Page 85 of Jagger's Remorse

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Snake.

Never trust.

The worst part is, she's right.

Iama viper.

I did slither in with poison and plans.

Everything was calculated.

Was.

Past tense.

When did that change?

When did I start caring what they think?

When did their trust become something I actually wanted instead of just a tool to use?

"You okay?" Jagger's voice makes me jump.

He's standing in the doorway, shirtless, watching me with those dark eyes that see too much.

"How long have you been there?" I ask.

"Long enough," he says, coming to sit beside me. "Raven giving you shit?"

"She called me a viper," I admit.

"You are," he says simply.

I flinch.

"But," he continues, "you'reourviper now. That makes a difference."

"Does it?" I ask. "She says I'll betray you. That it's my nature."

"Maybe," he acknowledges. "Or maybe your nature's evolved. Snakes shed their skin, right? Become something new?"

"That's not how it works," I point out.

"Sure it is," he says. "The snake looks the same, but it's not. It's bigger, stronger, changed by everything it's survived."

"Still a snake though," I mutter.

"Good thing I like dangerous creatures then," he says, pulling me against him.

We sit there as the sun starts to rise, neither of us mentioning what's coming.

Eduardo.

The meeting that will determine if we live or die.

"We should get ready," I finally say.

"Yeah," he agrees, but doesn't move. "Scarlett?"

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