Page 47 of Bad Boy Billionaire Protector

“We’ve found out that there were hidden bank accounts with payments from made up names. The accounts belong to Professor Owens and the payments can be traced back to the victims. He was blackmailing them individually for huge sums of money. It seems like Professor Owens is a grandiose narcissist who likes the finer things in life. We just don’t know how he got them all to kill themselves. There’s also more information about his past wives, who both died under suspicious circumstances. Not only that, but I spoke to him last night during the games for initiation into the inner circle of The Order. I won the round and got through to the next round, by the way. Oh, and we’ve also worked out what the symbols on the rings are. They’re ancient Thoth symbols and they translate roughly toPower To The Sacred Few. Anyway, when I mentioned the deaths to Professor Owens, he all but threatened both of us.”

“He threatened me?”

“He asked me what would happen to you if something happened to me. Implied he would go out of his way to keep you safe.”

“What a creep! He was eyeing me up before you came out of your class. It was like he was undressing me with his eyes. He gave me the chills, and not the good kind.”

“What? How dare he eye you up like that! The more I think about him the more I want to kill him. Dammit! So, it’s clear that neither of us are safe right now. But, I’m especially worried about you. I can handle myself.”

“Yeah, you’re an FBI agent. Not a Greek god.”

He chuckled at my attempt to tease him. “Only the god part is true.” His eyes crinkled with laughter. “Joking aside, I’m actually half Greek. My parents have been very successful in the shipping industry, not in big pharma. So I didn’t have to act much to become Christos.”

“But your name’s not Greek.”

“My mom is Greek.”

“Ah, I understand. But if your parents are so wealthy, why did you go into law enforcement? Why not join the family business?”

“That’s something my dad asks me all the time. I just didn’t want to be a nepo baby. I wanted to make my own way in the world. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t reject the trust fund they passed onto me, but I’ve only used it twice – to buy my car and my home in San Diego. But, I don’t live outside of the means of my FBI salary generally.”

“How big of you.”

“Ah, now you’re making fun of me.”

“Sorry, it was just too easy.”

We looked at each other and smiled at the ease to which we returned to this bubble of happiness. Yet behind his sexy smile, I saw a tinge of sadness in his beautiful blue eyes. Part of me wanted to kiss him but, the more realistic part told me that there was no point in wanting that. He and I were probably over.Or were we?I just didn’t know anymore and I didn’t have the mental bandwidth to deal with it right now. No, we had to focus on catching Professor Owens and whoever else was involved.

I squeezed his hand and smiled. “I’m glad we got to have this talk. I have so many more questions, but I guess they can wait for another time.”

He smiled sadly and held onto my fingers. We both stared at our intertwined fingers and sat in silence.

“I didn’t want things to be this way. I wanted to tell you who I was in a better way, so that you didn’t have to deal with all this extra trauma. And I guess the way you found out about Adam still being alive wasn’t the best either. So, I’m sorry about that.”

“At least he is alive. So that’s one good thing to come out of all of this.”

“Yes. I’m glad of that.”

“Anyway, I’d better go. I have some studying to do and I’m already three days behind on my schedule.”

He squeezed my hand and gazed into my eyes. “I’ll walk you back to your dorm. It’s dangerous for you out there.”

I nodded, secretly delighted that he was concerned for my safety, and we walked back to the dorm. When we got there, Mason took my hands and held on to them tightly. He leaned down to kiss me, his soft sensual lips molding to mine as naturally as before. All the feelings and memories came flooding back and I moaned as I melted into his arms. I didn’t want him to leave.

“Why don’t you come up to my room?” I looked up at him hopefully.

“No. I think it’s best I don’t. We need to take things slowly. Take our time recalibrating, you know what I mean?”

I was sad but understood. “Yes, I understand.”

“But, if you’re not doing anything later, why don’t we meet for dinner and continue our conversation? We could get some dim sum from that great Chinese place down the street?”

“That would be nice.” I was thrilled with this plan. I couldn’t get enough of him.

He kissed me tenderly on the cheek. I waved him off, a sadness filling me now that I wasn’t in his arms.

I was just about to go into the dorm building when I noticed Professor Owens getting out of a fancy black car with darkened windows, which was parked along the curb in front of my dorm building. He made a beeline towards me. I braced myself for unpleasantness and I didn’t have to wait long.

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