Page 73 of Creed

And I could be a target.

My mind runs a thousand miles an hour trying to process this all, trying to understand.

Morales is with my father. In San Deigo. Why?

Memories of my father rush at me from my only interaction with him. His eyes are brown like mine but are soulless and cruel. He looks like the villain my mom and grandparents alwaysportrayed him as. When I reached out to him, he wanted nothing to do with me; however, that’s until something clicked in his mind. Then, he watched me with cold calculation. When he said he wanted to introduce me to one of the cartel lieutenants, I saw a flash of alarm, then pity in the eyes of the other sicario with my father. That was enough to tell me to run.

The remaining months I’d lived with my grandparents before I came here for school, I’d been afraid that he’d come for me. I suspected his calculating idea was to give me to the lieutenant to earn some favor or promotion in rank.

Moving to the States eased my stress because I knew my father couldn’t enter easily. I’m not an idiot to think he couldn’t come and go secretly, with the authorities being none the wiser, but I rested easier with the distance.

But he’s here now, and that can mean nothing good.

Creed is on his way. And Christ Almighty, he’s sending abikerto pick me up. Who the hell knows what this Bane is into? The laws he probably breaks daily.

But if I have to choose between being given to some cartel boss and possibly being used as a pawn to hurt Creed, versus sucking up my judgmental reservations and going with someone Creed is trusting to keep me safe until he can get here and do it himself? It’s a no-brainer.

I power down my laptop and leave it on my desk. Ollie won't panic if I'm gone when she gets back to the room because shethinks I'm headed to the library. However, she will panic in the morning when I'm not here, so I text her.

Hey, I had a change of plans. Going off the grid for the weekend. I’ll see you in a few days.

Her reply comes in almost immediately.

Off the grid? WTF

Wait, you’re going to get laid, aren’t you? EEK! ‘Bout fuckin time, girl!

Have a good weekend xo

“I’m ready,” I say to Andro on the phone, who’s been trying to keep me calm while Creed speaks with his father.

“Minnie,” he says, and I smile at his nickname for me. “You’re so calm; it’s amazing, girl. You keep channeling that inner queen. You got me?”

I don’t feel calm or strong; I feel like a raging ball of nerves and on the verge of tears. “I’m going to switch phones.”

“Creed will call you right back on the other. Okay?”

“Okay.” My voice doesn’t shake even though my body does. “Thanks, Andro.”

I power down my phone, open the drawer, and toss it in. The phone I bought for Sylvie rings immediately, with a number I don’t recognize, but I answer.

“Angel, it’s me. I’m using a burner.” Creed sounds like he’s running. “Andro and I are on our way to the airport. Bane should be there in five minutes.”

“I’m leaving now.” I bite my lip to stop it from quivering.

When I exit my room, the hallway buzzes with students returning from classes to either prepare to leave for spring break or to pre-game for the evening. I lock my door, scan the faces, and only see students I recognize. I push toward the staircase.

“It’s going to be okay.” Creed sounds so sure, and it settles my nerves a bit. “I’m coming for you.”

I want nothing more than that. First, we must overcome the hurdle of my father being here, possibly for me.

“Baby…” I don’t want to say his name out in public now, and he sucks in a breath when I call him that. “I need to tell you about my father when I see you.”

“Anything, Soph. Whatever and anything you’re ready to share with me.”

My heart pounds as I hurry down the stairs, knowing his statement has more than one meaning. I’ve been holding us at bay for months, but that hasn’t stopped the love from growing between us.

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