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Jerking her head back slightly at my tone, she rolled her eyes. “I’m preparing my stuff for tomorrow.”
“Why on earth would you be doing that?”
“Mom’s safe, over at Pascal’s place. I’ll stay here if that’s okay with you and Aaron. But I thought I should try and get back to things.” She smoothed a hand over her uniform.
“Back to things!? First of all, you do not need that job—”
“It pays for classes.” She squared her shoulders, and glanced at Aaron, like they’d already had this argument.
“I’m sure Aaron has already told you we’ll take care of anything you might need.” I looked over to him and he nodded.
“I’m standing on my own two feet, for now. And besides, I’m not quitting without notice.”
“I can’t believe we’re arguing about this! You know I’ve just been out all day, trying to keep you—well, anyway, there’s no need to be putting yourself at risk when you’re very welcome to stay here.Permanently. Where it’s safe.”
“Thanks for letting me stay. But I am going to campus tomorrow. Jax and his best men are going to be nearby me at all times, and Aaron will be meeting up with me every class break, and Xander and his coven captains will be keeping their eyes on everything I do. Not to mention the NLPD detectives and Pascal’s secret friends will all be following me closely. Oh, and campus security are being extra vigilant too. Nothing can go wrong.”
I harrumphed. “When people say things like that, that’s usually when something does go wrong.”
She clasped my hand in hers. It was a bit cold, but incredibly soft. It trembled a bit, showing nerves she was probably trying to hide. “Don’t worry, Mr. Scow”—she placed a palm over her mouth as if she’d betrayed a secret—“anyway, it’ll be fine. We’re all taking precautions. Don’t worry.”
“I am not happy about this.”
She gave a small smile. “It feels nice to be cared about.” She hesitated, as if she thought I was going to protest her saying I cared about her. “But I promise I’ll be careful.” She glanced around the room at all the guys there to protect her. “I appreciate everyone’s help. But I’m going to have to leave this apartment sooner or later.”
That was meager reassurance, especially after the fact she’d almost been kidnapped and murdered at a party with literally thousands of partygoers in attendance, including most of the same people she’d just listed as her guarantors of safety.
But still, she was so strong and so brave after everything she’d been through. And everything she’d said and done since I’d walked through the door was just one more reminder of how Ceci had found her way into my cold, unfeeling heart.
I guess I was thinking of her as Ceci all the time now, too.
“Fine, then I’ll be a janitor alongside you tomorrow. And your classmate, sitting right beside you.”
She snorted. “The prince is going to mop floors and clean toilets?”
“I’ll be the best bloody janitor New Nebraska’s ever seen.”
Tilting her head, she peered into my eyes. “You’d do that, for me?”
I felt heat rising under my shirt collar. My heart beating faster. “To stop you being butchered, of course. What of it?”
“I’m leaving at five sharp.”
“Don’t leave without me.”
“I won’t.” She gave that small smile again and I was so happy to see it.
She kept looking at me, like she hoped I’d say or do something else. But I couldn’t. I let my usual mask of indifference fall over my face and turned back to the guys—but not before noticing Ceci’s expression closed in on itself and every bit of lightness she’d had vanished.
A shiver coursed through me, like someone had just doused me with a bucket of ice water, and I hated myself for upsetting her. But what could I do? Keeping emotional distance from her was probably best for both of us. I’d just hurt her more if she really cared about me.
I forced myself to greet the guys and fill them in on what I’d been up to. After getting a reprimand from Aaron, and Xander’s assurance he’d help me sort through the information in the photos, we all had an early dinner. I sat as far away from Ceci as I could and tried to ignore the pang in my chest. In the late evening, Ceci went off to Aaron’s bed, with Jax following soon after.
As I finished up some more research on my phone in the kitchen, I heard a loud, high-pitched cry coming from their bedroom. Ceci! Was she okay?
I hurried into the hallway, right outside their door. But she wasn’t in distress. I heard her moaning, and Aaron’s voice following right after. “That’s it, baby. Jax has got you.”
My heart ached and my body trembled, more ice water drenching my body. I stumbled back, finding my way out of the hall, and retired to my bed, alone.
