She didn’t want to believe him at first, but he didn’t look like he was lying. He actually looked a bit offended.
“You swear you didn’t give him the black eye?”
“I swear.” Amo put down the hand he had held up.
Chloe was satisfied he was telling the truth then and was able to somewhat relax.
“Nero and Vincent are the mean ones, you know. I’m the nice one.”
Glancing at him for a moment, she began to think she might have been too harsh on him. This clearly was a touchy subject for him.
“I guess you will have to prove it.” She smiled at him.
He smiled back. “I can do that.”
Getting to the door, Amo opened it for her and she rushed inside to hand Mrs. Saylor the hall pass. Sitting back down wasn’t as bad as she had expected. Most of the students were focused on their assignments, and Amo’s big body blocked their view as they walked down the aisle.
Chloe opened her notebook, settling her nerves so she could start the assignment written on the chalkboard.
Well, I won’t tell if you don’t. Chloe was going to take this whole thing to her grave. Elle would kill Amo if she ever found out he had gotten her to go to the bathroom. All in all, it wasn’t so bad … She had looked death in the face and survived without Elle having to take a hit for her. Amo might even have a cape underneath that expensive shirt he was wearing.
I’m the nice one.
Gathering her courage, she looked over at him to see him copying her answers. Chloe scooted her chair back to the edge of her table so he couldn’t. Mm-hmm, you’re off to a great start of proving it.
*
Amo tried not to smile when she took her paper out of view. He honestly couldn’t blame her. Mrs. Saylor was a bitch when it came to copying, and he was just trying to come off … not as nice. He obviously wasn’t a momma’s boy, but out of his friends, he could at least pretend to be the nicest.
Nero was the one who gave him that black eye, not me.
Hey, I wasn’t lying. I was just omitting the fact that I had kicked his balls in so hard I made him into the bitch that he is.
Thirty-Two
The Backyard That Looked Absolutely Stunning
Chloe spent the evening at a dinner party her parents were throwing for some city officials. She had grown used to pretending to listen and smile at these things if she didn’t want her father to come to her after it was over. On the inside, though, she was keeping her mind elsewhere, thinking about her encounter with Amo earlier. This time, when she thought of him, no thoughts of the devil came to her, and his dark eyes no longer reminded her of evil black ones.
Elle had been her only friend in years, yet within a week, she felt like she might have gained new ones in Nero, Amo, and Vincent. Yes, it scared her—they scared her—but they were also the best things to happen to Elle and her since their high school year had started. Now all that needed to happen was for Elle to take Nero back.
It was hard for her to believe he had gone out on her, especially after today when he had done nothing but follow them around a few feet back, making sure they were okay. Something was nagging at the back of her mind that it hadn’t been what it had looked like. He’s clearly in love with her …
Excusing herself with her father’s permission, she went to take a break from it all to get a moment’s peace and recharge.
Rinnng.
Chloe answered her cell the moment she saw Elle’s name. It was going to help her get a distraction.
“Hey.”
A male voice came over, instead. “Hey, Chloe.”
“Nero?” Immediately, her nerves were shot. Something wasn’t right.
“Elle is fine”—he cleared his throat—“but she was attacked on the way to work. I got her to my house where my doctor is taking care of her. She just suffered a concussion and needs to be monitored through the night.”
“I-I—” It was hard for her to even think.
“I promise you she will be okay. I was hoping you would cover for her and tell her parents she is spending the night with yo—”
“I want to see her.”
Nero paused. “Okay, I’ll send you the address.”
Chloe hung up then ran through the house to grab her keys. She slipped out the house, hoping no one would notice her disappearance. It didn’t matter to her if they did or if her father would take it out on her; she had to make sure Elle was okay.
When will it all stop? When will Elle quit getting hurt? When will we just be free?
*
The house looked immaculate as she went up to the door. If it weren’t for Elle being there, she wouldn’t have been able to do this.
Lightly, she knocked on the door, not expecting the person on the other side.
“W-why are you here?”
Amo practically took up the whole doorframe until he moved out of the way for her to come in. “I came to make sure Elle was okay. Vincent came, too.”
Chloe slowly entered, careful to squeeze by Amo. When the door came to a close behind her, her heart stuttered.