“Well, it would certainly make it less terrifying!” I shout. I mean, who does this man think he is? The gall.
“Deal.”
What.
“Wait, what?”
“I’ll tell you about myself, and in exchange, you come back to Mayhem for me.”
“That’s what you want?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t want… like… anything else from me…” I trail off, eyes squinting as I process his words.
“I want everything, darlin’. But if you give me Mayhem again, I’ll take it.”
“And you’ll leave me alone after,” I clarify.
“If that’s what you want,” he drawls lowly.
“Oh, it’s what I want.” I solidify the deal before I can even think about it.
“Then, it’s settled.”
“All right.”
A deep chuckle resounds through the line, and it’s the cockiness of it that makes me spit the words out without thinking.
“Wanna start now?”
Chapter Twenty
Quid Pro Quo
Cedrick
My lips curve into a smile as I stretch out in my chair, legs extended in front of me. “Oh, my little mouse wants to play now?”
A hitch of breath. “Why not? Get it out of the way faster so we can both move on.”
“Hmm.Sure,” I hum.
“O-okay. Uh, um…”
“Did you actually have something in mind?”
“I’m making this up as I go. Cut me some slack!” he snaps, and I can’t help but grin. He gets so feisty sometimes, and I don’t think he even realizes it.
After a long pause, he finally asks, softer than I thought he could, “What’s your name?”
My blood runs cold.
“Excuse me?”
“It’s only fair,” he reasons. “You know mine. I want to know yours.”
“I don’t?—”
