“The hell just happened?” I’m not sure who that is talking, and I don’t care enough to look.
“Someone was just in here. He had Roslyn. We need to call Kane and Alyssa. Where the hell have they been?”
I cling to him harder, worrying he’s about to leave me alone. Gah, I feel pathetic and weak, but I don’t give a damn. That woodsy scented guy was invincib
le and not normal. He was a solid wall of muscle with an iron grip. If he hadn’t hesitated, I’d be dead right now.
“Easy, sweet girl. I’ve got you,” Thad says softly, running his hand through my hair.
“Where’d he go?” the other guy asks, his voice barely audible.
“Disappeared. He was wearing a mask that completely covered his face. Sound familiar?” Thad says in the same, almost muted tone.
“Pretty fucking ballsy to come after her in broad daylight. What could he possibly want with her?” I hear the other guy whisper.
“Anointed weapons are all over the place. Someone forgot to clean up that shit. He probably thought she was an annoin—”
“Kane and Alyssa are on their way,” a new voice interrupts, although I have no idea what the hell Thad and the other guy were talking about anyway.
I’m too busy burying my face in his chest and trying to pretend this shit is still part of my screwed up dream. Reality and fantasy are blending together, and I might be losing it a little. Okay… I might be losing it a lot.
“Good. This shit is getting ridiculous,” Thad mumbles. In a whisper, he adds, “Keep an eye on Ella. That dick seemed interested in her the other day.”
“If he’s interested in Ella, why the fuck does he care about your girl?”
I’m sick of straining to hear them, but it’s like I can’t stop. Thad scoops me up, not responding to the guy, and I peer up to see him looking down at me, his eyes intense and studious.
He doesn’t answer the question that was asked, even though I’m as curious as everyone else seems to be. As we reach the inside of his house, I see Jenny curled up beside Zee, who is obviously faking interest, since he meets my gaze and shows me genuine interest.
Why do I feel like a spectacle?
Still clinging to Thad like a lifeline, my eyes move to Jenny who seems oblivious to everything that just happened.
“The roommate needs to go,” Thad says under his breath.
Why do they all keep talking so low?
I don’t hear anything else until Jenny starts whining about staying to someone. Thad carries me into his room, and I cling to him as he lowers me to the bed, slowly covering me with his body. But it’s not in a sexual way. It’s protective and gentle—exactly what I need.
“I’ve got you, sweet girl,” he says before brushing his lips over mine. “No one’s coming in here.”
“Who was he?” I manage to ask.
He frowns as a lock of his blonde hair falls over his forehead. “I honestly don’t know. I didn’t realize he was a threat until today. But I’ll figure out what he wants with you.”
Taking a deep breath, I try to remember what he said. “I fought him so hard, but he seemed invincible. He never even acted as though I affected him at all. He thought I was someone else. He said, ‘if they know who you are, they’ll do much worse,’ or something like that. I can’t remember his words verbatim, considering I was a little freaked out.”
Thad’s brow pinches as though he’s confused or lost in thought. He sits back on his haunches, and I shiver at losing his warmth. I always get really cold after my adrenaline surges.
“I need you to stay here and rest. Don’t worry. Can’t no one get in here. Gage made sure of that for me a long time ago. I should have done the same for you.”
I have no idea what that means, and I don’t get to question it before he walks out of the room. Glancing down at the pillow, I decide I’m still stuck in this hell of a dream, and I hope I can go back to sleep.
Maybe the next time I wake up, life will be normal.
Chapter 13
THAD