Chapter 16
KAYLA
I woke up with a damn migraine this morning. Reliving what Cammie did to herself had me up most of the night.
She told me she’s gonna talk to Doctor Collins about cutting herself, though I don’t know how true that is. Not like I can verify it. I didn’t want to mention the other marks I saw. I didn’t want her to feel cornered. That never helps anyone. But I told myself I couldn’t just do nothing either.
So I do something I really don’t want to do. But in the end, if I don’t and something happens to her, I’ll never be able to live with myself.
Knocking on Jade’s door, I strut inside when she invites me in.
“Kayla! Hey!” She pushes away the stack of papers she was looking at. “I’m so happy you stopped by. I was just thinking of you.”
Please don’t ask me to talk to any more girls…
“Oh, yeah?”
“Wondered if you were free for lunch later.”
Relief washes over me. “Of course.”
“So, what made you stop by this morning. Everything okay?”
My stomach turns to knots; I’m unsure how to start this conversation.
“Whatever it is, you can always tell me.” Her voice is a calming sea of tranquility, and I’m ready to confess my own deepest, darkest secrets.
“It’s about Cammie.”
“What about her?”
I blow out a breath and say the words before I change my mind. “She’s cutting herself, Jade.”
She inhales sharply. “Oh, no. Did you see it?”
I tell her what transpired yesterday.
“Okay, I’ll deal with it without giving your name away. I promise.”
“Thanks. I really think she trusts me, and I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize that,” I say.
Her smile grows. “You’ve always been someone people can count on. I’m proud of you.”
A lump lodges in my throat, even as I fight to make it go away. Because she wouldn’t be proud if she knew what I’ve become. She’d be terrified.
“Look who’s talking,” I quickly change the subject. “What you’ve accomplished here is amazing. You’re doing so much good.”
Her mouth thins. “It’s what they deserve. To have a place to sleep, to eat. A place that offers them all the resources they can’t get out there.”
“I’m glad you found what makes you happy. It’s important to do things that make us sleep better at night.”
“And what helps you sleep better at night?” Her eyes narrow, as though she’s attempting to dig up everything I so desperately try to hide.
“Oh, you know…” Murder. “A good show, a long drive to clear my head.”
She grins right before her office phone rings.
Quickly, I rise, grateful for the momentary break. “Go get that. I’m gonna go help the girls in the rec room, and then we can get lunch.”
“Perfect. Thank you.” She slants her hand with a smile, waving goodbye while I rush out of there, hoping I’m done being interrogated for today.
After lunch with Jade, I went to class before coming home. Eriu texted a bit ago asking me to go to a bar with her to celebrate my birthday, which isn’t for a couple of days.
I figured, why not? What else would I do on a weekday? Best not to sit around and think about things I shouldn’t. Like what the Midnight Murderer is doing right now. Whether he’s scouting for his newest victim. Maybe he’ll be at the same bar as us.
That puts a grin on my face as I get ready, slipping into a black strappy dress that hits above my knees and matching heels. Shooting off a quick text to Chris, I let him know I’m heading out.
He’s stayed away from me these last few days, barely saying a word, which is fine by me.
The less he’s in my business, the better.
And the quicker the murderer is found and the traffickers are killed, the faster I can get Chris out of my home.
Permanently. This whole sleeping-with-your-bodyguard thing sounds a lot better in books than real life.
Not that we’re sleeping together…
Grabbing my keys, I hop into my car and take it on the road, driving through traffic to get to the city.
This was a terrible idea. No one enjoys driving in the city. But I hate taking the train, being crammed in a small car with people I don’t know. This is safer. I have control when I drive.
Finally getting there and parking almost two hours later, I make the short distance to the rooftop bar where Eriu waits for me, waving her arms while a man with chin-length dark hair and cutting blue eyes looks at her, not threateningly, but longingly. Like he wishes he could touch her.
I don’t recognize him at all, and if he knew any better, he’d stay away from someone like Eriu.
She’s the daughter of the Mob. Not to mention Iseult Marino’s little sister.
Iseult happens to be Gio’s wife and an assassin for the Irish Mob.
That bit of information probably wouldn’t be so shocking to anyone who has the misfortunate to get on her bad side.
So I pity any idiot who tries to hurt Eriu.
They’d find themselves in a load of shit.
Between her sister and three older brothers, that girl has an army behind her.
“You came!” she screams over the music, shaking her hips as she grabs my hands and forces me to dance to some annoyingly obscene pop song.
I drop my mouth close to her ear. “Did you drink without me?”
“Maybe!”
I laugh. “Who is that man staring at you?”
I pass my attention to him, and he narrows a glare.
“Oh, that’s Devlin.” With that, her face falls and her shoulders drop. “He used to be my bodyguard. That is, until he went to prison. And now he’s my bodyguard again. Yay…”
“What?” I blink.
“Don’t ask. Long story.” She sighs. “He came out of prison a few months ago, and when I came to New York, he followed me. Follows me everywhere, actually.”
Her eyes go to his, and he holds her stare. She closes her eyes for a moment before she looks back at me.
“I know he’s here because of my father. Definitely not because he wants to be around me.
That would be a miracle.” She scoffs. “Probably told my father he’d be a good little soldier and watch out for his pride and joy.
” Her gaze turns to slits. “I hate this. I hate wanting him the way I do! God! I wish he’d just leave.
I’ve wanted him for so long, but all he does is turn me down. ”
She grinds her jaw and shakes her head.
“Wait.” I jerk back. “He’s your bodyguard and you like him, like him?”
“Just look at him. How could I not?” Her brows gather, and she stares yearningly at him while he pins her with his own gaze.
Except his is dark and brooding, like he’s fighting not to pin her up against the nearest wall.
“How about we start at the beginning?” I suggest.
Her chest rises and falls with a quick sigh. “He works for my dad. And at one point, he was my bodyguard. But I’ve always had a major crush on him. One day, I drugged him and—”
“You did what?!”
“Don’t look at me like that! I was so sheltered, I wanted to let loose, so I went to a club with a friend.”
My brows curve. “Not judging. Just surprised.” I grin.
“I surprise a lot of people, it seems.” She snickers. “Anyway, while I was at the club, I did something bad, and Devlin took the fall. Ended up serving time for me.”
“Wow, this just gets better.” I can’t help but laugh.
She narrows a glare as she goes on. “I wrote him letters while he was in prison, visited him there. I wanted him to know how sorry I was. That I was willing to take the fall, but he wouldn’t allow it.
” She flicks her gaze upward and sighs. “Once he got out, I thought maybe we could be together, but he told me it would never happen.” Tears shimmer in her eyes, caught between her lashes.
“He’s never going to want me. I have to come to terms with that.
So now, this is all we have. Him following me around and stalking me. ” She huffs a breath.
Well, looks like I’m not the only one with a bodyguard and stalker. She’s got the two-for-one special, though.
“Maybe he just thinks because you’re younger and your dad’s his boss, it won’t work.”
“Well, I can’t wait around for him to change his mind, now, can I? He’s the only man I’ve ever wanted, and he’s just going to stand there and watch me instead of being with me? I know my father will eventually arrange a marriage for me, and Devlin will do nothing about it.”
I know that arranged marriages are still a thing in her circle, and I feel sorry for her. She should marry someone she falls in love with. It’s the natural thing.
“Maybe you should give him something to motivate him a little…”
“Like what?” Her tone catches with curiosity.
“Ladies!” Prince happens to walk right past us with a friend I don’t recognize, maybe another guy from college.
A leery grin happens on my face. Sometimes all a man needs to inspire him is a little healthy competition.
“Prince! Hey! What are you doing here?”
“We just happened to end up here after hopping at a couple of nearby bars!” he hollers. “Glad we ran into you ladies.”
He winks at Eriu before giving me a showstopping smile.
“You know…” I say, giving Eriu a knowing look. “Eriu was just telling me how she wishes she had someone to dance with.”
“Ugh, I did?”
“Yeah, don’t you remember?” I pop my eyes and bounce a quick glance at Devlin, hoping she understands where I’m going with this.
“Oh! Yeah. Must be the margarita I had earlier, already going to my head.” She laughs. “I’d love to dance with you.”
Prince holds out his hand, and she places hers in his.
And that’s when I see it: Devlin’s fist curling at his side until it trembles. But the man doesn’t move an inch, carefully watching her as she heads for the dance floor, leaving me with what’s-his-face.
“I’m Tim,” the stranger announces, nervously peering around the room. “Wanna dance maybe?”
“N—”
But then I think about how I can make my own stalker a little jealous. He could surely use a little motivation. Maybe then he’d actually rip off his mask and kiss me so no one else can. Not that I’d let anyone kiss me. No one but him…
But he doesn’t need to know that.
I wander my attention around the bar, knowing he’s here somewhere. Knowing he’ll see me dancing with a man that isn’t him. Knowing it’ll make him crazy.
At least I hope it will.
My smile stretches before I say, “Okay, Tim. Let’s go.”