Page 75 of His Keepsake

19

EMME

“No.” I said that in a hush because it was surreal to find them here, invading my real life. I resisted running or throwing something at them. “Go away. You… I lost my job because of you.”

Mister Scott held his hands, palms out, to the side. “I’m defenseless here. Busy street.” He nodded at the sidewalk which was a few yards past the fence.

I didn’t throw anything. I took a deep breath then I couldn’t help sniffling.

My first instinct should have been to threaten them with the cops.

If I was quick, I could summon the security guard before he vanished into the school. Even now he was trotting up the stairs.

“Why are you here?” I pulled a tissue from my bag and blew my nose.

Mr. Scott had the grace to look concerned. Axl was waiting, hovering, hands in his jeans pockets. His mottled-white linen shirt looked spotless and straight from an upmarket store.

“I know you lost your job. I’m sorry. Really,” Mr. Scott said.

I frowned.

“Please, go away. I shouldn’t ever see you again.”

At that Axl broke out in a grin. My scowl swayed to him, deepened. He only shrugged.

“My name, my real name, is Grayson Hallow.”

The world tilted sideways. Only temporarily but still, that was a shock.

“Why tell me that now? How do you know what went on in there? Did you arrange it?” Fuck, what if they had?

I thought it through. Would I finally report them for rape and kidnapping and then explain how I hesitated because I mostly enjoyed it? I might be believed. I might be charged myself if the cops thought I was lying.

I was screwing the tissue into a tight ball in my fist.

“No, we did not.” Axl had finally spoken. Unruly brown hair, impish evil grin. I swept him from his boots to those annoying locks of hair draped over his forehead. Sexy, suave, and evil.

“How did you know?” I dropped the tissue into a bin next to the sidewalk.

“There is a backdoor to an app on your phone. We installed it when I first grabbed you,” Grayson cross Mr. Scott dryly explained, as if this were normal procedure. “We know everything you say and send and do. Where you’ve been, what you had for breakfast. All of it.”

My mouth had popped open. I shut it.

Stalking on an otherworldly level. I wavered between awed, scared, and feeling flattered by their dedication. They’d already demonstrated that they knew about phones and surveillance. Were they black hat or a white hat hackers? I should have suspected this might happen.

“Come to a restaurant with us, now, tonight. You said you wanted more. We are interested.”

We.

They may as well have dropped a bomb on me.

“I have more than sex to worry about, boys—like my job,” I said bitterly.

“Boys? Ooo. She feels safe enough with us to make cutting remarks.” Axl bent at the waist to stare at me on my eye level. He added in a hard voice, “Restaurant. Now, Emme.”

I swear my ridiculous brain jellied at that order.

“I don’t think I trust you enough. You didn’t make that happen? The school—the accusations of public sex?”

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