Taryn
I check my phone and curse the time. I’ve got to head to poli-sci in about fifteen minutes, and I really wanted to finish outlining this chapter first. I sigh and look over at Gráinne, who gives me a soft smile before turning a page in her biology book.
She’s been with me all day, which, while nice, is odd.
“Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”
She glances up. “With what?”
I raise my eyebrows. “Really? I thought we were closer than that.”
She makes a sound in her throat. “Rowan was worried about you. I was hoping you would tell me why but you’ve been pretty quiet today.”
“Wait.” I try to understand her meaning. “Your brother asked you to follow me around today. Why? To spy on me?”
Her head rears back. “No! What? Of course not!” She looks offended. “He asked me to make sure you stay safe.”
What in the hell? “So you’re like…what? My bodyguard?” I can’t keep the disbelief out of my voice.
She shrugs. “I know you said you didn’t want this life, Tare, but I was raised differently. Watching out for threats has always been part of my world.”
I tilt my head and wait for further explanation. She sighs and closes her book.
“Standing at about two o’clock,” she tells me softly, “one of our guys is watching us. An enforcer. He wasn’t there earlier, which means Rowan must have called for backup within the hour.
Theo Nicopolis has circled a few times, and your husband was watching us earlier from over there.
” She nods to our right. “But he left about ten minutes ago.”
My mouth falls open. Liam was here? How did she notice all this? Our safety shouldn’t be an issue here. “We’re on campus.” A violence-free zone.
Gráinne nods. “We are. We should be safe.” Then she pins me with a look. “From other students.”
“Oh my God.”
“Is this news to you? That you may be in danger?” She asks the question quietly and calmly. I can’t believe there isn’t even a hint of panic in her voice. “I’m sure Rowan sent reinforcements for a reason.”
“No. I mean, not exactly. Liam warned me that the Greeks may think I was messing with their bank accounts.” I feel sick. “I wasn’t.” I feel compelled to add that last part.
Gráinne sucks in a breath, nods as if things suddenly make sense. “Well, he must have arranged for protection through my brother.”
“So you’re supposed to protect me?” I say the words before I realize they’ve escaped my mouth. I adore her, but what is she going to do? Dazzle the bad guys with her perfect smile?
My friend’s laughter is musical. “I’m sure Rowan just meant for me to report on any threats I see, but I’ve got ya covered, Tare.” She slowly lifts the hem of her bootleg jeans to surreptitiously display a small handgun strapped to her boot.
“Jesus Christ.”
She shrugs again. “Prayer is probably good. But I wanted to be prepared for us to help ourselves if needed. It’s fine. Really. I know what I’m doing.”
“If you got hurt, Luca would kill me,” I hiss. I don’t know why that’s the first thought that crosses my mind. I mean, obviously, I don’t want her to get hurt either.
Gráinne laughs again. She sounds absolutely delighted by the insane things coming out of my mouth. “I love him so much. But I’m still part of the clan. He knows that even if he doesn’t agree with it.”
“I’d still prefer you stay safe,” I mutter.
“Oh, me too!” She begins piling her stuff into her backpack. “Don’t worry. I’m sure this is all just a precaution. We will both stay safe. Like you said, we’re on campus.”
I throw my own things into my backpack. I can’t help but look around nervously. I startle when Gráinne puts her hand on my leg.
“Come on. I’ll walk you to class. I’m guessing Timmy will be waiting outside for you, but I’ll confirm before I head to the library.”
I look to where Gráinne said the enforcer was, and a huge man pretends to tie his shoe. He’s wearing loafers. I roll my eyes. “Will you tell him he can quit trying to blend in?”
She giggles. “Tim!” she shouts across the quad. The man straightens. Walks over to us. Gráinne makes introductions.
“I’m sorry to have disturbed you, miss.” The big man apologizes to Gráinne who shrugs him off before explaining where we are each headed next. I’m in shock at how easily this conversation goes and that my friend is so comfortable with having protection assigned.
“Is all this necessary?” I ask nervously.
Timmy shrugs. “Boss says it is.”
Gráinne smiles. “That means it is.” The ogre next to us nods in agreement. “I’d appreciate it if you’d continue with a little distance, Timmy. I don’t want to get rumors started about why you’re on campus.”
He nods. “Of course, miss.”
I wait until I’m inside my classroom before texting Liam.
Me: Spying on me?
The answer comes right away.
Liam: Admiring you from afar.
I grin. Idiot.
Me: I prefer you closer.
Three dots bounce, stop, bounce again.
Liam: You’ve done it now. When I get you alone, you’ll see how close I can get.
I bite my bottom lip. Rub my thighs together. I’m in some sort of danger and I’m getting turned on by my husband’s stalkerish tendencies. Fantastic.
Me: Can we meet for lunch? I want to talk more about how I can help.
My professor strides to the front of the room, and I hide my phone under my desk. Ugh. I need to put it away, but his answer is important. We never finished our conversation about how I could lure out our enemies.
Liam: My father is on his way here to discuss things. I’ll text you after that conversation. Stay on campus in the meantime, okay?
“Miss Walsh? Why don’t you answer this one?”
Shit. I grit my teeth at being caught not paying attention. I clear my throat. “It’s McGuiness.”
“I beg your pardon?” Dr. Burke asks me tersely.
“My name. I’m no longer Miss Walsh.” I’m buying time, but that doesn’t mean I don’t feel the need to correct him. Bonkers. I don’t miss the low whispers from my classmates.
My professor cocks his head to the side. “I see. Well, then, Mrs. McGuiness. Can you please share with the class your thoughts on how power and legitimacy differ in modern political systems, and if a government can maintain one without the other?”
Thank God he repeated the question. I turn my phone over and launch into my thoughts on the topic. Fortunately, the rest of class is uneventful, and I manage to take a few notes on our next assignment. When I finally glance back at my text messages an hour later, I’m surprised by what I find.
Liam: I’m going to assume this means you’re paying attention to your political science professor and not intentionally ignoring me. I’ll be in touch soon!
I smile at how he knows exactly what class I’m in. Stalker. I continue reading my texts. There is one from my sister, asking about borrowing my ski pants for a class trip, and then:
Unknown: Mrs. McGuiness. This is Tim. There’s been a change of plans. Rowan wants you to wait for me at the east gate after class. We’re moving you off campus until things settle. Don’t tell anyone. It’s for your safety.
I frown at my phone. I don’t want to be paranoid, but Liam told me to stay on campus. Wouldn’t he have told me directly if plans changed? Yet, Timmy was introduced to me by Gráinne. She obviously trusts him.
I leave the classroom and stop just shy of the east gate. No. This doesn’t make sense. I reach for my phone.