Deceitful (Rules of Deception 1)

He stiffened when our eyes met.

I still remembered the first time I’d seen him. He and Major had stood in their prim suits amid the ragged furniture and empty beer bottles littering my old living room. Despite my fear and embarrassment, his gray eyes had set me at ease, his smile assuring me I’d be safe with him.

And now, I couldn’t stop myself from looking at his lips. Slowly he leaned down. He was going to kiss me, and I wasn’t going to stop him, despite . . .

“Alec?”

Kate’s voice hit me like a wrecking ball.

Despite Kate.

Alec dropped his arms and stepped back. She stood in the doorway, her copper eyes narrowed. I wasn’t sure how long she’d been watching us but it was obvious that she was furious, despite the fact that nothing had happened. A tiny part of me felt bad for wanting Alec. He was with Kate. I shouldn’t desire someone who had a girlfriend, but I couldn’t help it. I’d liked him from the day he’d taken me from my home, long before she’d come into the picture. Sometimes it felt like I’d never stop wanting him.

Kate smirked. “Nice shirt. Pity that you don’t have any real breasts to speak of.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, avoiding her gaze. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of reading my thoughts.

“Kate, stop it.” Alec’s voice held a warning.

He looked at me with an apologetic smile but I didn’t want his pity, especially not after what Kate had just said.

“I thought we were going to watch a movie. Remember?”

I hated how her voice took on a whiny edge whenever she didn’t get her way. I wished Alec wouldn’t fall for it, wished he wouldn’t watch anything with her. Movie night was supposed to be our thing.

He grabbed a towel and wiped his face. “I can’t. Tessa and I are training for the mission. Holly and Tanner are going to join us soon.” He added the last part as if to placate Kate, whose face looked like she’d tasted something nasty. After a moment, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her. Her lips clung to his like a suction cup. I wanted him to push her away. I wanted him to kiss me like he kissed Kate.

I turned my back to them and took a few swallows from the water fountain, trying to banish the image of Kate’s lips on Alec’s. The sound of Holly’s high-pitched giggling, followed by Tanner’s baritone laugh made me relax and I finally dared to face the room again. Alec approached me; thankfully, Kate was gone.

Tanner had put in his septum piercing. Summers forbade him to wear it during training or missions. I always pictured a bull charging a red cape when I saw him, though with his tall, runner frame he looked decidedly more like a walking stick than a bull. Holly looked happy to be part of the preparations, even if she couldn’t go on the mission herself.

The two of them stood near the entrance, watching Alec and I until I felt like the awkwardness might crush me. Alec cleared his throat. “Tanner and Holly, thank you for joining us. Major thinks we should prepare for all eventualities and that includes the possibility of Tessa facing off with a Variant.”

I took a step back. I’d always known a Variant could be the killer but somehow I’d never thought it through to the end, never considered the potential of having to fight against someone like me. It opened up so many scary possibilities I didn’t even want to think about, much less actually encounter. The killer might be able to manipulate me and make me compliant, could poison or stun me with his touch, could make me trust him against my will, and those were only the options that sprang into my mind; countless others could exist. I’d be heading into a fight without knowing if my opponent was uniquely armed or not, without having any idea how dangerous his weapons were. How could I ever expect to stay safe?

Alec touched my shoulder again, but this time I didn’t pull back. My eyes were drawn up to his and I knew he could read the fear and horror written all over my face. His fingers tightened, tension creeping through his body. “We don’t know for sure if a Variant is involved. If I thought there was any chance—” he paused for a moment before concluding. “I won’t allow anything to happen to you.”

I was dimly aware of Holly and Tanner standing beside us but in that moment, there was only Alec and me. And that was when reality really sank in. I’d be all alone, trapped in Madison’s home, her body, and her life. I’d meet people I didn’t know, people who might lie to me about Madison’s past and about their loyalties. I’d be the prime target of a killer who not only had an advantage over me through his local knowledge of Livingston, but possibly through a Variation.