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Chapter Four

She may never be mine, but I’ll always keep her safe, even from the shadows. -Levi

She’s a creature of routine so I know she will be in her tutoring session for the next hour. I glance down at my phone and then hit the button for the guy who might be able to tell me to get my head on straight.

“Bro, what’s up?” Tornado’s Texan accent hits hard, even in just those few simple words. My friend will always be Texan no matter where he currently is. And truthfully, I’m not sure where that is. Silver sent him on a secret mission that is apparently so hush hush I’m not even allowed to know.

“Same old, same old, hiding in the shadows as usual,” I say wryly.

He chuckles. “You sound a little cynical, Shadow. Gettin’ a little tired of your assignment at that high falutin’ school?”

I take a deep breath. “Actually, having the opposite problem.”

“What? Thinkin’ about chucking all this glamour and living it up in the big city of Savannah forever?”

I don’t say a word and that’s when he knows I’m serious.

He clears his throat. “What’s going on, Levi? What’s happening with this girl?”

I watch as Flora throws her head back to laugh at something the guy she’s tutoring just said. I’m in the perfect position to watch her through the window. My hand tightens around my phone as I look at the jock who just made her laugh. I want to be that guy. I want to be the one who makes her laugh like that.

Fuck, I’m ridiculous.

“I’ve done something incredibly stupid, Tor. Went and fell for exactly the person I shouldn’t. Or maybe…” I rake my hand through my hair, “or maybe it’s just lust, I don’t know.” My gut tightens as I say those last words. Lust seems like such a light word. It doesn’t fit.

“Shit,” is Tornado’s only response.

“Yep, that about sums it up.” I pace back and forth. “Maybe I’m making too much of this. That’s probably all this is, right? I just need to get some and get over this, right?”

Even as I say the words, my stomach knots thinking of trying to be with anyone but my Flora. I can’t imagine it.

“Man, how long have I known you?” Tornado asks in a heavy voice.

“Longer than I care to remember,” I chuckle. I think back, thinking of those first days of boot camp when I met Trent “Tornado” Foster. We were both scared kids, covering up our fear with big attitudes and even bigger egos. Those gigantic egos were sufficiently crushed by the end of our time on Paris Island. Then kicked in the ass again through two tours overseas.

“I think fifteen years, give or take a little,” he says gravely. “I don’t want to age myself too much. Needless to say, long enough to know you inside and out. And I’ve never heard you twisted up over any woman. Not even that yoga chick in Raleigh. And we both know she was bendy as hell.”

A grin flashes across my face before I tamp it down. I barely remember that woman. I feel guilty for all the women before Flora. Shit, how is that even possible?

“She has no idea I even exist, man. And I have a feeling if she did, she would resent the hell out of it. Flora’s feisty as hell.” I scrub a hand over my face. I hate that. I hate that if she knew about me, she would probably hate me. She would hate being followed.

“Flora, huh? Sounds like a rich chick’s name,” he says in a dry voice.

Anger flows through me. “She’s more than that, Tor. She works hard, volunteers with kids, has great friends, and she’s a tough nut to crack, but once you do, she’s all mushy inside. I’ve never…never seen anything quite like her.” I know that she lost her parents when she was only eight, but she seems so tough to those around her. She’s been through so much, but she rarely shows it. What she does show is compassion to those around her that she cares about.

“Whoa, man. I wasn’t trying to insult her. But your response tells me a lot. You’re gone over this girl.”

“So, should I rat myself out? Should I tell Silver? ‘Cause you know he’ll put someone else on the case. He’ll take me off immediately.” Silver doesn’t play. And falling for your client is the number one taboo.

He sighs. “Normally, I would say yes. You’re compromising both of you. But can you honestly imagine anyone else protecting her?”

My body recoils instinctively at the idea. “No, hell no.”

“Then keep your mouth shut and do your best, Shadow. Because I know you. No matter how wound up you are over this girl, you’ll make sure she’s safe. And you know I won’t say anything.”

That’s one thing I do know for sure. Tornado will always have my back.

“What do you think you would do? Would you stay?” I ask anxiously.

There’s a long pause and I almost start talking quickly to smooth over the question. I don’t know a lot about Tornado’s romantic past, but I do know that there’s someone from his hometown he still pines over occasionally.

“If it were The Woman, the right one, then hell yeah, I would stay. I would never let her go. And I would sure as hell make sure no one else ever touched a hair on her head. Just do me one favor, brother.”

“What? Anything is yours. You know that.” I let out a deep huff. “Except my bike. That’s not happening.”

He snickers. “I wouldn’t even expect it. Once this is all over, let me meet her. Let me meet the woman who is making my tough buddy turn into a softie. She must be somethin’.”

I watch her pack up her things and say goodbye to the guy she’s tutoring. The fading sunlight catches on her blonde hair as she walks out of the building. Fuck, she’s beautiful.

“You got a deal, Tor. And she’s somethin’ for sure. Somethin’ wonderful.”