Page 56 of Ruling Scar
“Just tell them then,” Nat advises.
“Yes because Akatov guards hanging around Ren’s place is such a great look.”
“Then just tell Mom to back off. I thought she knew about your new friends.”
“Okay, sure,” I sarcastically reply, ignoring the tail end of her comment.
“You’re very secretive these days,” Adeline notes.
“Says the girl who runs away from her guards every chance she gets.”
Adeline made it her mission to dodge her guards from an early age. Or she’d take them to the most scandalous places like drug houses and strip clubs to rile Dad up.
My secretive actions are nothing in comparison and Nat knows it.
“Fine.” She sighs. “But seriously, why am I covering for you when we’re all in our twenties now?”
“Cause Mom still treats us like we’re five.” It’s all out of love, yes, but it’s exhausting
CHAPTER 13
Lennie
Thursday has become my most booked day in forever.
I stuff a backpack with all the things I need for my sleepover at Elijah’s. I’m too nervous to read on the train when I head into work and on my lunch I’ve got a therapy appointment with Janis.
She senses my nervousness, but I talk about Nat’s pregnancy and how busy life is without giving too many details away. I know hiding things from your therapist is frowned upon, but explaining that someone’s trying to trap me into marriage seems a little hard to explain.
We go over breathing techniques and she asks about my journaling. And she compliments me on my hair which is in another chignon.
Dinner with Ren and Isolde passes quickly. They checked in on the status of Leopold but didn’t push about what was going on, which I appreciated. I’d rather Fujimori’s stay an asshole-free space and I don’t want to give him any more airtime.
“Text me when you get there,” Ren told me when I got up to leave. She flicked her eyeliner out today, her green eyes thoughtful. “Text me whenever you need to.”
“This is coming from the woman who never texts?” I joked but was secretly touched.
“Fun fact,” she replied, “I prefer phone calls.”
I waved to everyone on the way out and then made my way to the red-brick warehouse Elijah calls home.
Ivan keeps his distance but allows himself to be seen. That way I know it isn’t Leopold stalking me in the night.
Elijah opens the steel door before I can ring the bell and lazily leans against the doorframe.
“Hello.” His voice is a purr, the smile on his face one of his rare genuine ones.
It sends a jolt of nerves down me. “Hi.”
He opens the door wider, taking the backpack from my shoulders. It leaves me with the large leather workbag.
“Albert thought you wouldn’t come.” He takes the steel steps two at a time. I struggle to keep pace with him. There’s got to be an elevator somewhere right?
“Albert or you?”
I’m rewarded with a wicked grin.
His apartment is as warm and inviting as last time. It surprises me in some ways, how comfortable it is. There’s enough going on like an open bottle of whiskey, Albert’s leash on the entry table, and the TV playing, that proves there’s life happening. It’s not overstimulating or clutter-filled, though.
