Page 24 of Renegade

“You’re a senior?”

He nodded. “Almost done.” Another thing that separated us. He was probably already planning to leave this place and be long gone before I even became a sophomore. I nodded and for a moment we stared. “It’s…I don’t know what I’m going to do next. Probably stay close for a while.”

“What about your family? I bet they miss you.”

He shrugged. “They do, but I enjoy my independence. How about you? Family?”

“No,” I whispered. “They’re gone.”

Blaze reached across the table and took my hand in his. “I’m sorry.” I stared at our connection, noticing how electricity flowed between us even though I’d convinced myself that when it happened the other day, it was nothing more than a fluke. “I don’t know what that feels like. I have a big family.”

“How big?” I asked and the studying, the classes, the quizzes, they were all forgotten in an instant.

He smiled as he told me about his family, and while therewas a tiny voice that warned me not to get my hopes up, the feeling sprang up anyway. He had two mothers and a father and other siblings. His twin Asher had two female mates. Polyamory was common for them, and they embraced each other’s mates, no matter how many or what their background was. That’s what families did, according to him. There was a glint in his eye as he recalled all their names.

“You love them,” I said. He had long let go of my hand, but the inner glow it left behind stayed with me.

“I do. I want them to be proud of me. I’m trying. I get in some trouble and that has given me a reputation, but I promised my brother that I would try my best.”

“If I see you getting into mischief, I’m going to try and stop you,” I swore. “Help you keep your promise.” The words tumbled out of my mouth. I’d assumed many things with it. Things I had no business assuming. “You know, if I ever see you again. You’ll be gone soon, and we don’t have classes together.”

His eyes bored into me. I could tell he was mulling something over as he ground his jaw back and forth. “There are always ways, Karelis. And seeing you is damned good motivation. You might just be what I need to keep me in line.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Adan

With an energy drink in one hand and two triple-chocolate muffins in the other, I made my way to the desk in my bedroom but kept my door open. Cas and Blaze were still awake, and I didn’t want to shut them out.

I did an obligatory email check in case something was going on in my online classes or my academy ones. I had all of my emails merged to save me time. What I really needed was about thirteen more hours in the day. Yeah. Thirteen should do it.

The promo and spam folders were deleted immediately, but another message caught my eye. Someone who wasn’t in my contacts and had an odd email address. Once I opened the message, there was a link and, if there was one thing I knew, it was that random links from people you didn’t know weren’t to be clicked under any circumstances. I deleted it and moved on. There were things that desperately needed my attention. Always.

I was set up with a mouthful of muffin in my mouth and the tab to my energy drink opened when my phone rang. It was an unknown number, which I usually wouldn’t answer, but my wolf snapped to attention. Something about the timing with the weird email and this phone call didn’t sit well with him.

“Hello?” I answered, trying to sound tough. I probably failed but whatever.

“This is Adan,” the person stated.

“Really? That’s a great name,” I quipped, chuckling.

“I’m not Adan. You are.”

Gods, this person was a fucking genius. “Is there a point to this conversation, or are we just saying my name over and over.”

“Yeah. They said you were an asshole, but I suppose there are no nice guys who can do what you can.” I scribbled a fewnotes as he spoke. There wasn’t much noise in the background. His tone was gruff.

“Make a point,” I barked. This was someone who thought he knew me and yet wouldn’t name himself.

“I need some records deleted. Criminal records.” The stranger spoke as if ordering a quarter pounder instead of a crime.

Gods, I would never live down my mistake, but now, not only did some people around here know, but now they were exploiting the fact. “I’m not your man. I’m not for hire, and I don’t do that shit anymore.”

The man on the line chuckled as I began getting into my online class forum. This was bullshit. “I’m not the headmistress and this isn’t the Council. I need a job done. I pay well.”

Now I was getting frustrated. “Look, I don’t care who you are or what you pay. I’m not interested.”

I moved the phone away from my face, and my thumb hovered over the red button to end this crap when he said something that made a cold chill race down my spine. “You will if you want your new girlfriend to stay safe.”

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