Page 56 of Unmask
“Anyone butyou,” she replied, glancing out over the field at the snow.
“Liar.” Little white flakes stuck to her long lashes, and I stared at them, my lips twitching. “You never answered the question. Who’s making you frown, little raven?”
She sighed heavily. “It’s Rusty.”
My entire body bristled at the name. I didn’t even try to hide the way my eyes narrowed. “What does he want?”
She shrugged, peering back down at the screen. “Just checking up. Making sure I’m okay. Telling me again what a mistake this is. Same shit. Different day.”
I bit back a curse, my fists curling against my thighs. I didn’t trust Rusty. Never had. Something about the guy rubbed me the wrong way, something slick beneath the surface he tried to hide, and it was more than him being the rival. “How very parental of him,” I grumbled, settling my bag on the bench at my feet.
She rolled her eyes. “It’s no secret he didn’t agree with me coming back here,” she added, a trace of guilt in her voice. “He’drather have me tucked away in some cabin in the middle of nowhere, and he is doing his damn hardest to convince me.”
I grunted. “That’s not concern. That’s control. Creepy as fuck, little raven.”
Before she could answer, a noise snapped through the stillness, a crunch of boots on fresh snow. My head whipped toward the sound instinctively, my senses flaring to life. Without thinking, I reached for her hand and pulled her up from the bench. “We need to go.” Those texts from Rusty were more than just checking in. I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was confirming where she was. She might believe his concern was friendly, but my instincts pointed to somewhere else. He’d gone to such lengths to take her from us. He’d do so again.
She noticed the tension in my body, but smart girl that she was, she didn’t question it. She followed my lead as I quickly walked, but not suspiciously, toward the school building. As we neared the side entrance, I leaned down, my mouth brushing her ear. “Someone’s watching us. Don’t react. Just keep moving.”
Her body tightened against mine, but she didn’t so much as flinch. Fucking proud of her for that.
We approached the maintenance building, and I spotted our opportunity, yanking her behind it and pressing her back against the freezing brick wall. Her eyes widened, about to complain, no doubt, but I shook my head and put a finger to her lips.Silent. Stay still.I tried to convey both with my eyes.
Two shadows appeared at the perimeter of the field, moving purposefully. I recognized the tattoos on the side of their necks immediately. Vipers. Fucking Rusty.
My heart hammered, instincts screaming to act. I could fight. I could take them, but it wasn’t just me. I had Kaylor to think about, and if one of them even touched her, even for a second, I’d never forgive myself. It’s what I would do if I were them… Use a distraction to grab the prize.
I needed a different play.
Voices echoed from the side of the building as a group of students spilled out, laughing and shoving each other, heading toward the parking lot.
Perfect.
I pulled Kaylor into the stream of kids, moving fast, keeping her tucked to my side, but not before one of the Vipers started to look our way.
Think fast.
Without hesitation, I grabbed Kaylor’s face and kissed her. Hard.
She stiffened for a fraction before melting against me. I cupped the back of her head, angling her so her face was shielded from view. I didn’t care who was watching. I didn’t care if it was the whole damn world. All I cared about was keeping her safe, and maybe I let myself enjoy it for a beat longer than I should have.
Her hands fisted in the front of my hoodie, clinging to me like she didn’t know where I ended and she began.
God help me, I don’t want to stop.
But I forced myself to pull away, keeping my body angled between her and the Vipers as I slid my hand down her arm, lacing my fingers through hers. “Walk,” I murmured against her temple. “Now.”
She nodded, her face flushed, but she stayed glued to my side as we merged deeper into the crowd of students. I kept my senses honed, tracking the Vipers out of the corner of my eye. They lingered by the edge of the field.
Too late.
We slipped into the building, the door swinging shut behind us. I didn’t stop until we rounded a corner and ducked into an empty stairwell, finally out of sight. Only then did I let myself breathe.
Kaylor shoved at my chest lightly, her brows furrowed. “What the hell was that?” she whispered harshly.
I dropped my forehead to hers, needing the contact, needing her to understand. “Until we find who the traitor is, I don’t trust anyone. Whether you want to believe me or not, I’m trying to protect you,” I said roughly. “They were looking foryou.”
Recognition sparkled in her eyes. Fear. Anger. The edges of both. “Vipers,” she said quietly. “Why would Rusty…” Her voice trailed off. “I’m sure they were here topersuademe to come back to the shop. Rusty did say he wanted to send a couple of guys to watch the house. That protection probably extends to school.”
