10. Maya #2
Marco flashed me a brilliantly white smile right as two men in dark uniforms followed Sai into the room. “Mr. Moretti, so sorry to interrupt, we were just sent to check on a girl from the twins’ school. A few students saw her leaving with them today, so we figured we would check here first.”
This didn’t sound like my mother. This sounded like Jed.
I knew they saw Henry standing right next to us, but both of the officers looked away as if nervous. Interesting.
Marco turned with a hand on my back. “I understand, officers. As you can see, she’s perfectly fine. In fact, if there’s anywhere you should be worried about her going, it’s back home.”
“What?” one of them asked. My heart sped up.
“Additionally,” Marco continued, keeping his gaze on me while playing with my hair, “please refrain from fabricating bullshit excuses. I’m well aware her mother’s boyfriend was in the parking lot after school, watching her.”
Really? Oh, that was just weird.
“Do me a favor,” Marco said, ignoring their reactions. “I understand that you have to take her back, but inform your alpha that I need security placed there until Saturday. I’ll extend our agreement for the contractors on the west cabins until July.”
Both of them nodded, and Marco turned to me, bending down so we were eye to eye. “You call me if there are any issues tonight. Promise?”
“I promise,” I whispered and impulsively leaned forward to press a kiss to his cheek. He let out a low sound before crushing me to him. Reluctantly, I separated myself from him, walking towards the officers.
“Officers,” Henry said, his voice hard. “It would be in your very best interest to ensure our mate stays safe. You understand, correct?”
It clicked then. Animals had mates, and they were shifters…
I frowned, and Atlas made a low, worried noise as I walked into the cold, rainy night. Talk about something to freakin’ think about.
“Maya,” Ledger called, ducking out and offering me a heavy jacket that swamped me in his bonfire scent. I smiled at him, and he kissed my cheek before I slid into the back of the police officers’ SUV.
“Now, Miss Maya,” one of the cops began, his shiny head making me smile as he turned to address me from the front seat. “We do apologize for having to take you home. Is there anything specific you would like to report in reference to your family?”
Three more days. Don’t be dramatic now.
“No,” I stated softly. “It’s fine.”
The two of them shared a look, but I kept quiet, my mood plummeting the closer we got to the trailer. I really hadn’t realized how late it was when we’d gotten back from flying, and as we drove up to the trailer, the other cop—the one with the beard—spoke.
“We’re going to walk you to the door, Maya. Just remember we’re going to be outside all night if you need anything. Mr. Moretti is an essential part of the shifter community—we all owe him in some way or another.”
I wondered if that had to do with his business.
While I knew they were attempting to comfort me, and it did give me a modicum of relief that Jed and my mother wouldn’t be able to do anything too drastic with the police right outside…
I knew the only way I would feel fully safe is if I was with one of my friends.
Yeah, friends was totally not the right word.
As we stepped out of the car, my mother and Jed appeared on the porch, glaring at me. I shivered under the jacket, and before I could step closer, the officers spoke.
“Maya was over at someone’s house doing homework, as she informed you,” Mr. Shiny Head stated, sounding frustrated. “Next time, please refrain from calling the police unless necessary.”
Jed smiled with his gross, rotten teeth. “Of course.”
“Another thing,” Mr. Beard stated. “We’ve received reports of disturbances and yelling on this block, so we’re going to be outside the house all night. I just wanted to let you folks know.”
Both Mother’s and Jed’s faces turned serious, and I felt a smile nearly peek out. There was absolutely no misinterpreting what the officers meant—they were on to them.
I turned back to the officers and flashed a grateful smile, then walked past Jed and my mother on my way inside. Once inside, I speed-walked into my room and locked it, shoving a chair underneath it and opening my window.
Just in case I needed to scream or crawl out.
It was quiet for a few minutes, and I watched as the police officers parked in sight of my room. I was so glad to have friends like Marco and my other boys, but the devil inside of me still whispered that I didn’t deserve their affection, or possible love.
I sighed, sitting down on my torn mattress and drawing my knees up. When a harsh fist hit my door, I became even more thankful for the vigilant eyes on the house.
“They can’t stay out there forever, little bitch.” Jed’s voice crawled against my skin. I refused to answer, turning off my lights and putting my head against the wall.
I’d always felt alone. I’d always been physically hurt by my parents…
but Jed was different. Jed made me fear the possibility of what he could do.
I wasn’t stupid, and I knew there was a learning curve here for me, but he made me want to hide away, to go back to the basement I’d spent most of my life in.
Actually, all of my life that I could remember.
I jumped when a dark shadow passed my window, but relaxed as Atlas climbed through and flashed me a brilliant white smile.
Without a second thought, I made room for him, and as he laid back, I crawled forward so that my body was on top of his, my cheek against his chest. His steady heartbeat had my entire body relaxing.
I wasn’t alone anymore.