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Scarlette steps closer, her tall and curvy frame swaying as she walks to me. I lean off the wall to steady what’s coming. Her brown eyes glisten like jewels. She grips my hands into hers; I’m wearing gloves, but I can sense the warmth exuding from her. She’s always been that way, bringing me the comfort I never realized I needed. “Either way, we do this because we care for you, Anita. We don’t want you to get hurt or figure out he’s not who you think he is. I know how that feels, and I wouldn’t—” She looks down at her skin, her collarbones indenting slightly. She swallows, looking back at me, her fingers gripping tighter. “I wouldn’t wish that on anyone,” she whispers, the pain clear on her tongue.
Scarlette never mentioned her prior love life. It’s always been us—maybe it happened before? However, her words sting, the fear resurfacing.
“Just be careful. Because once your heart is involved, it'll be hard to see or think clearly. And it’ll stay locked with only his key to open it; it’ll have no place for anyone else,” she says in a way that’s spoken from experience.
“There’s nothing to worry about. Thatvesselwon't be involved in anything,” I reply, although the muscles under my tongue stiffen once I say it. “I’m leaving once it's all said and done.”
She’s right. Her statement sits in my mind like a new-found treasure.
Once your heart is involved.
Instead of golds and precious jewels, inside only resides my fear of being hurt or losing someone I care for through murder.
Can you look into teaching the self-defense combat class?
More unsettling pangs twists in my belly as everything starts to swoop in like a murderous wave.
Noticing my silence as my thoughts swirl in my head, she gives a comforting smile. “Besides that. We trust your judgment. You also don’t do anything without taking everything into consideration.”
“Ugh, stop with the sappy shit. When do we get to meet this guy? Does he have a team? I bet they suck ass.” Eve hops in with her remarkable ability to humiliate someone. She takes aim at a book, her knife landing right into the sole and dropping to the floor with a thud.
Scarlette’s eyes roll to the ceiling as she shifts with her shoulder to face Eve.
I shake my head, moving around Scarlette to get the book. “Youmightmeet him, soon. He’s very...protective of his compound.” I pick it up. “And as for his team. No, theydon’tsuck. If they did, I would’ve left the first chance.” I yank the knife out, putting the book under my armpit. I’ll leave money for the owner.
“Mal was practically a bitch to me,” I start until Eve steps closer, her eyes turning black like coal. “Not anymore, we are cool now,” I say with my hand swiping up and down to bring her level from a hundred to a zero.
“Boone is basically a killing machine robot who barely says a word to anyone. Bedford is sweet and—”
“Did you say Boone?” Scarlette cracks, her voice, unrecognizable like a ghost replaced it.
Our attention is fully on Scarlette now, whose face is pale, like she actuallysawa ghost. My brows tilt down as I push the blade into Eve’s chest.
“Yes, Boone. He’s Ronan right hand—”
“How does he look?” She steps closer with a spooked expression.
My curiosity is on full alert now. “Ginger hair, Manchester accent.”
She sucks in a breath like someone punched her in the gut. I continue, “Green eyes. Scarlette, are you okay?”
It makes me think back to when Ronan asked me about Scarlette. Fuck, I totally forgot about that.
Her eyes drift off into somewhere deep and far away because she wraps her arms around herself, as if there’s a chilly breeze coming into the library. Eve, on high alert, walks to Scarlette like a protective shield.
Kyra and I are next to approach to her. Her lip quivers, and her eyes roam around beneath her. Her chest is visibly rising and falling, like her heart is ready to take a run for it. Worry sets in seeing her this way. I never have. If Boone, the man who is practically mute, can do that to her, then something is very wrong.
Anger floods me. “What’s wrong Scarlette? Did he hurt you?” Dread veils me as I think about the guy I’ve fought besides having the capability of hurting her in a way unimaginable.
Her head shakes slightly. “Not...in that way.” That’s all she gives. Her voice, it’s barely audible. Eve wraps a hand around her shoulder, her height not matching Scarlette by much, but her energy levels it out. I glance at Kyra and Eve, worry filling our eyes.
The phone buzzes in my back pocket. Crap! My stomach rolls as I look at my phone.
Wicked Witch of GenCre: Headman is almost here. You might want to hop in the carriage, Cinderella, and get your ass here now.
I click out the message to see another message from Ronan. Thirty minutes ago.
Ronan: On my way.