Page 18 of Waging War
“Well,” I say, removing a lighter and a lone candle from my pocket. “Do you want to make a wish?”
She nibbles her bottom lip. “I guess it’s not really a birthday without candle wishes.”
I slide the plain white candle into the middle of the cake, just above where her name has been swiped away. “It’s all yours.”
Hazel inches closer to the candle before stopping to study me tentatively. Almost like she’s waiting for me change my mind, smash the cake, and rip this tiny slice of normalcy away.
I suppose I deserve that. I’m Diablo’s enforcer, after all. Why would I bother showing her even an ounce of kindness?
But I won’t be taking anything from Hazel except a vision of that blip in time when I saw the true brilliance of her smile.
It’s rare and breathtaking—but then again, so is she.
The glow of the candle highlights her lashes as they flutter closed. Her mouth forms a perfectOwhen she exhales her wish, and I toy with the urge to steal a kiss from her unsuspecting lips before stamping out the thought.
When her bright eyes blink open, whatever haze she’d been under lifts. Silence snakes its way into the room, stealing our easy conversation like a thief and leaving all the pain and resentment she still holds against me in her hardening gaze.
“I-I’m so stupid.” She presses the heel of her hand against her forehead. “What I want can’t come true, and you’re thelastperson I expect to help.”
I straighten. “I’ve been given my orders.”
“You and your orders.” Hazel reaches for the drawer beside her to grab something. “I wonder when you’ll wake up and realize how pathetic it is that you’re fighting just to placate your enemy.”
The growl that vibrates from deep in my chest has her head jerking my way. “You know nothing about me or what I’m doing.”
“I know what you’renotdoing.”
“I’m not explaining myself to you.”
Hazel snorts, ratcheting my pulse up. “Typical.”
How much can I tell her? I don’t trust her or the pack she runs with. Kenneth made it clear that he was done once we make the exchange. Any information I give her could be used to drive a wedge deeper between us and the gang.
The leash we have them on is fragile enough.
“Dammit,” she mutters as the drawer squeals obnoxiously.
“Here, I’ll get it.”
She swats at my hand. “I’ve got it.”
Unbelievable.
“Move, Hazel.” I reach for the drawer handle to inspect why it’s sticking. The stubborn woman resists, insisting on staying planted right where she is.
“You’re… gonna… break it!” she huffs, cramming her fingers beneath mine.
“Let go.”
A loud crack echoes through the kitchen, and I catch an accidental elbow to the ribs when the drawer flies out of our hands. Silverware rains down onto the kitchen floor, along with the busted drawer.
I fall back, inadvertently tripping Hazel down on top of me.
We’re a tangle of limbs, getting jabbed by the silverware, and Hazel’s eyes blaze with anger. “Great. That’s justgreat!”
She unwinds her body from mine while I miserably fail to ignore her hands brushing over my hips and her bare kneecaps rubbing against my inner thighs as she stands.
Really, Ben?
