“Were you part of the institute?” I asked warily.
“I was,” he confirmed. “I got out long before the guys started acting like god,” he said reassuringly. “It looks like I have work to do. Hurry along before someone comes looking for you.” He reached out and grabbed my hand in comfort.
I opened the door, my heart feeling lighter. “Oh, and Blake,” he called before I could close the door. I leaned down to look at him. “Be careful, and I think it’s of great importance that you make those connections very soon.”
I nodded numbly and watched him drive away. We were further than the elementary school.
I groaned. “I hope you don’t mind the long run back.”
“I hope Collin doesn’t lock you down even tighter.”
Collin was livid when I got back. I could see that he was talking on his phone and pacing when Gavin and I came back to the parking lot.
“Where were you?” Collin asked as he stalked towards me. Grabbing my arm in a tight vice grip.
“I decided to run today,” I explained. “Ouch, Collin,” I hissed.
He didn’t seem to care that he was bringing me pain as he started to yank me to the car. “Why didn’t you take your phone? Why didn’t you have the decency to call me?”
“Collin, seriously you’re hurting me,” I cried out. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I had left my phone and I didn’t think I was going to be late.”
“Seriously, dude, you need to let her go.” Gavin took a menacing step towards him.
“Stay out of this,” Collin snapped. “I know you want her, but she’s my girlfriend.”
“Oh my gosh, Collin,” I shouted. “We’re just friends!”
“Is there a problem here?” Noah interrupted.
I turned to see Noah, Drake, and Rose right behind me. From Collin’s look of shock, I assumed he hadn’t seen them approach. Noah looked ready for a fight, and even Drake had dropped his bag to the ground. Rose looked sullen.
Collin dropped my arm abruptly and smiled broadly. “No, nothing,” he hastily explained. Then he looked hesitantly at Rose. “Just relationship issues, you know how that goes.”
I rubbed my arms, certain I would have a bruise there tomorrow.
“Even if you think your girl is cheating on you, I don’t think manhandling her and dragging her around is acceptable,” Drake said with quiet conviction.
I looked over at Gavin, mortified that Drake would think I was cheating and wondering if he caught the slight inflection in Drake’s tone. Did he suspect their relationship?
Collin had the audacity to blush. “I’m sorry Blake and Gavin,” he said a bit grudgingly. “I was just worried. You’re new here and I didn’t know what could have happened to you. I didn’t know you were with him. I looked all over the gym and didn’t see you there. I freaked out. I’m sorry.”
I looked down at my arms and rubbed the imprints of his hands. I looked down, longing to tell him where he could go. If I didn’t realize how important it was for me to find out who else might be working with him, I would have already left him. I never understood how any woman would subject herself to any form of abuse.
“Blake, sugar, honey,” he tried to wheedle as he drew me into his arms. “I’m sorry. Please accept my apology.”
I grudgingly nodded.
“Blake,” Noah demanded my attention. “If you’re not comfortable going home with him, we can bring you back with us. Maybe give you both some room.”
“No!” Collin shouted quickly. Then more softly. “I mean, that’s not necessary, is it Blake.” He hugged me closer. “It was all just a little misunderstanding. She understands I would never intentionally hurt her.”
I looked over at Gavin once more. He was still angry. “Maybe a time out would be good.”
“I can drive you home, if you want,” Noah added. “Gavin, you’re welcome to come along as well.”
I knew this was an opportunity I should take. Judge Myers and Ella’s words came back to haunt me. Make your connections. I could take this opportunity to try to make a connection tonight and go back to Collin’s later so I could continue finding a way to use his same methods of spying.
“Yeah,” I tried to feign a look of apology at Collin. “Maybe I need a time out. Sorry,” I whispered softly to him. “You really hurt me and scared me. I need some time to think.”
“Come on, Blake,” his voice got real whiny. “You know I didn’t mean it.”
“Let’s go, Blake,” Gavin insisted. “I’ll follow you to your spot,” Gavin looked at Noah as if he didn’t know where he was going.
I picked up my bag and followed Gavin to his pickup truck.
Chapter 7
I felt like I was coming home, in all sense of the word. The moments we rolled through the gates I felt a tug on my heart strings.
“I missed home,” I said quietly to Gavin.
He looked over at me with sympathy. “I don’t know how you do it. If it was me I would have already told them the truth. Plus,” he added quietly. “I don’t trust Collin. Now more so than ever. I think you should tell them tonight.”
The truck came to a stop and I looked over to him. “It’s not that easy. For one, I need to find out who is against them, and I am in the best position to do so; and two, I don’t think they’re ready for it. It was hard for you at first and we don’t have to make a connection. I’m not forcing myself into your life, whereas I would be if I drop it on them now. If I take opportunities like this and let them know me for me and not me as their connected, then I think they’ll be more receptive.”
He shook his head. “If it was me, I would want to know. Especially knowing the danger, you put yourself in.”
A knocking on Gavin’s window made us jump. Noah’s smiling face was on the other side.
Gavin opened the door.
“Everything okay?” Noah asked.
“Fine,” Gavin said sullenly. “Just talking about the ass.”
I knew he was upset with me as he picked up his bag and started walking towards the house, reminding me this had become like a second home to him 3 or 4 days a week.
“You’re sure you’re just friends?” Noah murmured quietly with a mocking glint in his eyes.
“Positive,” I said tongue in cheek. “He treats me like… a sister.”
“Hmm,” he said thoughtfully as he guided me in the house.
As we walked through the garage doors, it was as if I had never left. I removed my shoes, because Sue, the housekeeper/ family friend, hated shoes being worn in the house. Then I paused in the doorway of the kitchen, taking the scene in before me. I was filled with mixed emotions. Part of me was glad to be back, the other, not so much.