Page 119 of Devilry

Elijah and I have always been up front with what we do and don’t want the other sacrificing. While we disagree on the highs and lows of this job, I promised I wouldn’t make any rash decisions when it came to leaving King. “Honestly, something feels off. I haven’t felt settled.”

“I can understand that,” Miles says. “I’ll be sure to ask around and let you know.”

“Thanks, man.” Changing the subject, I ask if he knows about Harper’s whereabouts.

“She said she was coming, but refused to give me anything else. It’s like pulling teeth with her sometimes.”

I give him a smirk. “Like you can talk.”

“I’m a reformed man,” he jokes.

We arrive at the museum and jump out for the valet to take Miles’ car. I’m momentarily silenced by the grandeur of the building before me. The columns, the flags, the stone monuments that grace the entryway. It’s the perfect place to house history.

Continuing to look around, Miles guides us to the ballroom, while I stare wide eyed at my surroundings like a kid in a candy shop.

“Ok, this looks like where we’re supposed to be,” Miles says as he walks us through a roped off entryway.

“Are you sure that was the right entrance?”

“Yes. Follow me to the table. They have name tags.”

“Are you kidding me?” I whine. “What do we need name badges for?”

“So potential parents can decide if you’re good looking enough for them to throw money at your department.”

“Fuck that shit.”

Miles and I laugh at our own jokes as we dutifully put our name badges in the lapels of our jackets.

“How the hell are we expected to find someone in here?” I ask, the sheer size of the room overwhelming me. Elijah and Callie could be anywhere. Bustling with people, it’s almost impossible to recognize anyone with the ridiculously dim lighting. Just as I’m about to text Elijah and try to scope out where he is, I feel a tap on my shoulder.

Turning, I’m surprised to see a distraught looking Callie.

My body stiffens. “What is it?”

“Elijah’s parents are here.”

There’s a five second delay between the words that just left her mouth and my brain registering what that actually means. “What do you mean they’re here?”

“He’s hiding out and I can’t seem to get through to him. I’ve never seen him look so distraught.”

“How did they even know about the event?” I signal to Miles I need to go, and then walk beside her as she leads me to Elijah. “Apparently, Dean Billings sent all the parents of students involved in special projects an invitation, as well as telling the students to pass on their own invites.”

“You’re fucking kidding me,” I mutter underneath my breath. “They’re the last thing he needs.”

“Have they seen him yet?” I ask Callie as we slowly make our way down a narrow hallway.

“Yes. We said hello, and then I made some shitty excuse about how I needed to borrow Eli fora bit and I would bring him back later. He looked like a ghost. There was no way I was going to leave him there.”

Stopping myself from hugging her, I give her shoulder a squeeze. “Thank you, Callie.”

“Don’t thank me yet.”

When we turn the corner into a private area and I see a small, scared version of the man I love sitting on a chair and breathing into a paper bag, I want to kill someone.

“Hey, baby.” His head whips up at my voice. “Are you okay?”

He continues to hold my stare, while concentrating on his breathing. He takes a few long breaths, releasing them seconds later. I knew his past and his relationship with his parents weighed on him, but I didn’t expect to see him like this.

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