Chapter 10
Devil Inside
Backinside,Isitnext to Jagger on the leather sofa in the living room. There’s a massive flat-screen on the wall and two tan sofas book-ended with reclining armchairs. The space is dark and moody, much like the asshole sitting beside me with his laptop open. It felt so romantic when I was here with him lasttime, but with the distance between us now, I have no idea how that could even have been the same guy.
“Name?” he demands, not even looking up.
My hands twist in my lap. I really wish I was dressed in more than Cruz’s T-shirt for this. I can’t think straight with the energy he’s giving off. And all I want right now is to tell him to fuck off.
When I don’t reply, his eyes quickly lift from the laptop, his brow creasing. “What do you want your new name to be?”
“Can’t I do this with Ash or Cruz?”
His face hardens. “Unfortunately for both of us, no.”
I nibble my bottom lip, my stomach churning like crazy. I want to have it out with him. “If I’m so much of an inconvenience, why are you helping me?”
He cracks his neck. “You really want to push me?”
I blink back at him, not backing down because apparently, I do really want to push him. “I don’t want to be a burden. Why don’t you give me your laptop, and I can work this out myself. And you can scurry off and do your other work.”
He huffs out a breath in a way that has me slinking further away from him. “Give me a name or I will come up with something myself.”
“It’s hardly an easy question, you don’t have to be such a dick about it. Not like I have ever thought what would I call myself if I had to fake my death and pretend to be someone else,” I whisper, wishing I had time to think this through. I’ve lost my edge, the reality hitting me. In all honesty, I could have spent the last couple of days thinking about it, but my thoughts have been consumed with terrible thoughts of revenge and trying to avoid all of them.
“Think about it while we fill out the rest of the form,” he grumbles. “Date of birth? How about today’s date but the same year as you were born?”
“I have to change my date of birth?” I gasp, the realization catching me off guard.
He looks at me as if I’m stupid, his coolness toward me only making my stomach churn harder. “We need to make this all look legit, and I don’t want anything rousing suspicion, so yeah, Mal is sorting you a new birth certificate.”
“Stop acting like a prick about it. I’ve never set up a new identity for myself before. Not like this is an everyday occurrence, for me anyway.” I roll my eyes and look away from him, staring out the window, wishing I was back out in the sun. Alone.
He takes a deep measured breath. “I’ll stop acting like a prick when you stop being difficult. I’m trying to help you here.”
“Fine, go with today,” I respond, a new heaviness sitting on my shoulders. What have I done? Why does it feel like I signed a deal with the devil, and now, I’m sitting in his den, playing right into his hands with every new choice I make?
He rubs his chin, looking concerned. “We’re gonna need a photo. Might have to contact Sloane and get hold of a disguise for you, one of those wigs from The Raven’s Nest or some shit.”
“Yeah, I guess, whatever.” I sigh heavily.
His hand lands on my thigh, and I glance up at him. “What’s wrong, flower? I can’t concentrate with all the huffing and puffing.”
I glare at him. “Nothing!” Is he stupid? There are so many damn things wrong right now. If I had a pen and paper, I could write him a list.
His fingers press into my flesh. “Look, this was never going to be easy, but it’s for the best. You’re safe and free of your family’s clutches.”
My eyes meet his. “Just caged by your family,” I mutter, not able to help myself.
His brow rises, and his lips form a thin line, making him look even more evil. “This was whatyouwanted.”
I sigh again. “I wanted to be safe. I didn’t realize you would be so…controlling about everything.”
“Really?”
“You act like I’m a pain in your ass, like I’m no one to you. I have been through hell this past week, and you want to sit there like the big fucking boss demanding I do as you say like a little kid. I’m not a fucking kid, Jagger. I have lost everything, and I’m scared and I have no idea who I should be.”
“Anyone you want to be.” His face softens. “And you didn’t lose everything, just a temporary sidestep. Besides, we’re all still here. Turning our fucking lives upside down for you.”
