Page 40

twenty-nine

Once we’re finished strolling through the gutted houses along the small lane, I finally choose which we’ll make our own. The big one in the middle makes the most sense.

As we walk through it, I feel like I’m playing house. A little too young and inexperienced. Getting married to a stranger. Not a complete unknown, but a man I’m not very sure of. His moods change so rapidly, he throws me off. I’m someone who thrives on seeing my opponent coming.

Is that what he is? My enemy?

He calls me his partner, and that’s what I long to be, but is he mine ?

I guess time will tell. And if not, my brothers and father will kill him. They won’t even care what the society says.

In the main bedroom, or what will become that space, I envision where the bed will go, but it’s like I’m picturing a future that won’t happen. Or not to me, at least.

“What is it?” Ryan asks as he stares at where I’m looking. “We can change the walls if you want. I thought that this one could be moved here?—”

“I have classes, you know, homework and studying to do.” My arms cross to emphasize my point. “I’m not a famous hockey player on campus who can get straight As because they need their star for the big game.”

He stands still as a statue. When the words leave my mouth, I half regret them, but seeing a look of pain cut through his face makes me wish I’d kept them to myself.

“I took care of your work for next week.”

“What? How?”

“I wrote your paper for English. Submitted your quiz for stats. Downloaded the notes for Criminology as well as a summary sheet for the mid-term.”

“Ryan…those are my classes. How am I supposed to learn if you do everything for me? If you cheat ?”

Black hair tousled perfectly, he grips a chunk until it’s disheveled. “I need you here with me this week.”

A gnawing discomfort fills my belly as my brow lowers. “Why?”

The sound of his stubble brushing against his hand is the only answer for a long moment. Finally, he peers at me with his intense blue gaze, and I almost fall to my feet, obeying whatever is about to come from his mouth. That look makes me crumble.

He wets his bottom lip before he answers. “Because I think someone’s after you. I haven’t quite figured it out. Not who or why , but it’s pretty obvious you’re getting hunted, and I have my suspicions. To protect you, I brought you here.”

“To protect me...” I trail off, trying to digest what he’s saying.

“And to show you where we can hang out for vacations… If I get one.” His long black lashes drop as his eyes focus on the floor.

It’s difficult to swallow the lump that forms in my throat. I’ve made a big mistake thinking this man is a tyrant of some sort. Attempting to own me or take away my identity.

He’s vulnerable and needs me by his side to protect him as much as he is me.

Like a partner.

It should scare me how much he sees of me. How he’s gathered all the broken, shining, ridiculous pieces of who I am, and held them like they mattered. No one’s ever done that. No one’s ever wanted all of me the way he has.

So instead of getting angry that he brought me here to get me away from whatever danger may be back home, my chest constricts as I walk toward him and let my hands rub his bare arms. He lifts his eyes to mine and that makes me grab his waist and pull him into me in a warm embrace.

“What will they make you do?” I ask.

I want him to talk about it, and I’m ready to listen. I’ve been so focused on what he would make me do that I’ve neglected the other part of this story. The one where we both are beholden to an unseen force.

“I’m supposed to be CEO of my father’s company.”

“But you don’t want to be. What? Do you want to be a hockey player?”

Hair falls across his brow as he shakes his head. “No. I’d like to travel around. Maybe be a scout or a team owner. Just not be the same as my dad. I mean, I love him, but it’s not me. It’s especially unfair because my younger brothers would both die for the job. That’s not my assignment, though.”

Heat from his thumb sears my cheek as he strokes it along my skin and peers down at me with such tenderness, my heart melts. “But I’ll do it if you want to stay in one spot.”

I smile with a small shake of my head. “Nope. I want to travel, too. Aside from that, I’m not sure what I want to do. I’ll figure it out when we’re on the road. I go where you go.”

He shrugs. “Doesn’t matter. I can’t do it. To protect you, I need to do whatever they say.”

My brain struggles to find some solution, but it seems impossible. “I’m starving and can’t think.”

His serious frown turns back into his signature smirk. “We can drive to a restaurant. There’s also food in the RV fridge. I don’t know how to cook, but I’m great at choosing a good place to eat.”

“Come on. I’m making something for you.”

The small kitchen is well stocked, like he wasn’t sure what to buy, so he tried to cram in as much as the little space could hold.

“Eggs, bacon, bread, milk, cheese… You got everything. What do you like?” I ask as he sits at the dining table, drumming his fingers on the surface.

“You.”

I roll my eyes. “What do you like to eat for breakfast?”

Holding his palms up, he waves them dramatically. “ You .”

“ Besides me . What do you like to eat?”

“You and some bacon would be good. Maybe a Pippi egg sandwich with cheese. And tomato.”

I grimace at the tomato, but something about the way he told me exactly what he wants makes me feel like I’ve grown to know him. As I prep everything, I wave a serrated knife at him while he messes with his phone.

“Why do you think someone is out to get me? Doesn’t it seem like Gwen’s murder was some sort of ritual?”

His black eyebrows grow closer together. “It could be both. I’m not sure… But the fact someone put her face on your door is pretty clear. Not to mention, I discovered some concerning things in Professor Hall’s past.”

She’s the last name I expected to hear. “Professor Hall?”

“Yeah. She doesn’t have much of an online presence, but her father did. He was a professor at NU and a famous photographer. Story per the news is, he committed suicide.”

“Per the news… What’s the actual story?”

Ryan is quiet for so long that I turn my head to glance at him. He’s studying the table as if it’s very interesting. “That’s what I need to find out.”

“You’re keeping something from me.”

His head tilts to the side slightly as he considers me for a moment. As soon I place a plate in front of him with the egg sandwich, he takes a big bite. “Fuck, this is amazing.”

I chuckle. “It’s not that good.”

With all seriousness, he nods. “Yeah, it is.”

One bite of my bacon on toast almost confirms his opinion. “It is pretty good, but I think we’re both really hungry.”

We eat in silence, other than his moans of pleasure every time he chews. I realize he’s changed the subject from what we were discussing and I’m left in the dark. “If I’m your partner, bring me in on what you know,” I tell him with a pointed look.

He wipes his mouth with a paper napkin and takes a large drink of water before responding. “Okay. I think her father was murdered.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“I’m not exactly sure… That’s where I’m caught up.” His eyes linger on mine, and I wonder what he’s thinking.

“You think Professor Hall’s murder has something to do with me, but aren’t sure what.” As I try to put some pieces together, confusion grows. “Maybe she did something to Mitch.”

Ryan straightens up at the name, and the movement catches my eye. “Did you do something to Mitch?” I ask him.

“Like stuff him in a vat of acid?”

My jaw drops, breath catching. “Y-you did?”

He smirks. “No. But I really want to. As soon as we find him.”

My stomach grumbles and not from the satisfying breakfast. “What if he found the same fate as Gwen? And if people close to me are being hunted, why not take me instead?”

“You aren’t close to Mitch. And the reason I don’t know the answer to those questions is why we’re here this week.”

A flash of the horrific image I’ve tried to forget enters my mind.

It was only a month ago, but it still haunts me like it happened yesterday.

I don’t want to remember it…but there it is.

The knife flashing through the dark night.

A man crumpling to the ground with his chest splayed open.

Cracks of his ribs. Sloshing from the organs.

And I did nothing to stop it, except hide, like a coward. A scenario I’d be ashamed to tell my father and brothers about.

Maybe this was never random. Maybe it was all about me.

“What happened to the guy that used a knife on Massacre Monday?”

Ryan finishes up his food and sits back. His hand snakes across the table and grabs my free one. “What guy?”

“There was a man in a cloak who carved open a brother’s chest and killed him.”

He grows still and stares at me in disbelief. “Why didn’t you say something before?”

“I don’t know. I just now thought of it. Plus, I’ve had to deal with a crazed stalker this month.”

“In a cloak…”

“Yeah. A black one. Maybe. It was dark.”

“Give me a minute.” He presses a few buttons on his phone and lifts it to his ear.

“Who was carved up on Massacre Monday?” With a shove off the table, he paces up and down the hall of the RV and talks to whoever is on the other end.

“So who did it? And you reviewed the tapes? What are they doing on Sin Sunday? President Harvey…”

His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows down some words. “Okay. Thanks. Nah, I’m out this week. I’ll be there next week…with Pippi. See you.”

When he hangs up, he bends over the table and places a kiss on the top of my head. A heavy sigh accompanies his gritted voice. “We’re definitely staying here.”

“What happened? And why now ? I mean, it’s not like things will be safer in two weeks.”