Page 25 of The Protégé

“With how the world’s going that’s a brilliant investment. Let me know if you need our help with anything.”

A loud boom rattled the restaurant. We jumped out of our seats, rushing toward the kitchen.

“It’s outside.” A girl with curly red hair pointed through the window.

I headed out the door with Remi and Attikus. A crowd of people had already surrounded the area. An eight-wheeled truck had collided with a silver SUV.

The driver from the eight-wheeler gripped his head, looking distraught. A man and a woman were trying to help the SUV driver, who was on the ground. I could tell from the look on the woman’s face that he didn’t make it.

“He wouldn’t stop.” The driver of the eight-wheeler told the police officer who had just arrived. “I think something’s wrong with his car.”

The ambulance arrived, and the EMTs exited, rushing to the man on the ground. Remi and Attikus walked up to the two police officers roping off the area.

A familiar sensation came over me. Looking around, I spotted Elena...and a man with bleached blonde hair. He wore a T-shirt with ripped jeans and neon sneakers. He stood too close to her. I didn’t like him already.

I especially didn’t like this jealousy surging in me. What the hell was wrong with me?

I couldn’t take my eyes off Elena and the man. Who was he?

As though she sensed me staring at her, she turned in my direction and recognized me.

Her entire face lit up. Or was that my imagination?

“Hey!” She strode over. “What are you doing here?”

When she smiled, my chest constricted. She was so beautiful, reminding me of a peaceful night sky filled with stars. She had an easygoing way about her that softened my hard edge. Though she’d been distraught during the accident, I could still sense an easiness within her. I didn’t know how I could sense it, but I did. It was asthough she were attuned to the flow of nature, wherenothing wasforced. A wildflower that grew to its own calling, manicured by nature and untainted by society’s standards.

The fuck?

Why was I standing amid a majoraccident waxing poetic? I desperately needed a shower and a good night’s sleep.

Christ.

The guy draped an arm around her, and my fingers itched to break his arm.

“Who’s this?” he asked her.

He was around my height, but leaner.

Elena met my eyes. “This is my friend Orion. Orion, meet my friend Elliot.”

The word friend loosened the knots in my stomach. If he were her boyfriend, she would never introduce him as just a friend. My itchy fingers immediately calmed.

I didn’t like this possessiveness in me.

Changing the subject, I asked, “Were you present when the accident happened?”

“Yeah. I was just heading out of the Krazee Tavern.” She tapped Elliot’s arm, and he extracted it from her shoulder. She stepped close to the caution tape and pointed to the silver SUV. “He was seriously speeding.” She snapped some pictures with her phone. “Something feels off.”

“What makes you say that?” I asked.

“Gotta go now.” Elliot wiggled his eyebrows. “Jake’s waiting at my apartment.”

“I’ll stop by the salon sometime this week. Have fun tonight! Don’t stay out too late.”

“But that’s when the fun starts!” He kissed her cheek and looked at me. “Nice to meet you. Nice T-shirt, by the way.”

The discomfort on my shouldersslid off, making me feel ten times lighter. Elliot was a gay man, which meant Elena wasn’t interested in him.

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