Sins of the Innocent - Jamie McGuire Page 0,23
out from under his, crossing my arms and holding the knife close to my side. I sat back in my chair, trying to seem unimpressed. “To size me up? Stake out your nemesis?”
He chuckled. “So dramatic.”
“Just answer the question.”
“Which one?”
I slammed my hand on the table. “What do you want?”
The arrogance vanished, and his eyes softened. “Isn’t it obvious?”
I laughed once in disbelief. “Are you seriously flirting with me?”
He arched an eyebrow. “Is it working?”
“Not at all. Is it true? About your allegiance? Did you really turn your back on your father?”
He sat back, unhappy that I’d learned the truth. “That escalated quickly. I suppose I couldn’t hide it from you forever.”
“Why would you want to?”
For the first time, he seemed annoyed. “I disagreed with my orders. I can’t tell you more.”
“They haven’t tried to kill you for leaving?”
He laughed off my question. “They’ve tried.”
“Does that mean you killed them?”
“Hundreds of them.”
“You’re proud of killing your own kind? You might be worse than I thought.”
He shrugged. “They’re a cranky bunch, selfish. Let me buy you a coffee,” he said, somehow flirting while he described the traits of evil.
I leaned forward. “What is your game?”
“No game,” he said in earnest. His expression changed, all the smug confidence melting away. “I was supposed to hate you or fear you or resent you. I feel none of those things—not even now as I sit across from you, knowing you’re holding quite possibly the biggest dagger I’ve ever seen and you mean to kill me with it if I so much as say something to displease you.”
“You know I can’t. That would give your father the perfect excuse for a war.”
“So would you dying by my hand.”
“Not that you could kill me anyway,” I said.
“I’m not going to try, so I guess we’ll never know.”
“You’re the son of the Great Deceiver. Why should I believe you?”
“I have lied to you.”
“This is my not surprised face.”
“About the way you smell.”
“You mean the dime-store fabric softener and cheap perfume?”
“That was a lie. The way you smell … it’s my favorite thing actually.”
“That’s definitely a lie.”
He sat back, crossing his arms. “Do you believe Eli is in league with the Devil?”
“Of course not.”
“There is your proof.”
I stared at him for a full minute. I put the knife back in its holster and clasped my hands on top of the table. “I’ve been told we could be allies, but that doesn’t mean we will.”
Levi’s eyes brightened, just a hint of hope scrolling across his face. “I’ll take the chance.”
My eyes narrowed. “What do you get out of it?”
“Eden,” he said, relieved, “it’s everything to me. I came here a year ago, and it’s taken me all this time to introduce myself.”
“Then explain your behavior the night you attacked Craig.”
He snorted. “Attacked him? I just made him quit talking.”
“You were trying to get me to attack him. If you’ve changed your allegiance, why would you encourage me to fail?”
“I knew you wouldn’t do it.”
“So, you were just … killing time?”
“It had nothing to do with you. It was entertaining, watching Craig’s reaction. I was messing with his head.”
“That was a terrible plan. Aligned with Hell or not, you’re irrational and dangerous.”
“I handled it.”
“Barely.”
I blew my bangs from my eyes. “I should go. You’re more questions than answers.”
“I wish I could tell you more, but you’ll have to remember the rest for yourself.”
“Remember?” I said.
Eli had said the same thing.
“Have dinner with me,” Levi said.
“Dinner …” I said, mostly to myself.
Levi waited patiently for me to decide.
“I don’t think …” I began.
Levi shrugged. “Bex is welcome to join us if you need a chaperone. He’s outside anyway. He might as well eat.”
“I don’t need a babysitter or a bodyguard or permission.”
He sat back, satisfied. “Well then … shall we?”
I glanced around the room, watching the young men chatting while parents wrangled their children and businesswomen tapped on their smartphones. Life was continuing as normal, no one knowing that two adversaries were at a fork in the road.
A small group of women in their early twenties were seated at the corner table, speaking softly and taking turns stealing glances at Levi. Of course the son of the most beautiful of all God’s creations would be attractive—no, he wasn’t attractive. To look upon him was to feel breathless, like all the oxygen had been sucked out of the room and he was the only air left.
“No,” I said, standing. “I don’t trust you, not yet.”
Levi grabbed my wrist, drawing the attention of