Page 68 of Peaceful Chaos

A Compromise

Sin

Stayingout of sight as Raven's class ends goes against all of my protective instincts. Jenna is a threat. It's clear by the glare she shoots Raven every time Raven looks away.

It's hard to imagine what I saw in Jenna before, but maybe it’s because I was never looking for much. I had two criteria, and she met them both; willing and female. I suppose she's attractive, but it's hard for me to see her that way now that Raven is in my life.

Damien always surrounds himself with the most beautiful women, even those hired as maids in his home. Of course, serving in his home never stops at cleaning. Jenna is no exception. She’s tall and thin with golden blonde hair and large honey colored eyes. She’s classically beautiful, at least to those who don’t see beneath the surface.

Jenna performed her duties in Damien’s manor dutifully. She was indiscriminate in who she took to bed, or in our case the supply closet. When she told me she was pregnant, right before she left the manor, I knew it was possible the child was mine.

It was also possible it was Lucien's, Damien's, or possibly any of the guards who were assigned to the house. Not to mention any one of the clients who frequented the premises. Like I said, a maid in Blackthorne Manor serves in whatever way pleases Damien.

Then there's the fact I always used protection. Since the moment I carved back control of my body from that raping pedophile, I never took the chance of knocking someone up or catching a disease. I always knew I would escape that nightmare someday. Now Jenna is back, and I can't help thinking she means to tie me back to that hell.

I watch as Jenna's eyes search the hall, perhaps she feels my darkness lingering in the shadows. It's clear she thought she was being smart trying to avoid passing times, but all she did was bring more attention to when she came and went from class.

I could step out right now and watch the horror descend on her face when she realizes I've caught her. I'll get my moment, but Raven asked me to trust her plan. After she was nearly blown up because I forced her to remain on the sidelines, I owe her this. I know she's capable, but I also don't want her to wade in the mud with me.

Their conversation wraps up, and I can see Jenna's relief as she walks away without being caught in the way her shoulders relax. Doesn't stop her from moving quickly through the crush of bodies as if the devil himself were following her. She needn't worry so much. I've been standing here watching the entire time. I'll come for her when it's time.

Raven and Tessa head toward me, and I step out of my hiding place to join them. Neither of them react to my sudden appearance, telling me Raven knew exactly where I was the entire time.

"That looked like a long conversation," I prod.

Raven nods. "Mmm, I'd feel bad about what I plan to do if it weren't nearly the same thing she was trying to do to me."

"And that is?" I ask, staring down at her. My wife is less and less intimidated by me every day. Perhaps I'm losing my edge. The thought is unsettling, even though I don't want her to be afraid of me.

She smiles and pats the center of my chest. When her hand starts to stroke my muscles I hold it still and smirk at her. I'm not the only one with a tendency to get distracted by sex. Shaking her head, she says, "I'll fill you in at home."

I let her hand go, and she gives one more pass across my chest, trailing down toward my navel before she remembers where we are.

I wink at her. "I'll fill you at home too."

Tessa makes a gagging sound. "I don't know if I should be grossed out by you two or jealous."

Raven is still looking at me with her eyes glazed over with lust. "Jealous," she breathes, and I chuckle.

"Don't worry. I'm sure Ford is going to be back to normal soon enough," I say to her, as the man himself makes his way through the crowd toward us.

Being the quarterback, he's treated as a god on campus, and people practically dive to get out of his way.

Tessa watches him, and her exuberant mood comes crashing down. "I think it's going to take more than a clean bill of health to make anything normal between him and me," she says so quietly I know we weren’t meant to hear her.

* * *

I haveto practically bite my tongue through the next two classes I have with Raven. I'm dying to know what her plan for Jenna is, but she's right about waiting for privacy to talk. This campus is filled with nosey cunts just waiting for the next juicy story to share. Nothing they've made up so far comes close to me potentially having a child with her father's former maid.

By the time we make it to the car I'm scowling at everyone. Not knowing what is going to happen is chipping away at my need for control, and it's not sitting well.

Of course I know control is just an illusion. I convinced myself I had it for years. Every sick fuck who died by my hand gave me a false sense of power. The truth is I was nothing more than a weapon for Damien to wield. Still, Lucien always fed my need to have a say in my life by setting boundaries for who we would go after and then plotting with me when he accepted a target.

That fantasy of control burst the moment Jenna crept up on my wife and I didn't see it coming. The entire two weeks we've been back at school, Jenna has been gathering intel and trying to lure Raven away from her protection. Now that she's been discovered, I am still powerless to act because Raven has demanded I trust her. I do, but it doesn't mean I like sitting idle and letting her assume the risk.

She hasn't shared her plans yet, but I know Raven. She won't put me on the front line. She's going to head into battle herself. It's both a turn on and something that makes me crazy. I might call her princess, but she isn't a damsel in distress. She's a warrior queen, and she'll destroy anyone who comes at her. If I'm to be used as a weapon, I choose to be her sword.

The moment the doors close, everyone turns to stare at us. Lucien's scowl matches mine, and he huffs a sound of frustration when no one speaks.

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