Page 64 of Light in Your Eyes

After he leaves, I take my phone with me and leave the room too. While I’m walking along the hallway, a voice calls me.

“Layla.”

I halt, and when I turn around, I see a guy rushing to me.

I squint at him, trying to remember who he is. But then, a light bulb pops in my head.

He’s Marco, the guy who once helped me when Luca and his friends bothered me.

One of Luca’s friends is Marco’s brother, but Marco is different. He’s not a bully.

“Long time no see.” Marco smirks.

I shrug, giving him a smile. “I’m always around. I guess we didn’t encounter each other that much.”

He chuckles. “I know. I went for a training outside the base for a few weeks.”

My brows furrow. “You did? I thought all Black Wings members can’t go outside this mansion unless they’re on amission.”

Marco nods. “It’s not a mission, but it’s a preparation for it. I’m going to one soon.”

My eyes widen. Marco’s face falls, and I notice that he doesn’t want to go.

“I actually don’t want it, but I have no other choice,” Marco says with a hint of anger.

He once said that he never wanted to join Black Wings in the first place and that he hated this place just like I did, so it’s no wonder that Marco feels angry about being chosen to go in a mission.

“What kind of mission will it be?” I ask with curiosity. I can’t help but feel concern for him. “Is it going to be dangerous?”

I realize how stupid I sound.

Of course, it will be dangerous. He may have to kill people, and vice versa.

Marco sighs. “I’ll survive. I’m worried about you, though.”

I frown. “Me?”

“Yeah. You,” Marco says. “I know that you’re with Kellan, and that you’ve survived this long in this place. But...” He huffs. Worry crosses his expression. “Seriously, Layla. During my training, I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I was concerned about your safety. I was afraid that something horrible would have happened to you. And now that I’m going to leave again for even longer time, I don’t want to feel like that again.”

My eyes soften as I give him a small smile. I think we can be good friends because we have the same mindset. The reason we were here in the first place was quite similar,which was to help our family. Marco was here because he wanted to help his brother, while I was here because I wanted to help Nana and Archer.

“I’m going to be okay,” I say. “It’s you who will have to watch out. You’re going be on a dangerous mission. Please be safe.”

Marco smiles. “I will. I just want you to do me a favor.”

“What is it?” I ask.

“Can you give me your number?” he asks with a hopeful tone. “I was so stupid that I didn’t ask for your number earlier. I just want us to keep in touch.”

My mind is contemplating for a moment. My phone number was given by Jaxon, and until today, I only use it to receive his calls and to call my family. But I guess that there will be no harm in adding Marco to the list.

“Sure,” I say to Marco.

He grins and takes out his phone. Then, he types my number and gives me a missed call. “It’s my number. Save it.”

I nod, smiling at him.

“I’ve been meaning to ask,” he says. “Are you doing okay? With Kellan, and everything.”