Page 11 of The Burdens We Share
Selene gestures with her head for me to follow her and Dallas out of the room and I pat Nate on the shoulder, “I’ll be back. Then we can go to the studio.”
Nate nods, ripping the blanket right off of me and using it to tuck himself into my very expensive white couch. “Sounds like a plan to me. Do you want to get food on the way?”
I haven’t eaten a single thing in two days. At first, it was because of my new nutrition plan, but now it’s because the thought of food makes my stomach churn. I’m so stressed and high-strung from nerves that I can’t imagine putting anything in my mouth for fear of just puking it up. I shake my head at Nate almost too fast, “No, I’m good.”
Nate frowns, “But you didn’t eat breakfast.”
I avoid his eyes as I get off the couch and follow Selene and Dallas out of the room. “I’m fine, seriously.”
Dallas raises a thick brow at me as if he’s scrutinizing me in his head. I duck my head and don’t look up until we make it to the kitchen where Selene gestures for me to take a seat at the island. I pull out an acrylic barstool and climb up onto the chair. “That’s so sweet of Nate to come for a sleepover,” Selene grins and I notice her eyes aren’t on me as she speaks to me, but they’re on Dallas.
I glance at Dallas to find him giving Selene an infuriated and very threatening glare. “It’s not like I could’ve asked Brody or Aria.”
Selene drops her playful act, “You know you could’ve called me.”
I sigh, propping my head up with my arm, “I know, but Nate’s also one of my best friends, and no offense Selene, but if I asked you to stay with me you probably would’ve had me up all night watchingLaw and Order.”
Selene presses an offended hand against her chest, “That is just not true.”
I roll my eyes, “Oh, I’m sorry, you would’ve had me watchingSuits,” I correct myself.
Selene snorts, “You know, God forbid someone wants to watch a show about a lawyer and not some trashy reality show or a show about vampires.”
I point a finger at her, “The Vampire Diariesdeserves better than your insults!”
Selene opens her mouth to argue back, but thinks better of it, pressing her index finger and thumb between her eyes. “I’m not arguing with someone who is clearly not of equal intellect and maturity as I.”
I roll my eyes and Selene continues, “Dallas and I came here today because we have important matters concerning your safety to discuss.”
I avoid Dallas’ eyes and focus on Selene, “I’m not understanding why you got him involved when the police are looking into it.”
Dallas huffs a laugh and I finally glance in his direction with a shocked expression on my face. Did he just laugh? I look between him and Selene and whisper, “Did he just laugh?”
“He did,” Dallas answers my question for Selene about himself. “You’re a fool if you think the police are equipped to deal with something like this.”
I bite my tongue to keep from snapping back at his insult. Did he just call me a fool? Yes, I am intimidated and scared even of Dallas, but nobody insults me.
Selene adds, “The police have dozens of other cases they’re working on. They can’t focus all of their efforts on yours and provide it with the proper attention. They also aren’t equipped technologically.”
I give her a very confused look, “So then what?” I look over at Dallas, “Are you working on finding where the text came from like you did with the burner phone used to record Aria and Sly’stape?”
Dallas nods once, “I’m actively working on that, yes.”
“Okay,” I nod. That makes sense then.
Dallas and Selene exchange a brief, stern look, before Selene announces, “There’s another reason why Dallas is here.”
I remain silent and let her speak. “Dallas will be in charge of your personal safety until we find the person who’s leaving you the roses.”
I suck in a small breath. “What does that mean?”
Dallas answers this time, an almost victorious note to his voice, “It means that you and I are going to be spending a lot of time together.”
My eyes widen.What?I look at Selene for some kind of explanation, but she just gives me a sympathetic look. She knows Dallas unsettles me, so why did she plan this? “Selene.”
She sighs, “Ivory, the truth is that this person broke into your house. You have a state of the art security system, and this person somehow managed to override it and get inside without appearing on any of your security cameras or setting off any alarms. Clearly, this is someone who’s experienced. The cops aren’t able to deal with someone like this and I would feel much better with Dallas protecting you than anyone else.”
I hesitate, “Protecting me?”
