Page 16 of The Masks We Wear (Satan’s Angels #1)

Brody

Another night of shitty sleep, except this time, add a mild hangover to the mix.

Who knew not drinking for two weeks could result in my getting hungover?

I haven’t had a hangover in years, and I think it’s because I usually drink every day.

I wish this were the kind of hangover where I don’t remember anything that happened the night before, but unfortunately, I remember.

You’re so self-destructive and you don’t even realize it .

He’s right. And so, what if he’s right? He doesn’t understand and will never understand the reason why I do what I do.

I have something to prove, and he doesn’t, I could never expect him to get that.

The world isn’t relying on him to be someone that he isn’t, but it’s relying on me.

I roll out of bed against my better judgment and trudge into my bathroom, stripping my schoolgirl outfit off and tossing it on the floor.

I step into the steaming hot shower after brushing my teeth and washing my face and let the water soothe the aches in my muscles.

I must stay in there for thirty minutes before my fingers start to prune and I know it’s time to get out.

I stand in front of the mirror and dry my skin off and notice subtle bruising on my arm from where Harvey gripped me yesterday.

Something about the way he grabbed me and was so aggressive turned me on and I’m not sure if that’s something I should seek therapy over or should use a vibrator over.

I’d like to believe I’m just sexually frustrated, but I know deep down that I’m attracted to him and I’m even more attracted to the aggressive side he has.

I imagine him gripping my throat like that while he pounds into me, and I feel an ache between my legs before I squeeze my thighs together and force the thought from my brain completely.

I change into a pair of yoga pants and a tank top before heading downstairs.

I’m starving and there’s a lingering scent of food wafting from the kitchen which doesn’t help my hunger.

I don’t want to look Harvey in the eye after last night so I’m hoping we can go back to how we were this week leading up to last night where we barely spoke and looked at each other.

I make it to the kitchen to find Harvey making a plate of scrambled eggs, alongside a smoothie bowl and a cup of coffee.

It looks delicious and my mouth waters. His eyes land on me and slowly lower to the bruise on my arm.

He clenches his jaw and then looks back up at me.

“Good morning,” He greets, his expression and tone neutral.

I feel the tips of my ears turning red. “Morning.” I say awkwardly as I slide past him and open the fridge. He got me in the mood for eggs now so I can make myself some.

“What are you doing?” He asks. I guess we’re not ignoring each other.

I try to avoid his eyes. “I’m gonna make eggs.”

“Why would you make yourself eggs when I already made you some?”

I can’t help but meet his eyes with a shocked and confused expression on my face. I glance at the eggs he’s plated and find that he’s left them at the barstool seat I usually occupy when I eat. I raise a brow, “You made me breakfast?”

He nods once, “Yes.”

“Why?” I ask, suspicion lacing my tone.

He crosses his arms and leans against the counter. “Peace offering.”

I walk over to the food and assess it. It looks so fucking good I want to shove my whole face in it but then I remember how angry he was at me yesterday and suddenly the gesture isn’t adding up. “Did you poison it to get back at me?”

“Why would I poison you when my job is to keep you alive and sober?” He asks, doubt in his voice.

I shrug, “Maybe because you hate me that much.”

He shakes his head. “I don’t hate you.” He admits. “I just find you to be incredibly annoying.”

I scoff, “That makes me feel so much better about eating something you made me.”

Harvey’s voice becomes more commanding. “Sit and eat before the eggs get cold.”

I sit in my seat and can’t help myself. I start tearing into the food and it actually tastes really good. “So why the nice gesture?” I was expecting cruelness from him today.

He leans his elbows on the counter. “Because I have a proposition for you and I’m trying to butter you up.” He says honestly.

I raise a brow as I continue chewing. “Proposition?”

He nods. “I would like to propose that you play nice and don’t run away on me again.

You also don’t drink or do any drugs and you behave yourself and I will in return, play nice as well and I will allow you to go to more locations of your choosing as long as you are accompanied by me and agree not to leave my sight. ”

“Not even to pee?” I tease but he raises a brow that suggests he doesn’t find my joke funny. I think about it and make a big show of considering his proposition before I shrug. “I guess so. You promise you’ll let me see my friends and go out though?”

He sighs, “Yes, but are you sure seeing your friends is a good idea? They’re constantly high and it seems that you have an issue being the only one not high.”

Am I that easy to read? I frown, chewing slower as I consider this. “They’re all I have.”

“You have Selene.”

I shake my head, “Selene doesn’t get me. She’s my bestest and oldest friend in the whole world but she doesn’t know the first thing about walking in, let alone wearing my shoes.”

“She cares about you. Enough that she almost terminated my contract yesterday for losing you.” He frowns, anger seeping into his black gaze.

The thought of Selene firing him doesn’t sit right with me. I’ve gotten used to my babysitter these past few weeks and the thought of having a new one replacing him bothers me. Maybe Harvey Taylor is growing on me only a little bit.

“You owe me an apology for that by the way.” He scowls at me.

I roll my eyes. “I don’t do apologies.”

“Well start doing them because you not only took advantage of my being on the phone but proceeded to have me searching for you for hours. You sent me on a wild goose chase.” He growls at me.

I rest my chin on my hand. “Well maybe if you weren’t so preoccupied with your phone and your secret little girlfriend or whatever, you wouldn’t have lost sight of me and nothing would’ve happened.

” Eleven out of ten on the toxic behavior scale.

One thing about me, I’m good at shifting the blame onto others.

I know very well when I’m wrong, I just don’t like admitting it or apologizing for it.

He clenches his jaw. “I wasn’t calling a girlfriend. I already told you I don’t have one.”

I raise my chin at him, “So who was it?”

“My little sister.” He informs me. Raising a brow at me.

He has a younger sister. Relief washes through me knowing that he doesn’t have a girlfriend even though I know I have no right. “Oh,” Is all I say.

“Yeah, oh.” He replies, a bite to his tone.

“She was texting me yesterday because I just got her a phone for her birthday and she’s excited about it.

She also called me to tell me how her day was at school, hence the call I took.

She’s very important to me so forgive me for not paying attention to you for five seconds. ”

Well now I feel like a gigantic asshole. I don’t say anything as I spoon the smoothie bowl into my mouth. “Do you accept my offer or not?” He changes the subject.

I nod. “Sure.”

He grins a cocky grin as he reaches into his pocket. “Great.” He pulls out a small plastic cup and I immediately feel my stomach churning, my breakfast threatening to make a reappearance. He places the hospital grade cup on the counter and slides it towards me. “Now pee in this.”

“I-” I stutter, disbelief taking over my voice and my entire expression as I glance between him and the cup. “What?”

He crosses his arms. “Today is your first drug test.”

“But you know I’m gonna fail.” I protest.

He nods. “Exactly why I want you to take it.” I give him a questioning look and he adds, “You’re gonna work towards sobriety and you’re gonna work towards a negative drug test and once you finally get there, you’ll feel like you accomplished something.”

I frown. “I can be sober without having to fill a plastic cup with my dignity.”

He doesn’t back down an inch. Instead, he just stares at me until I’m so uncomfortable that I jump off my seat and grab the plastic cup, heading to the downstairs bathroom.