Page 2 of Selling Innocence

“Now, if you don’t listen and keep the windows closed and locked, I’ll have cameras put in.”

“You will not,” I argued for what had to have been the millionth time. Having them see how I came and left was bad enough, but the idea of them actually watching me every moment I was home went way too far.

A scuffle on the other side of the phone happened before a smoother voice spoke, one who could convince almost anyone to do almost anything. “Do you have a boyfriend, Kenz?”

“No, Dane, I don’t.”

He let out a long sigh as if relieved. “Good. Now, have you gone to the doctor recently? Aren’t you due for a checkup?”

“I had a checkup two months ago!”

“Her red blood cells were low,” Bray called from behind, telling me Dane had put me on speaker. “She should go back to see if the iron pills resolved it.”

I nearly asked how Bray knew that but shut my mouth before I did. Bray was a tech genius. He could find anything if he wanted to. My medical records and test results would have proven no challenge for him.

It drew my gaze to the pill bottle on the counter, the one that had gotten delivered to me the day after my appointment, the proof that they’d been involved from that point.

“I set up an appointment for her to see her diabetes specialist,” Bray added on. “It will be in three weeks.”

“She won’t answer our calls anymore if you do this,” Rune muttered, and I could almost see him shaking his head at the others. “Leave her be.”

“She’s leaving her windows open!” Colten argued back. “And there have been break-ins around there. She’s in a nice apartment, but that doesn’t mean she should ignore her own safety.”

“Enough.” Nem’s voice cut through the chatter of the others, and again I found myself jealous. It took only one word from my sister for her to take control, even of men like those four. The noise on the phone changed again, making me suspect she’d taken the cell and turned off speakerphone. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “You know how they are.”

“Yeah, I know.” I tossed my sketchbook into my bag, checking to ensure my insulin pen was safely tucked inside, then surveyed the room once more for anything else I might need. “Look, I’ve got to get to class.”

“Okay, Kenz. Have a good day. I’ll call again in a few days.” Just when I’d thought I might get off easy, Nem’s voice floated back through the line. “Make sure you bring your pepper spray.”

I glanced at the pink pepper spray that hung beside my front door, one of the ten that I had because each time any of them visited me, they always brought more.

And it wasn’t just the pepper spray. I also had stun guns, Tasers, blades of all sorts and a 9mm in a safe in my closet. Normal people brought candles or sweet treats as gifts, but not my family. They brought weapons with them each time.

“Got it. I’ll talk to you later.” I hung up the call and tossed my phone into my bag with the rest of my things. At the door, I glanced at the pepper spray, then shook my head.

I didn’t need it, and I refused to live in fear just because my family was paranoid. I locked the door behind me, then rushed off for school.

* * * *

I sipped my coffee, the elevator taking forever to get where it was headed. Then again, I had a feeling that was less about the speed of the elevator and more about just how my day had been thrown off by the call earlier.

The light over the doors lit up at floor three, and I let out a loud sigh. Of course, the time I was busy, someone else had to get on. The elevator slowed then stopped at that floor. The doors slid open, and a man got on along with me.

I had a moment of wishing I’d brought my pepper spray.

The man was tall and lean, but he had a physique I knew well. After growing up surrounded by killers and fighters, I could tell the difference between a body crafted in a gym versus one built by hard work and violence.

He had short black hair, long on the top but shaved tight on the sides and stunningly golden eyes. He said nothing as he got on but placed himself in the back corner of the elevator. Again, it set off warning bells in my head—it was something I’d seen the Quad do enough times to prevent anyone from sneaking up on them.

He didn’t look my way, but I still felt as if he studied me. He wore a pair of slacks and a dark gray button-up shirt, the sleeves undone and rolled up to his forearms. He certainly didn’t look like a student here.

I narrowed my eyes, wondering for a moment if Nem had lost her mind and hired a bodyguard for me. She’d threatened it enough times, but maybe she’d finally gone ahead?

If she had, she had another think coming. This man didn’t come close to blending in anywhere.

The elevator shuddered to a hard stop, causing me to lose my footing. I stumbled forward, sure I would end up face first against the floor.

Before I hit the ground, however, someone strong and hard caught me. I jerked my gaze up to find the man there, having moved so quickly and silently that it startled me, reminding me that I had no idea who he was beyond identifying him as dangerous.

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