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“It may not be mine directly, but I should’ve been there.”
“I can’t be under lock and key all the time, Benny. I was at the track. I should’ve been safe, regardless.”
“The hell you can’t. I’m close to convincing your dad to hire a guard. I’m fairly certain he would.”
My eyes pop open to glare at him. The scathing tone I use won’t be missed. “You’d better not. We will have problems if you try that shit.” I expect him to smile, but he doesn’t. He’s serious, and it makes me want to scream. “Benny, please tell me you won’t bring that up.”
“Nox, you were attacked.”
“I lived.”
“The only reason you’re alive is because Trace was running.” I swallow the truth, packing it deep down. He’s right. I am only alive because Trace showed up. But I can’t have someone following me everywhere I go. It will drive me absolutely nuts and cost Daddy an arm and a leg.
Benny sweeps my short hair behind my ear, letting his fingers trail softly down my neck to fall to our side. “I just want you safe, that’s all, and I can’t be with you all the time, or I would be. You have a life to live and so do I. I'm sure I would drive you crazy if I couldn't get a break from me for a while.”
“That’s not true. But I don’t want anyone with me all the time. I need some time to myself.”
“A guard would only be with you when you go out or if you’re home alone. They would probably be at the front door or somewhere around the house, monitoring things.”
“No!” I snap, much louder than I expect the word to come out, surprising us. His eyes flash wide, then his shoulders drop. I’ve had enough of having everyone in my life trying to keep tabs on me every second since the attack. I won’t budge on this.
“Okay. I hear you.” The words are out, but I know this conversation isn’t over. He’s simply placating me for now. He smiles sheepishly. “Since I already have you fired up.” I give him a dry look, letting him know that was not funny. “Can we talk about the attack?”
“What about it?”
“Did they have any matching tattoos that you noticed? Anything that would link them—”
“To a gang?” My voice shakes at the thought. Is it possible gangsters are after me? For a moment, my mind clings to the idea that maybe this has something to do with Benny’s ties to the Devils. A niggle of fear works its way through my system. That would absolutely kill my boyfriend, but I can’t rule it out, can I? It’s entirely possible. I keep the thought to myself, though, unable to bring it up to him right now. I don’t need that doubt and worry sticking, wedging its way between us, when we have so much going on right now.
“Something like your devil?” His expression is incredibly somber, almost guilty.
“Yeah, baby. Something like my devil that they all would have. The Hellions have a trident tatted in the hollow of their throat.” He places his finger in the hollow of his throat and traces a line down between his pecs that are unusually defined in the t-shirt he’s wearing today. Despite the harrowing moment, it takes a bit of concentration to keep my eyes on his face now that I’ve noticed. I can’t normally see the definition of his body beneath his clothes. I like this new outfit. “Do you remember anything like that?”
Giving my observations a thought, I remember nothing like that. The guys had a lot of tattoos, but nothing stood out. Nothing in particular, and I definitely don’t remember seeing a trident. I feel as close as I was to all of them, I would’ve noticed. Then again, I wasn’t looking at markings in particular as much as I was their faces, eye color, hair… Those sorts of things. I recall those all perfectly.
I don’t realize the tremors in my limbs until Benny is lifting my hand to his face and kissing the back of it. “Come back to me, baby. Right here. We’re sitting on the bed, just me and you.” He cups my chin and lifts my face to see him. It’s him. Just my boyfriend. My love.
I shudder, blinking his handsome face into focus. I study his gray eyes, replacing the menacing ones with the love that he carries. His bronze hair is tousled, disheveled when it’s normally so well kept. There are a few day’s stubble on his cheeks and neck. I run my free hand over the scratchiness and exhale. “That’s it. Right here with me. I know it’s difficult.”
“Why would Hellions attack me? Who else could do it? Why else would anyone…Benny I’m so scared.”
He shushes my worry with a soft kiss. He doesn’t pull away, but leans his forehead against mine. “I’m not saying that’s what this is. Just trying to gather as much info as I can. I know the cops didn’t ask you anything like that because they’re not believing that this is anything more than—”
“They’re not believing, or they’re covering it up?” His gaze falls to the space between our laps because I’ve hit the nail on the head. “I don’t remember any tattoos or anything like that. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. We have their names. I’ll find them.” There is no mistaking the warning in his delivery. It makes the hairs on my arms stand on end.
“Benny…” I protest, but he hushes me.
“I’m going to keep you safe.”
I say nothing in response because I just can’t. While I feel safe with Benny around and know he would do anything to keep me that way, safety is an illusion at this point. I think it has been for quite some time.
CHAPTERELEVEN
LENNOX
This past week,it has been nice to be home, tucked away in a gated community that is heavily guarded, at least at the entrance. It isn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. The only thing that bothers me is everyone is acting very much like I’m sick and they refuse to leave my side. They allowed me time to rest and when I woke up, there was a nail technician waiting for me to give me a manicure and a pedicure. Seeing someone who isn’t family in this state wasn’t something I wanted to do, but I can’t deny it feels great.
