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“I’ll call round to the twin’s place when I finish here.”
I thanked her once again, then followed Luca out to his car, with Dell and Lewis right behind us. Strangely I was getting used to having three shadows, though the only one I felt comfortable being close to me was Luca. I didn’t know the others well enough and I hoped I wouldn’t have chance to either. Once this threat was found and taken care of, it would be back to normal and I could find a life for myself, whatever that may involve.
Problem was, the threat was still roaming free with none of us any the wiser to who it was. The lead on the car, which they had found an image of, had come back with nothing so far. They couldn’t see the car registration to identify it, and it was far too popular a car to look at every one in the area. The police also had nothing to go on, and Forest had come up blank in all of his investigations.
Abby was still considered a person of interest, but had been released since they had no real evidence against her. Dad had arranged a restraining order against her, so she couldn’t come anywhere near me without getting into trouble, and that seemed to have kept her away, but I was still unsure whether she was really capable of all that had happened. It seemed unlikely to me she would be tech savvy enough to manipulate all of our home security, and even if she did that, I wasn’t sure she was psychotic enough to trap me in my room to burn to death. It seemed extreme, to say the least.
So for now at least, I was stuck with my shadows and my very over the top guys, one of which sat at home waiting for my return I was sure. It was a wonder they allowed me to be driven between the gym and home without them at my side really. They barely left me unattended, but I guessed there were worse fates than having a very handsome, sexy man at your side night and day.
***
“Hey short stack? What are you up to?” Trent asked as he walked in after work later that day. I looked up from where I was sat on the sofa reading the latest romance book on my E-reader and smiled, pleased he was home. It had been too quiet all day with just me and my shadows. Tom had been with me when I got back from physio, but there had been a crisis of some sort on one of their job sites and he’d had to hurry off after apologising to me half a dozen times.
“Reading.” I held up my E-reader to illustrate.
“I should have guessed,” he chuckled as he set down his satchel on the dining table, then came over to perch on the arm of the sofa beside me. “How was your day?”
“Boring,” I sighed. “I’m so tired of s-sitting around doing nothing. I’m used to working. I think I need it to keep me busy.”
“I’d bring you to school with me, but they’re still processing your background checks,” Trent told me, which I already knew.
“The twins said I could maybe help out at their offices. Maybe I c-could do that until the checks come back. What do you think?”
“I don’t think it should be a problem. The office is pretty secure. Maybe just talk it through with Dad and Luca, see what they think,” he suggested and I nodded. I’d do that. I really needed something else to do with my days. When I had first arrived there and I hadn’t had much choice, it had been nice to spend lazy days sat around watching television or reading books, but a few months in and I was just fed up.
In the UK, I had worked every hour I possibly could since I left foster homes and got my own place. I hadn’t had a choice because I needed the money, but more than that it kept me busy. Being busy was the best cure I knew for all of the darkness and pain that was always present in my head, just waiting for an opportunity to sweep in and consume my every thought. As long as I had tasks to focus on I could push that darkness back, but the second I sat idle and had time to think, it struck.
“We can do something right now if you’re up to it? Get out of here for a while?” Trent offered, pulling me from my thoughts.
“I would, but Fiona is popping round soon. I needed someone to talk to and she was willing.”
“I’m willing too,” he pouted. “Why can’t you talk to me?”
“You don’t want to talk this particular issue through w-with me, Trent,” I laughed.
“Try me.” He slid off of the arm of the sofa and down onto the seat beside me, turning his body slightly to give me his full attention.
“Trent,” I sighed.
“I’m your brother and your best friend. You said that. You can tell me anything.”
“Fine.” I gave in, knowing I would lose him the second I started this discussion with him. “Last night, Declan and I…we sort of had a date.”
“I know. I helped Nan set some of it up. Still can’t believe Dec came up with something so romantic.”
“It was amazing,” I agreed. “The thing is, we…Dec and I…we kind of….erm…” Okay, this was not an easy subject to broach with my brother. Thankfully my awkwardness did the trick.
“Oh! Oh fuck, no! You are totally right, tiny. I cannot help you with this particular issue!” Trent jumped up from the seat and turned his back on me. “Nope! Do not want to think of one of my best friends defiling my baby sister!” he declared as he strode towards the kitchen. I couldn’t help but laugh at how awkward and uncomfortable he looked.
“Told you!” I called after him. I unlocked my E-reader to continue with my book, assuming I had scared Trent off for a while, but then I heard him coming back. I looked up and he was stood before me, still looking uncomfortable as he anxiously rubbed a hand over the back of his neck.
“You’re okay though, right? I mean, I don’t want to know what happened but whatever it was, it was what you wanted, right? Because if any of them are pushing you in any way…” he growled.
“No Trent!” I interrupted. “They’re not. They’re b-being great and letting me set the pace. I’m okay,” I assured him.
“Okay,” he deflated before me. “Just tell me if I need to step in and kick some butt though, okay?”
“I will.” I knew I had a dopey smile on my face, but I couldn’t help it. It was amazing the way Trent put aside how awkward the conversation was to ensure that I was alright. It meant so much to me that he cared that much. I had never had that before coming to live with him and Dad, and it still astonished me.
