Page 7

It’s dark on the other side of the window. I can’t see anything. I’m confident the driver won’t make it if the headlights on the automobile don’t light up the road in front of us. We’ll be stuck in the dark.
My hands are sweaty since I’m holding them on my lap. My body and mind are prompting me to change my mind. My gut is telling me that this job isn’t right for me and that I shouldn’t be here.
But my heart can’t help but think about the young man who is inside this house that I will soon enter, even though it’s racing right now.
Alone.
Blind.
He only sees the darkness, like the one around us right now, when he opens his eyes. He doesn’t even have a single light to help him find his way, like we do now.
I look up at the sky through the car window, and even though it makes me feel better to see the moon shining through the dark night for all kinds of creatures, my heart breaks because he doesn’t even have it. Not even as dimmed as the moon when it’s hidden by clouds.
I know how it feels to lose both of your parents. We will always miss them, even if the wound heals.
It was terrible for Liam since it happened so quickly. They were taken in a flash.
I know how sad Kate was when she went blind. When her world fell apart, it was very hard for Tyler and me to tell her that it wasn’t the end. It was the hardest for our family during those times.
And Liam went through all of that, which was worse than what Tyler, Kate, and I did.
My heart says I should stay. It’s possible that Liam and I can be buddies. I’d be happy to help him get at least one thing: a friend. Just like his brother wants me to be for him.
The automobile slows down as it turns. I catch my breath when I glance out the window again.
A gate that is so tall is right in front of me. It makes me think of the gate that was put up to keep enemy out of a fort during battle.
The car stops, and Zane rolls down the window next to him. He doesn’t even have to turn his head to look at the guard outside. The guard only needs one second to bark certain commands loudly, which makes the gate open. There is a building behind it that makes it hard for me to breathe.
It’s not a house for sure.
The only thing I can see is a mansion, and it’s the biggest one I’ve ever seen.
Lights, so many of them, faded through the windows.
And automobiles were parked all over the driveway. There are twelve of them.
The automobile comes to a stop in the driveway. Zane gets out and opens the door for me as the driver retrieves my bag from the trunk.
I can’t even move my legs to get out of this car, so I’m sure Zane can see how nervous I am. He just nods and gives me a look that makes me feel better.
I take a big breath and get ready to leave. I’m not going to back down from this job now.
The three-story Italian Renaissance-style mansion in front of me is huge. Now that I’m up close, it appears much scarier.
I move up behind Zane and follow him. A man is standing in front of the big double doors, stopping us from going in. He looks like a security guard, but his clothes make him look more like a vicious gangster I’d rather see in a movie than in real life. I can’t help but halt when I notice the shotgun he’s holding. The guy pushes Zane’s chest with the tip of the shotgun, and I almost scream.
“Identity,” the man says with authority as he looks Zane up and down. This guy wouldn’t let us in even though we had already passed through security at the gate.
Zane laughs a little, but the voice that comes out of his mouth is so chilly that it gives me goosebumps. “You must be new, right?”
The man frowns at Zane’s question. As soon as the guy sees the tattoo on Zane’s right wrist, he gasps and raises his hands. He doesn’t just put his gun down; he drops it, and it makes a loud noise when it hits the ground.
What shocks me even more is that the man kneels down and promptly says he’s sorry. I see a little tattoo of Eagle Wings on the back of his neck when he does that. This guy has the same tattoo as Zane, however Zane’s feathers have red streaks on them, whereas this guy’s don’t. It’s merely a set of wings from an eagle.
Another guard runs over to pick up my bag. He looks through my things in front of the door, and I can only watch. He goes through my clothes as if I had a real bomb with me.
“She’s a recruit,” Zane says the man who is looking over my suitcase. The man nods.
I turn away from them and put my arms about my waist. The air feels too cold for a July night, which is strange because it sends goosebumps down my spine. This location is driving me insane, and I haven’t even started my job yet.
Zane is reading a text on his phone when I turn around. He frowns and then puts his phone back in his jeans pocket.
He says to me, “I have to go. My flight to France was moved up, so I have to fly there sooner than I thought.”
I don’t know how to talk to him. It’s hard to say no because of the situation, but I also can’t say that I’m going to like this work.
Zane seems to see that I’m scared and unsure. He puts his hand on my shoulder to comfort me. “I know this job may not be easy for you, but please stay close to Liam. You two need each other here. It’s what keeps you both safe if something bad happens.”
Zane walks to the car before I can ask him what that means, and in a matter of seconds, he’s gone. I can only watch with my mouth open as the automobile drives through the gate and departs the property.
“Hey, new girl.”
The harsh tone shocks me, and I turn around right away. The man who just completed looking through my suitcase points with his finger for me to come closer.
I gulp. It feels like forever that I’m doing everything I can to close the gap between us. I don’t like it when people carry firearms, especially when they aren’t wearing security uniforms and can point them at me without thinking.
“Your phone.” He almost rolls his eyes, like I’m an idiot.
And yes, I might be. I don’t get him at all. I can only stare at him with a blank look on my face.
“My phone?”
He laughs. “Yes, your damn phone.”
I instinctively hold on to the tiny sling bag I’m wearing that has my phone in it. I feel protective.
What would he want with my phone? What will he do with it?
He suddenly storms in my direction. “Do you want me to check your body, or do you want to do it yourself?”
I take a step back in terror. I hear my need to protect myself loud and clear, so I take out my phone. When I deliver it to him, my hand is shaking.