Page 16 of Hidden

“If Titus isn’t Mafia, then what is he?”

“Not Mafia,” Julian responded as he broke off another piece of cake and lifted it to my lips. “It’s more like a collaborative.”

Acollaborative. That explained nothing.

But I couldn’t ask. I could only watch Julian with suspicion as he kept shoving food in my mouth. He was avoiding the subject, and after three more pieces, I held back his hand. “What collaborative?”

Julian sighed, clearly uncomfortable. “It’s shifter business. We stay out of each other’s work. You’ll need to ask Titus.”

Oh, I would.

Collaborative shifter business that was not Mafia, but was probably the same thing. I freaking knew it.

What in the world did Titus do all day? “Does he kill people?”

“Maybe?” Julian shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never asked.”

He totally killed people.

Even if Julian had never asked, he obviously suspected. Visions of Titus slaughtering his enemies while covered in their blood danced through my mind.

Did he wear a suit while doing his ‘shifter business’? Or maybe that’s what the plaid was for.

It didn’t matter, either scenario made my skin warm.

“Darling.” Julian touched my face. “Titus wouldn’t hurt you.”

I glanced at him in confusion. He was bringing this upagain? “I know that.”

“Oh.” Julian face morphed in confusion. “Then what…”

“Never mind.” It was suddenly difficult to meet his eyes. I wasn’t even sure what had come over me. “I’m tired,” I said, leaning back into his chest.

“Go to sleep then,” Julian replied, patting down my hair. “I’ll be here.”

Despite being tired, I couldn’t sleep. So we laid in silence as I soaked in Julian’s presence.

But, eventually, Julian was asked to leave. There was a sense of loneliness in the wake of his exit. This was a strange feeling, almost as if I was growing to depend on his presence.

Honestly? I didn’t like it.

I’d grown to depend on people once before, and look at what had happened.

I went from struggling to survive, to not having a say in my own life. My adoptive parents decided everything for me: where I was to go to school, what I wore, and even what I ate. As I got older, my mother tried to control what I read. And Father—even though it was never an issue—decided I wouldn’t be allowed to date. I went along without complaint because I was so grateful to have a family. I tried to pretend things were normal, although, in my heart I knew they weren’t.

Then there was Finn.

Somehow, he’d wormed his way past my defenses. I could have fought it harder, but I wanted a friend. But still, it had taken me so long to become attached. Once we were friends, I was afraid to disappoint him. It felt strange to recall that only a few short weeks ago, I believed I was in love with him. The thought, now, was horrifying.

What if I was projecting my need for acceptance onto Julian and the others?

Julian kept talking about a bond and how everything between us was normal.

What if they were only nice to me because of who I used to be. I didn’t know anything about that person, and I had no memory of any past lives. I wasn’t even sure I fully believed in it.

But—if it was true—there was no way we were the same person.

The boys were leaders. People looked up to them, and they seemed to know what they were talking about. They were also able to defend themselves and weren’t scared of anything.