Page 68 of Claimed By the Villain

“‘He,’”she repeats.“You’re never going to tell me his name, are you?”

“Believe me, now more than ever, secrecy is essential for everyone’s safety.”

“All right, keep going.”

“I grew up seeing him as a brother, though that’s never what he was to me.”

“Why?”

“He had emotional scars, I think, from abuse and neglect by his family. He was quiet, withdrawn, never smiled. I heard my mom say he was a fighter, too. The opposite of my brother Martin.”

“And from what you’ve told me, we can completely understand why he was like that, right?”

“Yes. The truth is, we were siblings, but not really, you know? I could tell, from the moment I understood the concept of family, that he protected me just like Martin did, but he never let me truly get close to him. It was like having a stranger living with us.”

“A stranger you always loved.”

“Always. First as a protector, a friend who, even while ignoring me, was always there. Then, in my teens, I think around thirteen or fourteen, I realized my heart would race every time he came back from a trip.”

“Trip?”

“Yes. By then, my father had died”—I don’t explain how, because I hate remembering that in the first place—”and my mother was sick. Strangely, we had more money. I think he left some life insurance behind. Anyway, for most of the year, it was just the three of us: me, my bedridden mother with a nurse who didn’t stay overnight, and Martin, my brother.”

“And your L would show up from time to time?”

“Yes. And when that started happening during my teenage years, I realized I no longer felt brotherly love. It was attraction.”

“I disagree it was just attraction. It wouldn’t have lasted this long if that was the case. I think it’s always been love, Jackie. Maybe now you’ve ‘fallen for him again,’ but all these years? I’d bet on love. Passion isn’t that selfless.”

“If it was love, there was nothing selfless about it. Sometimes I felt angry at him.”

“Why?”

“I knew he was around. He followed me, looked out for me, but he never came to be with me.”

“Do you believe things happen when they’re meant to?”

“Like fate?”

“Mhm.”

“Maybe,” I answer. “The fact is, he had the chance to run, and now it’s one of two things: I get my ‘forever,’ or when it’s all over…”

“All over what?”

I sigh. “I’m sorry, I can’t say.”

“All right, go on.”

“If he doesn’t love me back when this is all over, you have my word I’ll cut him out of my life forever.”

“Part of me is sad at the thought that a love like that might never have a real chance, but on the other hand, I have to agree with you, my friend. That one-sided love stuff is like buying a ticket to unhappiness.”

We talk for a few more minutes before I notice a woman, about thirty, walking in.

I smile at her and motion for her to wait while I finish with Taylor.

I glance quickly at the clock above the door and sigh, hoping she won’t take long because I’m starving and it’s almost closing time.