CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CODIE
I was so exhausted I could barely keep my eyes open. Staying home and sleeping all day felt like the right thing to do. That’s not what I did though. Instead, I dragged my ass out of bed after only three hours of sleep and brewed the strongest coffee possible.
Athena decided to skip the day and stay home. I probably should’ve done the same. However, I knew that if I didn’t go to campus today, I would never make the move I needed to make. There was no putting this off. It had to be done.
This time I flipped the script. Instead of Stray following me, I followed him. I knew that he tailed me to school like he often did. Pretending not to notice, I slipped into the women’s restroom and waited.
When I was sure that he’d given up and headed to class, I followed him through the halls. He was several yards ahead of me. I managed to go unnoticed, blending in with fellow students. I watched him enter his first class of the day. Then I waited until the professor had closed the door.
I wasn’t sure how Stray had enough energy to be here. He’d probably gone home last night and promptly went to sleep while I laid awake for hours. Jackass.
Certain that he was in class for the next hour or more, I skipped out on my own class and searched the campus.
Maybe this was a longshot but I had to try.
I wandered past the cafeteria, pausing to scrutinize those inside before moving on.
Knowing that who I sought was most likely outside, that was my next stop.
There were several areas outside the school where students hung out. I checked all of them. Right when I was about to give up, I found exactly what I’d been looking for. Or should I say who?
Noah Cunningham ambled along the sidewalk, a cigarette dangling from his lips. He was alone. He seemed to be coming from the parking lot, like he just arrived.
Doubt gripped me in its icy hands. Once I did this, there was no taking it back. I had to be sure. I didn’t feel so sure.
I forced myself to step into Noah’s path. He glanced up, eyes narrowing as he realized it was me.
“What’s up?” he greeted me with a barely there nod. “Any more trouble with Hurley?”
I swallowed hard around the lump that had formed in my throat. “Actually, I kind of wanted to talk to you about that. Do you have a minute?”
Noah took a long drag off his cigarette, blowing the smoke above our heads. “Yeah, I can talk. Let’s hear it.”
A little voice in the back of my mind screamed at me to stop this nonsense. To walk away right now before I did something I would regret. I pushed forward, knowing this was the only way.
“He’s been following me a lot. Stalking me, I guess. There’s a little more to it than that. I don’t really want to go into detail. I just want him to leave me alone. I don’t suppose you guys can help with that.” Now that the words had come out, there was no taking them back.
Noah cocked his head to one side, a wicked grin tugging at his lips. Now I had his full attention. “What did you have in mind?”
“I’m not sure,” I said, struggling to get the words out. “Maybe you could convince him to leave me alone. I don’t want to deal with him anymore.”
“So you want us to deal with him for you,” Noah nodded knowingly. “If you leave it up to us, we’ll handle him any way we see fit. We’ll do things our way. Are you cool with that?”
A black hole of uncertainty opened up in the pit of my stomach. This didn’t feel as right as I’d hoped it would.
“I don’t want you to hurt him. That’s not what I’m here for.” I needed to make that clear. The thought of something bad happening to Stray made me feel sick.
Noah shook his head, tossing the dirty blonde hair off his forehead. “I can’t make any promises. We do things our way or we don’t do them. If you want the job done, you need to let us figure out the best way to handle it.”
“Please don’t hurt him,” I repeated, needing to emphasize this point. “Scare him off somehow. That’s all I want. Maybe one of you can pretend to date me or something.”
Noah studied me for what felt like an unbearably long time. Finishing his cigarette, he dropped the butt on the ground, rubbing it out with his shoe. “I doubt that will be necessary. I’ll see what we can do. Just so you know, there’s no changing your mind. Once you walk away, it’s a done deal.”
My head spun. I felt like I wasn’t getting enough oxygen. “How much?”
That’s how this worked, right? They did a job for a price. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be anything astronomical. I wasn’t trying to put a hit out on Stray.
“Let’s call this one a favor. We’ll help you out, and one day you’ll help us out.” Noah’s smile was that of the devil himself.
Not knowing what else to say, I gave a tight nod. I walked away wondering if I’d made the right decision. Deep down I knew that I’d fucked up. There was already enough bad blood between Venom and the Graveyard Kings. Someone had already died because of it.
Desperation had tricked me into making this decision. I had no other options. I wasn’t sure how Venom would convince Stray to stay away from me. Maybe they would simply rough him up a little. Scare him a bit. Maybe a few threats.
Stray could take care of himself. They wouldn’t really hurt him.
That’s what I told myself over and over as I went to my next class.
Every time I got the sudden urge to run back to Noah and call the whole thing off, I remembered what he said.
There was no calling it off. No changing my mind.
No matter what happened now, I had to live with it. God, what had I done?
Was I really so na?ve as to believe they would threaten him and he would listen? Stray would never back down. He would never do a damn thing Venom said. If anything, the next fight would end bloody. And it would be my fault.
When my next class rolled around, I found myself antsy and unable to sit still. I crossed and uncrossed my legs. Tapped my fingers on the desk. Fiddled with my hair. I was a mess of anxious energy. Everything the professor said went in one ear and out the other.
As class finally came to an end, I decided to hunt down Noah and tell him that I changed my mind. I didn’t want to be part of this anymore. I should never have gone to him to begin with.
The moment I stepped out of the classroom, someone grabbed my arm. Stray pulled me out of the flow of students leaving the room. Guilt hit me hard at the sight of him.
“I know you’re probably mad as hell about last night,” he said, tugging me down the hall to where we could talk without being bombarded by student traffic. “I’m not here to talk about that.”
“You’re right. I am mad as hell about that. Athena found me tied to my bed with my fucking mouth taped shut. I had to tell her everything.” The guilt faded, replaced by the anger I’d been holding onto since he left my bedroom.
“I guess I’m not your dirty little secret anymore. I know you told Storm about us.” Stray held tight to my wrist, like he knew I would run for it if he let go. “Did you tell them everything? Do they know what you’ve been up to?”
I scowled. “They know enough. What do you want, Stray? I’m not really in the mood to look at you right now.”
Keeping up a tough front felt vital. Like if I didn’t keep being a bitch, he would see through me and know that I’d done something. The sooner I got away from him the sooner I could hunt down Noah and call the whole thing off. I had to at least try.
“You like the mask better?” he taunted with a grin. “You are a kinky little freak. Anyway, I’m not here about that. I’m here to tell you that we’re going on a date. Tonight. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
I gawked at him in disbelief. Did I hear that correctly? “A date? You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Not at all. Yes, a date. You know that thing normal people do when they’re getting to know each other. Without masks, guns, and knives. I think it will be good for us.” Stray surprised me further by being completely serious.
“There is no us. The last thing we need is to pretend like there is. I’m not going anywhere with you.” My voice wavered as my resolve failed me.
Something nice and normal like a date didn’t feel like Stray’s style. He was a womanizer. A crime lord. The man who held a knife to my throat and a gun to my head. What the hell would we do on a date?
“I’m not asking. It’s happening. Either you can meet me outside your building at seven, or I’ll come upstairs and get you myself. Your choice. See you then, strawberry.” He had the audacity to kiss me then. A firm exploration of my mouth right there in front of anyone who passed.
The scent of him brought me right back to last night. To him on top of me, pinning me down beneath him. A rush of heat stole through me. Watching him walk away tore me to pieces.
Two different versions of me existed now. The one from before Stray and the person I’d become since he entered my world. Somewhere in between was the part of me that I hid from both of us.
I hurried down the hallway. I needed to find Noah now. I feared that it was already too late.