Page 29 of Claimed By the Villain

“And what about her, your Jackie? Got a plan?”

“A plan?”

“You’re not actually thinking of just showing up and dropping the idea of a marriage of convenience in her lap, are you?”

“Why not? It’s for her protection, after all.”

“Keep lying to yourself, Lucifer. Now, listen to me. You’re not exactly husband material. You want this to work? Make it irresistible for her. We don’t have much time.”

Chapter 15

I pour myself a cup of coffee and a glass of milk for Taylor. She called me earlier today, and when I told her about the dinner invitation from Lucifer, she came over so we could talk.

“What’s there to think about?” she asks.

“You know when something feels too good to be true?”

When she came back to New York, I kind of dodged her questions about who Lucifer—whom I refer to as “L” for her safety and his—really was in my life.

What was I supposed to say?

Hey girl, here’s the deal. The dangerous brute I’ve been in love with since I was a teenager—the same guy who rescued you—hasn’t spoken to me face-to-face in six years. Even when he saved you, everything was handled by phone. And still, I can’t get him out of my head. I must be a masochist.

God, even my thoughts sound pathetic when I say them like that.

I think she senses I have feelings for him, but she’s too kind to say,Girl, just let it go. He’s not into you.

“So what do you think it means?”

I bite my lip before answering.

“I don’t know.” I take a deep breath, mustering up the courage to admit, “About two months ago, on my brother’s death anniversary… we sort ofhooked up.”

“You little criminal! And you didn’t tell me anything! I was over here like a fool, believing all that ‘he was just my brother’s best friend, Taylor’ crap.” She mimics me.

“He was, until that night.”

I don’t confess the years-long obsessive love—my self-respect won’t allow it—but I go on:

“He disappeared for a month.”

“Maybe he was away for work,” she says, though her face gives away how weak the excuse sounds.

“Cell phones exist.”

“I think you should go to dinner with him, Jackie. What do you have to lose?”

My heart again?

But that’s a lie. I never got it back in the first place. It always belonged to Lucifer. Maybe it always will.

“I already said yes anyway. I’m just scared I’ll get my hopes up and end up disappointed.”

“Life’s never guaranteed, Jackie. If it were, I wouldn’t have lost two years of mine. You’ll never know what could happen if you don’t take the risk. Go. See what happens. If it all goes to shit, we’ll buy ice cream and have a girls’ night.”

“Like William would ever let you sleep away from him,” I sigh. “You’re right. Thanks for coming.”

“I’m never really leaving again, Jackie.”