Fake Love - Jaxson Kidman Page 0,52

on edge and paranoid. Like Talon said he would be.

Maybe this all could end up being fun.

Watching each one slowly become destroyed for what they did to me.

I wasn’t even in the building for a minute before someone touched my shoulder.

I turned my head and saw Bevil the Devil staring at me.

Oh, shit.

“Winter,” he said. “Can we talk? Privately?”

I looked around and had a bunch of eyes on me.

I knew each and every one who was looking at me. I knew their names, the bullshit in their lives, and I knew there was quite a few that enjoyed seeing me the way they thought I was.

It took a lot not to explode right then and blow my cover.

I reminded myself what was at stake and I nodded to Bevil.

“Sure,” I said.

“Follow me,” he said.

Remember those moments when you were called out of class and everyone let out an ooohhhh sound?

That was how it felt, even though no one made a sound.

I ended up in Bevil’s office.

He shut the door and I lingered near it.

“I just wanted to check up on you,” he said.

“What? That’s it?”

“Yes. Why? Is something else going on?”

“No,” I said.

“Winter, you’ve been through a lot. I’ve given you the freedom to do as you please.”

“Has there been some kind of complaint about me?”

“No,” Bevil said. “Can’t I just see how you’re doing? How you’re adjusting?”

“Sure,” I said. “Sorry. I’m a little out of sorts lately.”

“I bet. Anything I can do to help?”

“No,” I said. “You’ve done…” My phone vibrated. “Enough… to help, I mean.”

Bevil smiled. “I just want to make sure everything works for you, Winter. I’m not a medical expert by any means at all…”

Bevil started to drone on about his thoughts on the power of the spirit.

I looked down at my phone and saw the text from Talon.

Last night was fun, darling. Tonight I’ll keep my hands to myself.

I eyed Bevil.

He wasn’t looking at me.

I replied to Talon.

Never speak of last night. Just do your job and shut up.

Bevil looked at me. “Am I right?”

“Yes,” I said. “Absolutely right.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” Bevil said. “And I regained full use of my leg.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“My leg,” Bevil said. “My accident…”

“Oh, right. Yeah. Of course. Duh. Sorry.”

Bevil smiled and turned away again.

My phone vibrated.

I always finish what I start, Winter. I’ll be in touch again soon.

I curled my lip.

Bevil turned back around to look at me.

I slipped my phone into my back pocket.

From the other side of the door I heard a commotion.

Voices getting louder.

Someone yelled, ‘You can’t do that!’

Then the door opened and in walked Noah.

“I can do whatever the fuck I want,” he yelled.

I gasped and jumped out of the way.

Right behind Noah was Easton and Xavier.

“Gentlemen,” Bevil said. “I’m having a meeting.”

“Meeting’s over,” Xavier said.

“We’ll send over the notes,” Easton said with a laugh.

Bevil looked at me with surprised eyes.

It was like he knew to keep his mouth shut.

Noah looked at me and nodded to the door.

I looked at Bevil and shrugged my shoulders.

I guess it was time to leave the office.

Easton sat on the ground and smoked his cigarette.

Xavier stood with his hands in the front pocket of his hoodie, looking around like a bodyguard waiting for someone to attack.

I kept myself near the door to go back into the building in case anything happened.

Noah kept pacing.

“Thanks for doing that,” I said to break up the awkward silence.

“That was nothing,” Easton said. “That guy likes to talk. He’s all hot air.”

“He likes his pockets stuffed with cash too,” Xavier said.

“What did he want with you?” Noah asked as he finally stopped pacing.

“To check up on me,” I said. “Bullshit stuff.”

“How are you feeling?” Noah asked.

“Fine.”

“Fine?” Easton asked as he started to stand.

“Yeah. Why?”

“How’s the head and memory?” Easton asked.

“Head is fine,” I said. “Memory is shit.”

“That sucks,” Xavier said without look back at me.

“You’re telling me,” I said.

“We’ve got your back,” Noah said. “Nothing to worry about.”

“I don’t get why. I’ve heard a lot of bad things about you. I saw what you did to Reid.”

Xavier finally looked at me. “Did he not scare the fuck out of you?”

“That prick had it coming anyway,” Easton said. “What he did to you was just the cherry on the cake.”

“So, you used me to beat him up?” I asked with a grin.

“Fuck, no,” Xavier said.

“Look, Winter,” Noah said as he stepped toward me, “we don’t need an excuse to do what we want to do. Or a reason. Or a purpose. We just