Chapter 72
Was it because Leonard Grande was in bright clothes, was it the lighting, or his tattoos, was it his hair falling on his face, shadowing one eye, or was it the fact that his cologne fucked with her brain- sorry - fogged her brain immediately she opened the door?
Aurora didn't know, all she knew was the living being in front of her was-
"Auri! What are you staring at?!" Gemma's voice snapped Aurora back to reality, she blinked.
She could see properly now. The hamper in his hand. The evening light behind him.
"You're blocking the door Noelle," Leonard said, his voice almost sending bolts through her.
She moved immediately.
He walked in without waiting for permission, the faint scent of his cologne brushing past her as he crossed the threshold.
Aurora closed the door slowly behind him, her fingers lingering on the handle for no reason she could explain.
"What the-" She muttered, shocked at her own self.
Gemma came to Leonard, smiling.
"Oh good, you made it. Charlene said she sent a few things."
Leonard handed her the hamper.
"She did."
Gemma laughed lightly at the weight of it.
"This woman... she never knows what 'few' means."
Leonard didn't reply. His eyes had already shifted.
To Aurora.
She felt it before she even looked.
When she did, he was already watching her.
Quiet. Unreadable.
That's when his text in the shopping came to her mind again.
~ Regret not doing more to you last night, now I miss your lips madly.
What if he's -
She shoved the thought away quickly.
"I'll take these to the kitchen now. Ugh! I love Char so much. I'll be right back." Gemma smiled.
"I'm already leaving." Leonard said simply.
"Oh... That's right. Dinner isn't ready yet, I would have loved it if you joined us." Gemma replied.
"Nevermind. Goldie sent something for Noelle too. It's outside." Leonard's eyes found Aurora.
And once again, he fucking heart jumped.
She'd expected this. She can't even lie.
"Really?" Gemma raised eyebrows then nodded. "Okay then. Auri can follow you and go get it then."
"Thanks for bringing this Leo." She smiled and made her way to the kitchen. Sounds of plates and Xander and Mira's handiwork resounding as she got closer.
Now Aurora is left with Leonard.
He turned to her.
She stepped back.
"Really?" he murmured.
Before she could react, his fingers closed around her wrist.
"Come."
That was it.
No explanation.
No patience.
He pulled her with him toward the door.
Her jelly feet moved.
Air hit her face as they got outside
The Raven gates stood a short distance away, tall iron bars catching the last wash of fading light. Beyond them, just outside the compound, Leonard's car sat parked along the curb.
Aurora slowed.
Of course.
He hadn't driven in.
He never didn't drive in.
Her eyes moved from the car back to him, realization settling quietly. The walk from the front door to the gate wasn't long, but it wasn't short either. Almost a full minute.
For people who always moved by car inside the property, it was... intentional.
He did this on purpose.
She looked at him.
"Are you serious?" she asked quietly. "You could've just driven in."
Leonard didn't answer immediately. He kept walking, hands in his pockets, pace unhurried.
"I know," he said after a second.
That was it.
Aurora frowned slightly, still walking beside him. The gravel path crunched softly beneath their steps. The air felt cooler now, brushing gently against her arms.
She was aware of everything.
The sound of their footsteps.
The quiet of the evening.
The fact that he wasn't touching her.
The fact that she noticed he wasn't touching her.
It was strange.
Usually he would've already grabbed her wrist. Or pulled her along. Or said something infuriating just to get a reaction.
But he didn't.
He just walked beside her.
And somehow that was worse.
Her fingers curled loosely at her sides.
She kept her eyes forward, but her awareness of him sharpened anyway. The heat of his presence. The way his shoulder was just close enough that she could accidentally brush him if she shifted.
She didn't shift.
They reached halfway to the gate.
Aurora glanced at him again. "So... you parked outside just to make me walk?"
"Yes."
She blinked.
No teasing or denial.
Her lips pressed together.
"That's... unnecessary."
"I know."
She looked away quickly, something in her chest doing that annoying flip again.
The guards had already noticed them approaching. One of them straightened, stepping forward to open the gate before they even reached it.
Aurora slowed slightly as the iron bars slid open.
Leonard didn't.
He stepped through first, then stopped just outside, turning slightly toward the car.
Aurora followed.
The street outside was quiet. The car sat waiting, dark under the streetlight. No gift in sight yet.
She folded her arms unconsciously.
"Where is it?"
Leonard nodded toward the car. "Back seat."
She glanced at it, then back at him. "You made me walk all the way out here for something in your car."
"From my mom. Yes."
Aurora stared at him.
He didn't look amused. Didn't look anything. Just calm. Watching her with that steady, unreadable expression that always made her feel like she was missing something.
She exhaled softly, turning toward the car.
He moved at the same time.
Their shoulders brushed.
He opened the back door before she could reach for it. Reached inside and pulled out a medium-sized box, wrapped neatly but without any ribbon. Simple. Clean.
He held it out.
"For you."
Aurora looked at the box. Then at him.
"For what."
"Being from Goldie isn't enough reason?"
She hesitated before taking it. Their fingers touched briefly.
Warm.
She pulled her hand back almost immediately, holding the box instead.
"You're being weird," she muttered.
"Don't get used to it."
Her eyes flicked up to his face.
Something about that line settled strangely in her chest.
She looked back at the box quickly, pretending to examine it. "If this is something ridiculous-"
"It's not."
She shifted the weight in her arms. "You dragged me out here for this."
"Yes."
"And made me walk."
"Yes."
Aurora shook her head slightly, but there was no real irritation in it anymore. Just something softer. Quieter. Something she didn't want to look at too closely.
She shifted the box in her arms and turned back toward the gate.
One step.
"I made you a promise."
His voice stopped her.
She didn't turn around.
The evening air moved quietly between them.
"About your lips," he continued. Low. Calm. "I intend to keep it."
Her heart clenched so hard she felt it in her throat.
She waited.
Seconds stretched.
She half expected him to close the distance. To turn her around.
"Not today."
She exhaled without meaning to.
"Sleep well Noelle."
She walked.
Back through the gate. Up the gravel path.
Toward the front door.
She didn't look back.
Not once.
But her grip on the box tightened the whole way.
And when the front door closed behind her, she stood in the entrance of her own home, box in both arms, heartbeat completely out of order.
She stood there for a moment.
"It wasn't actually a promise." She mumbled.
Then she walked upstairs.
★
[NEXT DAY★ ALL ELITES COLLEGE]
Oma, Ivy and Roseanne were halfway down the corridor when Roseanne saw her.
Kiara was coming from the opposite direction, bag on her shoulder, eyes forward, walking like she had somewhere important to be.
Roseanne's jaw tightened immediately.
Oma noticed. "Rose."
"I'm fine," Roseanne said. Flatly.
Ivy glanced between them. "Just keep walking."
They kept walking.
So did Kiara.
The distance closed naturally. The classroom door was right there. Same destination.
Kiara reached it a half step ahead.
She didn't look at them. Didn't acknowledge them. Just pushed the door open and walked in like they didn't exist.
Roseanne walked in right behind her. Not rushing. Not slowing down. Just walking like Kiara wasn't even there.
No eye contact. No words. Just presence. Heavy and deliberate.
Oma walked in after, expression neutral.
The kind of neutral that took effort.
Ivy came in last, glanced briefly in Kiara's direction then looked away.
They found their seats near Aurora who was already there, bag down, headphones around her neck, scrolling through her phone.
She didn't even look up.
Roseanne dropped into her seat. "She literally walked in like we were invisible."
"Good," Aurora said, still looking at her phone. "Less noise."
Oma blinked. Then almost laughed.
Ivy opened her notebook quietly.
Roseanne stared at Aurora for a second then shook her head and faced forward.
The lecturer walked in.
And that was that.
★
[MR THORNE'S OFFICE]
Thorne was still at his desk when his phone rang.
He answered on the second ring.
"I found the location." Zane's voice came through steady. "Perfect place. Clean. Isolated. Nothing tied to me."
"When do we move?"
"Soon. But first I need more eyes on her. Not just you. Find people inside that college. Students. Anyone useful. I want her movement mapped properly. Every class. Every break. Everywhere she goes."
"I'll find them," Thorne said.
"Good. I want to know where she is at every hour. Let her feel safe. Let her laugh with her friends. Let her live." A pause. "It makes it easier when the time comes."
"And Grande?"
Zane was quiet for a second. "He'll be handled. Don't worry about him."
"Understood."
"Thorne." Zane's voice dropped slightly.
"No mistakes this time. I've waited too long for this. She's going to be exactly where she belongs very soon."
The call ended.
Thorne set his phone down.
Opened his contacts.
Started scrolling for names.
TBC....