Page 106 of Marked

“Good plan,” Nate said. “I like it.”

“Great,” Ollie said. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going back to sleep.”

The line went dead before we could say goodbye.

A troubling thought crossed my mind. If Rick was going to become more desperate to make me his, then what did that mean for the people I loved?

“Is my family still safe?” I asked.

Nate shrugged. “We can call. It’s early, though.”

“Mom goes in to work at the crack of dawn, and Gael usually wakes up when she does. They won’t be grumpy like Ollie.”

We called the house. Sure enough, after two rings, Gael answered. “Good morning, Torres residence.”

“Wow, you’re never that polite with me,” I quipped.

“Cam? Hey! Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, buddy. Is everything okay there?”

“Yeah. Mom just left for work. I’m eating frozen waffles and watching TV.”

“Ew, you’ve got to cook them first, silly,” I laughed. “You’ll break your teeth eating them frozen.”

He cackled his little boy laugh that always warmed my heart and said, “I put them in the toaster first.Duh.”

“Okay, cool. Hey, I know you heard what we were talking about yesterday, but just to make sure—if you guys see Rickanywhere, do not talk to him or let him in the apartment. Got it?”

“Got it. He’s a douchebag, anyway. I’m glad you got rid of him.”

I wanted to scold his language, but how could I when it was the truth?

“I’ve gotta go, but make sure to tell Mom what I just told you. Love you, Gael.”

“Will do. Love you, sis. Bye.”

“Bye.”

I hung up and sighed with relief. “All clear there for now.”

“Good,” Nate said. “I doubt he’d go there, but better safe than sorry.”

“I need to let Lesley know, too.” I’d left her apartment without telling her where I was going or why.

Hurrying downstairs, I found my own phone. As I walked back up to the small loft area, I sent a text to Lesley.

Me:Rick’s not taking the breakup well. He got really possessive and jealous. I’m a little scared of what he might do, so I’m laying low out of the city for a day or two. If he comes around looking for me, DO NOT let him in, and don’t be alone around him either.

After sending the text, I sat on the bed. Exhaustion crept into my bones. “Why am I this tired?”

Nate rubbed my back. “The first few times you shift, it’s rough on your body and mind. Eventually, it becomes second nature. It’s kind of like working out. If someone has never exercised before and suddenly decides to do twenty push-ups, they’ll be tired and sore as shit the next day. But if they keep at it, after a while, twenty is nothing. Same sort of idea. Once you have a few shifts under your belt, you won’t be tired at all.”

“Good to know.” I rolled my shoulders. “It still feels like I ran a marathon with a sack of concrete on my back.”

Nate’s warm hands slid up my back, and he massaged the knots from my shoulders.

“Mmm, that’s good,” I said.

---