Page 79 of The Villain

“I came as a favor to my new friend, actually.”

I’m not sure what he’s talking about, but he opens his hand and inside I see my phone. For a minute I don’t believe what it is. I think maybe I’m mistaken, but he touches the screen, and the wallpaper of Amal, Daniel and I confirms it’s mine.

“Where did you get that?” I ask, reaching to snatch it from him.

He pulls it out of reach. “Someone gave it to me. Actually, she asked me to give it to you.”

“Amal?” I ask, knowing there can only be one person, but how?

“Right on the first try.”

“What game are you playing?” I ask, hearing his words because my brain is slow to process.I came as a favor to my new friend.

“No game. She’s a tough one, Amal.”

I spring, fisting handfuls of his shirt, furious. He laughs. He just laughs, grabbing hold of my arms as if I could hurt him. As if I could ever actually hurt him.

“What the hell did you do to her? What the?—”

“Whoa, whoa. Relax. I didn’t do a thing. She came to me.”

“No way. I don’t believe you.”

“Well, it’s true.” He shrugs his shoulders, and I drop my arms, step back.

“What do you mean she came to you?”

“I mean she showed up at the club.”

“Amal showed up at your club?”

“She’s resourceful,” he says with a grin I don’t understand. “She cut class and took an Uber.”

“An Uber?” I know I sound like a parrot.

“Wildcard, that one. She said you didn’t take the phone with you because you knew Cassian would search you and likely take it.”

I reach out and take my phone from him. This time, he lets me.

“Oh.” He reaches into his pocket once more for the charger. I take that too.

“She’s not your friend,” I tell him.

He just shrugs a shoulder.

“Why did she bring it to you of all people? And why would you give it to me and not Cassian?”

“Do you prefer I did that? I can, of course.” He reaches as if he’ll take the phone back.

“No! I just don’t understand.”

“I thought you and I were friends, Allegra.”

“I think you’re playing a game, Jet.”

“You’re not very trusting, are you? Well, no matter.” Again, he shrugs. “Nothing to understand,” he picks up on my comment. “Amal came to the club. She asked for Severin or me and she’s lucky I heard who she was before my brother did. He’d have tossed the phone out with the trash.”

“Why wouldn’t you?”