Page 93 of Shadowman
I think Byron’s lips are shivering…
“Who the hell are you?” a voice snaps at me, coming from his pushy friend.
Unbeknownst to this chap, however, I’m not intimidated by stubborn narcissists. So I ignore him, focusing exclusively onByron.
“Are you alright?” I ask him.
Based on the way they were arguing, and how aggressivelyRenwas coming at him, it feels like someone should check on Byron. And I think that someone should be me.
This time, he looks like he might respond, but before he can, Ren grabs him by the shoulders to put distance between us. “He’s fine. Don’t worry about him.” He snatches the soap out of my hand, glowering at me. “I asked you a question, asshole. Who… thehell… are you?”
Byron’s eyes bounce nervously between Ren and me, so I decide to finally acknowledge his friend, who already seems like the attention whore of the group. Still, I didn’t like the way he was hassling Byron. Not that I know anything about any of these blokes or their dynamic. For all I know, rowing about could be their thing.
I slide my eyes over to him, purposely slow, and murmur, “My name is Trevel. And who, might I ask, are you?”
“You new here or something?” He squints at me without answering. “Why have I never seen you before?”
I glance at Byron, who’s still as stone, save for his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat—an insignificant movement that has me thrumming.
Returning to Ren, I reply, “Well, if you’ve never seen me before, it would only make sense that I’m new… yes?”
Ren’s light blue eyes harden in clear animosity that I’m not making any better by taunting him. “Watch the attitude, Mary Poppins, or I’ll slap the shit out of—”
“Hi! I’m Luthor.” The third member of their group gets involved, cutting off Ren’s threat by stepping in front of him. “Don’t mind Ren. He’s a little overprotective.”
Lex… Luthor, ah I get it! That’s cute.
I offer him a kind smile, peeking once more at his quiet friend, awaiting an official introduction.
“This is Kang,” Luthor says.
Right, we do surnames in prison.
I blink at the speechless simmering stranger…Byron Kang… and rasp, “Hello.”
“Hi,” he whispers, dark eyes locked on mine. Never wavering.
I like it. Bollocks, I like his voice too. Even that one tiny word sounds delicious coming from that mouth.
“Okay, Trevor, run along. Back to your beanstalk,” Ren snaps, inserting himself into the middle of everything, making himself the focal point.Again. “We need to get dressed.”
“It’sTrevel,” I correct him with a bite.
I’m used to people mispronouncing my name, but that seemed intentional.
He confirms my suspicions when he quips, “Don’t care,” and begins physically pushing Byron away from me, in the direction of his clothes.
He’s still nattering on about something, but I’ve tuned him out. I’m too busy watching Byron Kang as he dresses hastily, casually peeking at me in between hopping on one leg into his pants.
I bite back a grin.I wonder if he’s…
“Now, that’s not very smart, is it?”
My face whips around.Leo?!
That was Leo’s voice! But I don’t see him anywhere…
Fuck me… Leo?! Where are you??
