Page 102 of The Deceptions

"I saw your notes," he says, leaning in. "About the murder and missing organs?" He whistles lowly.

"Yeah. I think that's the main thing I need to look at and see who the hell is involved. It's weird, right? But also, why isn't the school doing more? The police?" I raise a brow. "I'm still waiting for confirmation from Carter."

Jordy snorts. "That asshole."

We make our way through the locker room, coming to a halt near the doors when they burst open. Wilder and Malic force their way in with deadly expressions on their faces.

Fuck! I duck my head, staring at the floor, despite knowing I’m wearing my colored contacts and glasses. Something Jordy instantly notices. We aren’t secret agents for nothing. And Jordy? That man has an eye for the details. Discreetly, I watch through my lashes as Wilder takes the unlit cigarette out of his mouth and puts it behind his ear.

Wilder brushes past me, only acknowledging me with a nod and grunts when he stops at the gym shorts table and grabs a pair. Agitation rolls off him, giving me major–fuck off–vibes. But Malic? I hold my breath when he stops and cocks his head. Fuck. Run! He’s going to know exactly who you are and ruin your identity.

When I lift my eyes to meet his, an intensity I’ve never experienced before burns right through me.

"Tell me your secrets," he says in a low voice, leaning in to take his fill of my bewildered expression. I’m sure I’m a sight to see right now. Flushed with bruises forming all over my flesh.

"Secrets?" I almost squeak but catch myself before it happens.

A grin bursts across his lips, and his eyes light up. "Tell me how you knocked that asshole out? I'm very curious how someone so..." He purses his lips. Those intense blue eyes take me in from head to toe, like he’s memorizing every detail. "Small, could accomplish something so big. Maybe I should call you out." He grins at that and then shakes his head. “Nah.”

"Mal," Wilder grunts, causing Mal's eyes to dart toward him, and he frowns. “Leave Oliver alone,” Wilder adds, gesturing to me with a huff.

"I take offense to that," I mutter, cringing when my arm brushes against the bruise on my ribs. I've been numb to pain before. Forced to ignore it when it lights up my nerves, but right now, I'm unable to hold back the hiss.

Malic's eyes light up at the sight of my cringe, and without warning, he pokes my ribs several times. "What the fuck?" I hiss, tossing his massive hands off me. No way will I admit that my nerves lit up under his touch.

He shrugs. "Pain is delightful, isn't it?"

Uh, no, psychopath. Pain is not delightful. It's fucking pain, and it hurts. Especially that.

"Not for me," I say through gritted teeth.

"Malic!" Wilder barks with impatience. “Quit poking the man, for fuck’s sake.” Wilder’s look he sends my way is full of concern, and his gaze asks‘are you okay?’I nod without saying words, and his shoulders sag with relief. “Malic…” he trails off impatiently.

"My keeper calls," he sing-songs. "Have a good night, Oliver Davenport." He tilts his head when my fake name leaves his tongue, and he hums. "Until next time." He grins, waltzing over to Wilder and immediately pulling off his shirt.

Fuck.

"We need to leave this locker room," I mutter, pulling Jordy along by the collar of his shirt and slamming through the doors to the packed house of people, waiting for the next fight to start.

Hux passes me with a determined look, followed by Mack on his tail, who abruptly stops beside me. "Did you like that?" he asks, stopping me in my tracks.

God. What is this?! Every psycho stopping me from enjoying a few drinks so I can numb my pain?

"What exactly?" I ask, releasing my grip from Jordy. He adjusts his collar with a frown, glowering at me for messing it up.

"The match?" Mack grins. "Set it up just for you. Although you were supposed to go down." His eyes dart to the empty ring, and anger darts across his eyes. “You lost me a grand in a bet.”

And whose fault is that? Certainly not mine. Asshole.

"Supposed to go down..." I trail off, and realization hits me.

Mack grins. "Fuck with us. We have our ways." He shrugs, shoulder checking me as he makes his way into the locker room.

I wonder if he knows his leader Hux was trying to recruit me to their cause? Probably not, judging by the victorious grin which I would gladly wipe off his stupid face with one punch before he disappears through the lock room doors.

"Prick," Jordy mumbles. "The offer still stands about the murdering, by the way. I'm getting sick and tired of that douchebag and his mouth. I could shove so many things inside of it to make him stop talking…” he trails off, snorting when I whack him on the chest.

“The imagery I didn’t need, thanks.” I roll my eyes and continue walking with or without Jordy on my tail. “Besides, you’ve only had the pleasure of meeting him once.”