Page 42 of Cruel Debts
"Well, youareabout the same size. And if it's for the job . . . " She trailed off, hoping we'd reveal something detailed, but I knew how to keep my mouth shut when I wanted to.
I looked at Asher pointedly. "She has a point. Youdohave a lot that would fit me. And it's for the job?—"
"You touch the Armani shirt I bought myself for Christmas last year, and I will personally rip your innards out while you watch." I raised a brow in Trinity's direction, but he didn't seem to care if he had an audience. "You know what I'm capable of. I can keep you alive the whole time, so you feel every little tug, pull, and pinch. I can stitch you back up with your intestines twisted up around your other organs, so you die in agonizing pain as your body strangles itself. I can even?—"
"Ugh, you two are sick," she finally said with a huff of annoyance. I could see the little eye roll she gave us, though, so she wasn't so much grossed out as she was irritated that the conversation hadn't turned where she'd tried to redirect it. "Well, come on, Hawke. I don't think you can be trusted to dress yourself to impress. I'll help you."
I had a sneaking suspicion that she only wanted in his closet to finger his clothes and maybe rub herself on them, but I wasn't about to turn down the help. If it got me out of this house and out from under her annoying glares faster, then I was all for it.
This was,by far, one of my more stupid decisions. Letting Trinity help me pick fancy clothes out of Asher's closet sounded good, in theory, but in practice, it was like I'd been transformed into a Barbie doll and was in the middle of some personal kind of dress-up party hell.
"Here, try this one, Hawke," she said from the closet, holding the tenth shirt out the door at me. "It's a better color than the last one, but not as flashy."
"The first one was fine," I complained, rolling my eyes as I took the damn shirt and unbuttoned the one on my shouldersnow. "Why the hell am I trying on clothes like it's time to pick out matching outfits before prom?"
Trinity scoffed, though her ire was muffled by the millions of articles of clothing in Asher's bottomless closet. I swore, the man had an outfit for every occasion. "Because, if you're going on a mission, and playing the part is pivotal to the success, then it's important to make sure you look the part, too."
"Appearances aren't everything," I pointed out, rolling up the sleeves on this one to see how well the damn cuffs would stay if I needed to beat someone's ass.
"They're just the only thing that matters," she snapped back, striding out of the closet with three pairs of pants slung over an arm. "Try these on—oh." Her brows rose to her hairline, and the smile she let spread over her lips made me think I should be afraid for my life.
"Oh, what?"
She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and chewed it, her eyes raking over my torso with barely-concealed heat. "Oh, you look better in that shirt than I thought you would."
I snatched the black pants off the end of her arm and sucked on the inside of my teeth. "Tch. Put your eyeballs back in your head. I'd never fuck around with someone as annoying as you. Especially since all you like me for right now is the clothes on my back." To prove my point, I yanked the top off and crossed my arms, as if to prove that the shirt and the very Asher-like aura that came with them was all that was interesting here. The only thing that changed me from the annoying asshole in her eyes to someone appealing was the outfit.
Her eyes damn near bugged out of her head as she whistled low, flexing her free hand into a fist. "You know, I think maybe you're right. Appearancesareeverything. And suddenly, I feel like I'm overdressed for this one."
I yanked her by the hand, practically throwing her from the room as I slammed the door behind her.
No way. Not a snowball's chance in hell. Not gonna happen.
She could try the fuck again. I was not on this planet ever going to get involved with that brat of a girl. There wasn't an ounce of interest in my body for her?—
"Aww, come on, Hawke, it was ajoke?—"
She stood at the door, her fist beating on the wooden barrier, but I had no intention of letting her in. As a matter of fact, I threw Asher's clothes on in quick order, rolled the sleeves up on the shirt, unfastened a top button or two, and paired it with the mask from my last visit to the club's Masquerade Night event. And before I could lose my resolve, I shoved the door open, ignoring Trinity's protests as I made for the door, only stopping to grab a jacket.
I wasn't fast enough to avoid her little gasp of recognition.
"You're going to the club."
Shit.
"Hawke," she growled, the sound more feral beast than woman.
Time to go.
I heard her screech through the metal door as I jogged down the hall.
I would deal with her later. Now, there was work to do.
NINETEEN
TRINITY
"I can't believehe went to the club tonight and refused to take me!"
