Page 26 of Ignite

But for some reason, I trust that he doesn’t actually mean me harm. Isn’t that fucked?

In my short life experience though, it’s the nice ones that are unpredictable. They often turn out to be the worst creatures to walk this world.

Shoes splashing through water, Cain hurries over to shut off the running sink.

“I leave you alone for eight hours and you trash my home,” he complains, but there’s no real fire behind his words. “Between the office and this, I should throw you out.”

“If that’s what you want,” I say, backing away from him.

He grips my forearm, and I brace for a hit. Which is stupid, because I know I wouldn’t hate it.

It’s just… after Rev’s kindness, or whatever I’m supposed to call it, and Cain’s shifting moods, and knowing Jakey’s out in the world alone, I’m feeling weird. Off.

I feel weak for the first time in a long time.

Cain and Rev said they would deal with Gabriel, but how long would this drag out? How long until I got to see Jakey again?

“I said I should,” Cain emphasizes, his tone softer as he draws me close. “Doesn’t mean I’m going to.”

“Oh.” Goosebumps rise on my flesh, and I forget to inhale as he stares down at me, something swirling in his sultry brown eyes. My heart takes notice, thudding hard against my ribs, sending hot blood racing through my body.

His eyes move over the healing cut on my cheek, then drift to my temple where there’s a nearly hidden yellow and purple bruise from Alphabet Soup smacking me in the head. He did that earlier, too. Almost as if he’s checking on my wounds.

I shove down the urge to close the small gap between us. Features scrunching, Cain releases me and steps back. “Grab a mop from the closet. Let’s get this cleaned up.”

Darting over to the closet, I retrieve two mops and a bucket. Cain keeps glancing over at me as I work furiously to soak up water.

“At least your floors will be clean,” I comment.

He shakes his head, and I swear I hear him give a low chuckle.

Once the floors are dry and he’s tackled the bubble mountain in the sink, he loads up the dishwasher and glances at the clock on the wall.

“You hungry?” he asks, turning to where I’m curled up on a stool at the kitchen island. He seems thrown off by my position. A bit irked, too. Wouldn’t be the first time someone didn’t like me. Cain definitely doesn’t like me, regardless of this change in his behavior, and I don’t blame him.

“I can always eat.”

He calls in an order for Chinese food before retreating into his bedroom. When he comes out, dressed down in a black henley that clings to his chest and sweats, his eyes rake over me.

Spinning my lip ring, I wait for his anger over the clothes I stole from his closet.

Cain just ruffles his damp hair. “You’re a bit of a tornado, aren’t you? You definitely need something to do until we can get rid of you.”

I try to hide my grimace. Here I thought Rev was going to set me up with a permanent job. Maybe they don’t think I’m qualified.

Cain leans over the kitchen island, bringing his face so close to mine that I forget how to draw in air.

“Something’s not sitting right with me.” His voice is soft, but his gaze is deadly. “Why can’t we find anything on you in the system, Ezra?”

Panic slams into me, and my hands clench the fabric of my sweatpants. I drop my chin to my knee. The buzzing beneath my skin is back, convincing me that I need to move my body.

“Because I shouldn’t exist,” I whisper.

Cain’s mouth turns down. He doesn’t break eye contact with me, almost like he wants to sear through all of my defenses. But I’m real good at keeping people out. No one knows about me.

No one but my foster parent andhim. The man I killed.

I climb out of the chair, unable to stay seated. Back and forth, I roam the length of the kitchen under his scrutinizing gaze, hands curling and uncurling at my sides.