job. That’s what I do, Alex. You know that.”
I nod to let her know that I remember. In order to make money, Tessa would sell her unique services. Want your grades changed? She’s your girl. Want to infiltrate a government database and steal national secrets? She’s your girl for that, too.
“When I found outyouwere the assignment, I was all in. I wasn’t going to let anyone hurt you.”
I snort with laughter again. What she said was utter bullshit. If she works for Declan, she has to know about everything that has happened.
“So I asked Mr. Levine if I could come on board permanently,” she finishes.
Ride-or-die friend to the end.
“How long have you known?”
Has she known that Declan was my real father this entire time?
Looking down at her feet, Tessa wiggles her toes. It’s one of her tells showing her guilt like a big, bright neon sign.
“A year, give or take.”
The time of Kellan’s funeral and when Liamaccidentallyran into me at the dance club in Geneva.
“And you never thought to tell me?” My voice rises with incredulity.
“I wasprotectingyou.”
Teeth clenched, I hiss out at her, “No. You were lying to me. Just like every other person in my life.”
I storm over to the bathroom, wanting to get this shit off me. The smell has gotten worse to the point I want to gag.
“He’s not lying to you,” she softly inflects.
