When Perfect Meets Crazy

“Came from where?” I inquired.

“I lied before.”

I froze, fingers stilling in the act of wiping his split brow. My entire being tensed.

My eyes narrowed.

“What did you lie about?”

My voice could’ve easily cut glass. I was ready to feed him to the wolves.

He flinched.

He drew in a deep breath, mentally readying himself for the confession. All around it was a smart move seeing as I more than prepared to orchestrate his demise. Savouring what could possibly be his last breath wasn’t a bad move on his part.

“I lied about school,” he continued. “I’m not in high school. I’m in my first year at Harvard. I didn’t lie about Harvard.”

He pinned on the last part as though it could somehow excuse the lie he did tell.

Relief flowed through me as I released my breath on a sigh, annoyance running through my veins. That build up for a lie about school? My heart almost stopped beating over a stupid lie about his level of education?

I was torn between the urge to slap him and the urge to throw him out the window.

I settled for pinching the bridge of my nose while drawing in a calming breath to steady myself.

Who the fuck cared whether or not he was high school student after everything that had happened? Obviously, he wasn’t a high school student. From the beginning, I hadn’t believed that ridiculous lie. No high school would have signed off on a senior taking time off. High schools weren’t liberal that way, colleges were. It was that obvious.

Clearly, I was wrong. Olly hadn’t been sent to test my limits. He had.

I clenched my jaw. A big part of me was already prepped for a huge betrayal and even though rationally, I knew I should be grateful it wasn’t that, I couldn’t help but be pissed. Royally pissed.

“Never again,” I commanded in a tone as cold as ice, “lie to me.”

“Okay,” he agreed, relief spreading across his features.

I had to draw in another deep breath and look away to avoid giving in to the urge for violence.

“Go on,” I ground out.

“I took the semester off and came down here to investigate. One time while I was sniffing around, I went to watch a match and ran into Townsend.”

I arched a brow, wordlessly asking who Townsend was.

one of the feds who worked on my dad’s case. He was working undercover at the arena and I almost blew his cover.” He grimaced. “There was a lot of back and forth but, eventually, it was decided that the best option was for me to sign on as a contender with him as my manager and help him

I rolled my eyes.

working with was clearly this ‘Townsend’ guy and the reason he was following me around was to make sure I didn’t blow their cover. It was practically insulting.

I huffed.

undercover agent. “I had you pegged for someone who would bargain for more

my father,”

but I still helped keep his secret regardless. Even

enough.” I nodded curtly. “It’s your call.”

access, I turned my attention to cleaning his bruised

him with only one place to look; me. After the heavy back story, his gaze on me like that was most uncomfortable so I

convenient for me to tilt his head that way. It wasn’t but it got his intent gaze off me as

I finished with his brow, letting his head fall to its normal level. “I get the gist but you

despite the fact that I finally got what I wanted -a full explanation-, I was

He nodded.

investigating an illegal drug trade. How did that lead

front for it. We think they take advantage of

to this. It would make sense how I got lost in the heart of the arena and ended

an awkward one shoulder

what went wrong tonight?” I asked. “Because this,” I gestured to his beat

A knockout,” he revealed. “Townsend wanted me to follow this one guy who he noticed was always leaving before the end

this Townsend just do it

other day when you saw

I amended. “‘Changing’ makes

of humor clearly had survived the night’s altercation because he had the gall to

able to bullshit his way out of it but for the time being, he can’t pull any suspicious moves so I had to go in his stead. And I was spotted.” He

“So you’re busted?”

He shook his head.

they could take it off. I just have to pretend I’m perfectly fine over the next few days and they’ll overlook me. I doubt whoever it is thinks it’s one of the fighters

you’re leaving it up to luck?” There certainly were levels to stupidity but this had to be at

He really was an idiot. One would think since these people could kill him for sticking his nose in their business, he’d at least have

you’re entirely covered in bruises,

better by

“I highly doubt that.”

a while. I

that’s how our biology works but good luck.” I backed off even though I was entirely unconvinced.

for me

“Why come to me?”