Page 154 of The Wicked
“I admire people who admire cars,” Casmiro said. “They are one of humanity’s most phenomenal creations.”
“Yes—it’s—God, thank you, Casmiro.”
“You can call me Cas,” Casmiro said, his lips lifting to the side in a small decent smile.
Upper blinked at him. “Ye— Thank you, Cas.”
And just like that, the rest of us standing here were background noise, and I took that short period to steal a glance at Devil, whose scowl had dropped as he watched the two of them, chest heaving slightly in what I could tell was withheld anger.
At the sight, I cleared my throat, and Upper flinched.
“We should get going.”
From my periphery, Devil had already turned, making his way back to the house without a second glance our way. I made a mental note to check on him with a text later in the day.
A few minutes later, I was heading to the airport beside Casmiro.
His usual frown was now back on his face. I didn’t like silence,and I didn’t know why the man disliked me. I am very likable; at least, I like to think so.
“So—”
“Don’t speak to me. We’re almost at the airport; just shut up until we get there, and you get the fuck out of my car.”
I wanted to leave him be. I did. But I was curious and had a thing for poking angry bears. And right now, Cassie right here was very fucking angry. “You seriously don’t have to be so rude.”
“How I decide to relate with you is my choice.”
I shifted with a frown, genuinely curious. “Why do you dislike me so much?”
“What?”
“You’re always rude to me. You look at me like I kicked your rabbit to death. You don’t even know me.”
He glanced my way briefly, ignoring me.
“I thought you were this way with everyone in Street, but you interacted kindly with Upper, so why are you unnecessarily rude to me.”
“It’s not unnecessary.”
“Really? Pray tell, Cassie, what did I do to you?”
His jaw clenched and unclenched. “I don’t trust you.”
“Awesome, I don’t exactly trust you either, but you don’t see me being a raging bitch about it.”
His grip tightened on the steering wheel like he wanted nothing more than to reach over, open my side door, and push me out.
“I’m usually not araging bitchto people I don’t know, but I just don’t like you, Zahra. I think you’re full of shit.”
Or I could reach over, open his side door, and push him out.
He stopped at a red light, looking over at me. “I read people, and I’m pretty sure Marino is good at reading people too, but for some fucked-up reason, he’s blinded when it comes to you.”
“Or maybe he’s just a kind person who doesn’t judge.”
“I’m not judging you, Zahra. It’s something I see. You haveso many layers, so many secrets; your eyes are so insincere, even with Street. I don’t trust you because I know you’re hiding something. And whatever it is, it has to do with Manuel Conti.”
I scoffed out a laugh, relaxing. “Seriously?”
