Page 7 of Descent

“That’s what happens when you go off to fight for our country, I guess.”

Ronan turns to me.

“Skyla, this is Wesley. We grew up together and he just got out of the Seals.”

“Navy, right?” I clarify.

Wesley nods. “Yes, ma’am. I appreciate the job. God knows what I would have been assigned to do, now that my contract was up.”

“What? Is it worse than driving a nineteen-year-old girl around?”

His smile stays in place, but a look flashes behind his eyes as he nods.

“Much.”

My smile slowly falls, and I nod my understanding as Ronan speaks.

“I’m gonna run inside for a moment. Why don’t you grab some of her stuff?”

Wesley nods as I step away from the car, he shuts my door before turning back to his SUV. I follow him, wanting to delay any interaction with Asher that I can. He pops the trunk and begins grabbing bags with hangers sticking out the top, my clothes, I assume. He’s able to get almost all of them except for one. I reach for it, resting it in my arms before he tries to swipe it from me.

“I’ve got it,” he says easily.

I raise a disbelieving brow at him, which causes him to shrug.

“I need to make another trip anyways. It’s not a problem.”

“I’m capable , honestly, you’re the one that is helping. You’re just supposed to be my driver, not my butler.”

Wesley shrugs again as we begin walking to the front door.

“I’m whatever they say I need to be for you.”

I don’t clarify on the ‘they’ part, that is a no-brainer. Though, I am curious who put him in charge of me. Was it Ronan’s decision? Or is this my father or Christopher planting a spy? He seems nice, but I’m not dumb enough to drop my guard just like that. Especially with someone who is very clearly under the Brethren’s thumb.

When we step inside, I hear a door slam from upstairs before Ronan appears at the top, a thunderous look on his face that softens when he sees me. He hurries down the stairs, attempting to take the clothes out of my hand when I turn away.

“I’ve got it. There is a little more in the trunk if you could, please?”

He nods and takes a step closer, as if he were going to kiss me. I send him a panicked look, and he quickly checks himself like he didn’t realize he was doing it.

“Of course.”

I start up the stairs before I look back casually to see Wesley giving Ronan a curious look before looking back to me. I shrug him off and lead him to the large master bedroom, Asher told me that it could be mine. When I push open the door, I see that it’s as undisturbed as it was the other day. Dibs, I guess.

Wesley steps into the room, moving to the closet before hanging up the clothes and undoing the bags protecting them. Ronan follows us, carrying up a few suitcases of my shoes and makeup. It only takes us ten minutes before I’m officially moved in. It’s easy to do when I just moved across the world a few months ago. I haven’t really had time to collect all that much.

“Thanks, Wes. I’ll give Skyla your number if she needs you,” Ronan says with a nod.

“I’ll probably just hang out here for the day. Maybe if you wouldn’t mind giving me a ride to school tomorrow? My first class is at—”

“Seven, I know. I’ll be here at six forty, sharp,” Wesley says with a polite smile.

“Oh, yeah. Perfect. Thank you.”

“My pleasure,” he nods before facing Ronan. “What are you up to? Want to go grab a beer and catch up?”

Ronan shoots a quick glance at me out of the corner of his eye like he wants to refuse and stay here. I can already tell that would be a mistake, though. That is, if he really thinks Wesley isn’t trustworthy.

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