Page 55 of Bound to a Killer

“And just lean your shoulder back…perfect.” He clicks the shot, the flash blinding. “Alright, just a sec,” he lilts, bouncing on his heels as he heads back to the desk where his partner is seated. He grabs a notepad and pen, then rushes it back to me. “Just sign the name you want to go by.”

I take them from him and awkwardly scribble the first thing that comes to mind.Will Hendrix.My late grandfather’s name. The lines are a bit sloppy as I loop the X, the notepad cradled in my palm.

“Alrighty, and just hold that for a minute.” He turns his attention to the girls behind me. “And which one of you pretty ladies wanna go first?”

He flashes them his front, yellow-stained snaggletooth, and my fists clench as I fight the urge to knock it out of his mouth. My lips curl downward, my gaze narrowing as I keep it locked on him.

Where did Tanner find these people to begin with?

As if she senses my irritation, Frankie quickly steps in front of the wallpaper, adjusting her posture.

“Nice,” Jagger coos as his camera flash hits. “Very nice. What’s your name, pretty girl?”

She hurries over to stand beside me, trying to get away from his slimy gaze. I hand her the notepad.

“Her name doesn’t matter,” I snap. “It’s why we’re here, isn’t it?”

Jagger lets out a long whistle. “No need to get feisty. Just making conversation with your girls.”

I ignore him and glance at Aria, who’s tugging on her sweater, hands trembling. “We’re almost done here,” I murmur, nudging her forward with a tilt of my chin.

She hesitates, lips trembling, but after a second nudge, she complies and walks toward the backdrop.

A rowdy howl erupts from Dee, still perched in the corner but now paying attention, as Jagger snaps the photo. “Those girls barely look a day over eighteen. How’d you score that?”

My knuckles blanch at my side.

Easy, Ledger. Now isn’t the time to stir trouble.

“Those are my fucking sisters you’re talking about.”

He arches his dark, bushy brows. “Damn, man, my bad. I didn’t know they were blood.”

“Shit, me neither,” Jagger adds. “Honest mistake. We’ll lay off your back.”

A grunt leaves my throat, but I shift my attention back to Aria, jerking my head for her to come stand beside me and Frankie. She doesn’t hesitate hurrying over, her eyes locking on my eyes only.

It swells my chest with pride, even though I know it has nothing to do with me.

It’s just survival. Another case of her leaning into what most benefits her in the moment. She wouldn’t hesitate to run again under any other circumstance.

All that’s left are her and Frankie’s signatures. Then we can get the hell out of here.

Frankie quickly jots down a name and hands it to Aria, who takes it with a blank expression.

“Just sign any name besides your legal one,” I calmly tell her.

Her brows pull together, and this time she hesitates a beat too long. Jagger swoops in like a hawk, using the opportunity to get closer.

“Hard time picking out a name, angel?”

I glare at him as she stiffens, leaning closer into me. “How about you back it up a bit, yeah?”

His chuckle sends tiny bumps skittering across my skin. It takes everything in me not to blow this out of proportion. Hesteps back with a raised hand to apologize. “Just trying to help. But I’ll give you guys some space.”

He saunters toward the sidelines, Dee meeting his gaze on the way.

I glance back down at Aria, silently pleading with her not to draw more attention.