Page 77 of Twisted (Never After)

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“You sit over there.”I side-eye Razul, who does nothing but grunt and get a table in the corner of the room, allowing me to go and see Riya for Sunday brunch without him overhearing every word I say.

He drove me here, but he hasn’t said a word, most likely under strict instruction not to speak to me. It’s fine. I don’t really think we’d have much in common anyway, and although I didn’t tell Julian because fighting him on anything while he can hurt Aidan is useless, I don’t think Ineeda bodyguard.

My father never gave me one, and I grew up just fine on my own.

Looking around the restaurant, I see Riya sipping on a drink over in the back corner of the room, and I make my way there, sliding into the booth and eyeing the no-doubt alcoholic bever age already in front of me on the table.

“I took the liberty of ordering you a Bellini.” She nods to the drink in front of me.

“Thanks.” I smile, but I’m not touching that thing, especially since I’m spending all evening with Julian and his mother. Who knows what will happen if I don’t have all my cylinders firing appropriately?

“Who’s your sidekick?” she asks, jerking her chin at Razul.

I glance back at the bulky, grumpy man, who’s sitting back in a chair across the room with his eyes trained on me. “My new watchdog.”

Her brows lift. “Julian gave you security? Wow. How romantic.”

“More annoying than anything. So what’s the news?” I ask, reaching out to grab a piece of bread. It melts when it hits my mouth and I close my eyes at the taste.

“Wow, not even a ‘how are you’?” she deadpans. “Julian’s rubbing off on you.”

The bread I’m swallowing gets stuck in my throat and I cough, my hand flying to my neck as I try to regain my composure.

“You okay?” Riya asks, her brow quirking.

“He isnot,” I rasp out.

“Yeah, I know… It was a joke, damn.” She clicks her tongue. “Is it that miserable?”

“Even worse,” I mumble, reaching back out to the basket of rolls in the center of the table and tearing off another piece. “He’s beingnice.”

She gasps. “No! How terrible.”

Scoffing, I throw the piece of bread at her. “Uh, yeah. It actually is. It’s confusing, and I think he’s just manipulating my emotions on purpose, and I don’t know what purpose it’s serving. It’s not like it will make a difference. As far as he’s concerned, he’s already won, so what’s the point?”

“Oh my god,” Riya muses, her eyes calculating as she stares at me. “Youlikehim.”

“No,” I snap. “Absolutely not.”

She sits back in her seat, crossing her arms. “Don’t lie to me, bitch. How dare you fall for the enemy and try to keep it from me?”

“I’m not falling for him. God,” I complain. “He just…he confuses me.”

She scoffs. “Please, you’vealwayshad a thing for the bad guy.”

My mouth drops open. “I have not.”

“Don’t lie to me, Yas. I’ve watchedDie Hardwith you too many times to fall for that trick.”

“That’s different.” I point a finger at her and squint. “Hans Gruber is the best villain of all time. He’s not a real person.”

“Right.” She nods, her eyes wide. “You’ve got the real version of him as your man.”

My stomach twists. “He’s a fucking criminal hiding in a business suit, Riya. Who do you think I am?”

“Alleged criminal,” she corrects.