- I heard, but I don't owe you an explanation.
His audacity makes me raise my eyebrows and, again, almost smile. This woman intrigues me on all our dates. Sometimes too predictable. Other times, a devil.
"Angelique," I growl, as Lenon did to me.
- You shouldn't be here either.
His eyes scan the room, then back to my costume. No, I'm not going to the Bronx anymore. This shell I put on to infiltrate American politics is different from the me who grew up in this hole.
- I have my reasons.
- And I have mine!
She turns around and starts walking away from me, not even knowing where she's going. Angelic just refuses to stay here and agree to babysit.
And just like with Lenon, warmth courses through my arms, stomach, groin and thighs as I wait to see if she will do what I want her to do. I hope she proves to me that she doesn't need to be protected. I close my eyes for a second, finally feeling something. Just a pinch, but it's better than nothing.
She walks until she is stopped by a guy. He's too weird for her to hide her surprised expression when he grabs her forearm. With his spiky red hair, face tattoos and leather clothes, the guy wouldn't get into the White House if he paid for it.
He says something that makes her frown, then pulls her arm out of his reach. The guy keeps talking, maybe he's hitting on her. Angelic looks suspicious, but then he hands her the car keys. I feel my heart beating a little faster in anticipation of what she's about to do.
Come on, little devil, surprise me.
And as if she could read my thoughts, she looks at me and takes the keys.
I wait for the adrenaline rush to pass through me, but it doesn't. Instead, I feel a sour taste on my tongue thinking of Angelic getting in the car and running towards her, barely remembering the seat belt.
Before thinking a second time, I'm already walking towards them. The guy sees me and his smile drops, probably because he heard about me.
- Are you thinking of running? I ask when I join them.
- Thinking? She raises an eyebrow. Angelique isn't surprised, she knew I was coming. In fact, it's your game. While I expect her to surprise me, she expects me to be predictable.
- If she's going to run... - I look at the crackpot - she'll leave after all the other runners.
- What? Angelic steps between me and the other guy, staring at me like he's seven feet tall.
- It's easy to hide behind someone else - she accuses - If you want me to lose so badly, run with me.
"If you lose, don't forget to spread your legs for me later, kitty," the guy said.