by Nana Malone
"Okay." Another guy came out of the bathroom. "What the hell are you guys doing in there? Watching each other pee?"
Roland laughed. "No. That's a Jack and Jill to the surveillance room. It's an empty dorm room we commandeered for the semester. It’s stocked with all your standard monitoring equipment so you should have everything you need. We just finished the set up. Once you’re on tonight, we’ll back off until the morning.”
Shane nodded. “Okay.”
“We're lucky she wanted to live in a dorm this year. Otherwise, it would have been a huge pain in the ass monitoring her so closely. This is another member of the team, my brother, Saul."
Saul nodded a greeting as they shook hands. The kid looked to be about Shane’s age and was the spitting image of his brother.
"Good to meet you,” Shane said. “So, I got some background from Caleb. Is there any current threat against her?”
Roland shifted on his feet. The other three men suddenly became interested in the fake dorm room decorations.
"Not current. But, uh, four years ago when she was fourteen, she had a stalking situation. And older boy became obsessed with her."
"Caleb filled me in," Shane ground out. The shot of fury through his bloodstream surprised him.
Roland cleared his throat. "He tell you everything?”
“That she escaped and he killed himself? Yeah."
"Yeah, had her for twelve hours. We found her wandering the forest where he'd kept her. We eventually found the kid's body."
Caleb had told him the skeleton details, but he hadn’t told him she’d been left to wander around on her own. "That’s fucked." He fought to keep his voice steady. "Was she, uh, did he, uh?"
Roland shook his head. "She seemed to be physically okay. And after a couple of years, even emotionally okay. Old man though, not so much. He tucked her away at an exclusive boarding school and hasn't let her out of sight."
"Yeah, I can see why."
"Look, I know it probably seems excessive, but it's the job we signed on for."
Shane shrugged. "It's the job. I'll keep an eye on her. No present threats?"
Roland shook his head. "At the time, she swore she heard another voice in the room. But we never found any evidence of anyone else being there. Not even in the kid's computer history. We chalked it up to her adrenaline working overboard."
Something about that didn't sit well with him. But he let it go for the time being. "I think I have what I need for now."
The older man nodded. "Good. Now let me show you the surveillance equipment."
In the surveillance room, there were a million pictures of Tris and her friends, local hangouts, people they associated with. The security set up was huge, considering the dorm room was so small. There was a feed outside every class and at the entrance and exit of the dorms, as well as right outside her door, which was next to his. Fan-fucking-tastic, he'd be able to hear her breathing. Just what he needed. Good thing he wouldn't actually be sleeping over here, otherwise, he'd never get a wink.
"Do you have a work-up on the asshole who took her?"
"Yeah, his file is here." Roland handed it to him. "Complete loner of a kid. Didn't have a single friend. But obviously, he won't be an issue now."
"Okay. I just like to cover my bases."
"Nah, it's a good call." Roland sighed. "We're going to take off before she spots us. Her detail is on right now. You have the number to text when you go on duty at six. Just text that you're on and your location, so we know where she is too."
"Done deal."
Once they left, he walked back through the Jack and Jill bathroom to his new room. On the walls were bands he liked. They had his profile, and it looked like what his dorm might have looked like if he'd ever lived in one. Along with a One Republic poster sat Imagine Dragons and Neon Trees posters, as well as a tasteful nude print done by the photographer Z Conn. And of course, there was the requisite Che Guevara gear.
This was it, he was back at school. Now all he had to do to protect Tristia was lie to her.
Chapter 9
"Tristia!" Ricca enveloped Tristia is a tight hug.
It was hard not to grin at her cousin. She was so full of enthusiasm. "Hey, Ree. These are my friends, Xia and Sydney."
Ricca beamed. "Great to meet you guys. I've got some friends to introduce you to as well."
Once introductions were made to Jaya and Micha, the group finally got around to looking at the menu. With Micha and Sydney holding court, it was a wonder they ever managed to order. But the waiter just smiled indulgently.
When Ricca had suggested Manger Restaurant at the Westhorpe, Tris had balked. Cutting the cord with her father meant no funds for swanky until she got herself a jobby job. A place like Manger was way too nice and way too expensive, but Ricca had insisted it was her treat. Now she understood, Jaya's husband, Alec owned the hotel.
"Jaya, I have to tell you, Syd, Xia, and I had a blast at Synthesis this weekend. Thank you guys so much for comping us."
Jaya's smile was sweet. "Of course. I'm glad you guys had a good time. I just won't ask if any of you were drinking or anything."
Sydney coughed and muttered, "Good call."
Ricca rubbed her hands together, each movement showing off the ridiculous rock on her left hand. Apparently, her husband Beckett had upgraded her on their wedding day. He'd just been made a VP at the hotel, so he had cash to burn. It was stunning...and blinding. "So tell us, how was the first day? Are you guys super excited?"
Micha rolled her eyes. "You'll have to forgive Ricca, she's just nostalgic for college."
"Stop spoiling my fun, Micha, there's nothing wrong with being sentimental. Besides, it's where we all met."
Micha smirked and endured a hug from Ricca. "Yeah, yeah, I remember. It's where I learned to endure touching."
"You know you love it," Ricca teased. She turned her attention back to Tris. "Please, spill."
Tris shifted in her seat. "Uh, there's nothing to tell really. Classes are going to be challenging and fun."
Sydney groaned. "Allow me to translate. What Ricca wants to know is if there are any boys."
Tris flushed. "Syd."
"What?" Her friend shrugged at her before spilling all the beans to her cousin. "Yes, there is a cute boy. She met him last weekend when we were at Synthesis. We're already plotting to bring him to his knees."
Jaya clapped. "I do love a good plan."
Xia looked like she'd found her soul mate. "I was just gonna say that. I'm working on a friend in the registrar's office to see if I can get his schedule so we can commence stalking." She cleared her throat. "You know, when I say that out loud, I sound crazy."
Jaya snorted a laugh. "You're talking to the crew who used to full-on spy on Micha's husband from across the street. We did it for years."
"What the hell were we supposed to do?" Micha snorted. "The man walked around nearly naked all the time, and I had a full view from my apartment. Of course, I would make some popcorn and invite my girls over."
Tris’s phone rang, and she excused herself from the table, scowling when she saw who was calling. “What’s up, Dad?”
“Tristia, I’m surprised you answered your phone.”
She ignored the twinge of guilt. She didn't want to seem childish, but they’d been down this road too many times. He would promise to back off and listen to her, then he would go back on his word.
“What do you want, Dad? I’m sort of in the middle of something.”
“Yes, your cousin said you were meeting for a late lunch.”
“Checking up on me?”
He muttered. “Shit. Tris, you have to understand, I almost lost you once. The idea of it happening again makes me crazy.”
“I don't know how many times I have to tell you this, Dad. There is no threat. It’s gone. I’m okay, and it’s time I started living a normal life. It’s what Mom wanted for me.” Okay, maybe that was a low blow, but it was also the truth.
He sighed. “I did
n’t call to fight.”
“Then why did you call?”
“You are as stubborn as your mother, do you know that?”
That made her smile. “You like to tell me all the time.”
“In this case, it serves you well. I’m going to pull back like I promised. No security. You’ll notice you had no escort today, and no one is watching you.”
She had noticed, but she didn’t trust it. “You’ve said that before.”
“I know, and it’s my fault you don’t believe me, but I’m serious. Only time will tell. The one caveat is, if you notice anything off or you feel unsafe for any reason, you call me and tell me, okay? Otherwise, I’ll leave you be. Our relationship is more important to me. And it’s time I gave you some freedom.”
Her heart swelled, and she dared to hope. “Are you serious right now?”
“As the heart attack I’m giving myself. I’m listening to you this time.”
“Oh my God, Dad, thank you. I swear, you won’t regret this.”
“I already do, but we’ll see how it goes. I can’t promise I won’t worry though.”
“I love you. You’ll see, this will be great.”
“Go, have fun. Call me tonight.”
She hung up and hurried back to the table with a big grin. She’d done it. She’d actually managed to get the one thing she’d wanted for four years. Now it was time to enjoy it.
For the next several minutes, she chatted and laughed with the group. The waiter earned his tip because they were never ready. It took another ten minutes for them to order.
"Okay, honey," Ricca said, "What is this poor boy's name? Should I have Caleb run a background check on him?"
That sounded like something her father would do. "His name is Shane. But I think I'll pass on the background check. Makes me feel too much like Dad. And I don't even know his last name, so not so easy."
"Pity," Micha muttered. "I'd have convinced Caleb to do it for free."
They spent another hour with her cousin and her friends until they had to head back to campus for their floor meeting. Sydney and Xia chatted with the cute bartender while Tris said goodbye to her cousin, who enveloped her in a hug, squeezing tight. Since Ricca was barely five feet tall, Tris had to bend down to make it work.
"I'm so glad you're here, sweetie."
Tris hugged her back. "I am too. I knew I needed this, but you know Dad. That was him on the phone. I think he finally gets it, but we’ll see."
Ricca nodded. "You just have to remember he's not being a tyrant because he doesn’t love you. He just wants to protect you."
"I know. But there's nothing to protect me from now." She sighed. "I just don't want what happened to define me. Everywhere I've gone so far, it's been me. And it sucks. I just want to be a normal person. You know, one who doesn't have a couple of three-hundred-pound guys following her. So it will be nice to be normal for once"
"I get that. I wouldn't want it either. But at least now you have what you want."
"I know, and I'm excited. Now, all I have to do is let loose a little bit and actually enjoy it. I keep thinking someone is going to take it away from me."
Ricca shook her head. "No. Not going to happen. Anytime you start to feel overwhelmed, just remember what you've already survived. You're a tough cookie. And I'm proud of you."
"Thanks, Ree. Like you, there was so much Mom loved about being in college. I made a whole list of all the things she'd want me to try, so I'm going to start going through it this week."
"That's awesome. What do you think will be at the top of the list?"
There were two things at the top. The first was find a boyfriend and fall in love. That was more out of her control though. "Mom ran the Boston marathon when she was nineteen and a student at Tufts. I want to run the Rock & Roll marathon in the spring."
"Wow. You realize I'd rather give up spicy food than run right? That's a great goal. But remember, this is your life. You choose how you live it. Do things you want to do. I know you want to honor her memory, but don't forget the spirit of what she wanted for you. For you to be free and explore."
Tris blinked away her tears. "Thanks, Ree."
"Of course. And don't forget you can call me anytime you like if you need me. I'm around."
"I appreciate it."
"What are cousins for?" Ricca grinned. "Okay, since you have to go to your meeting, I need to do this now." She pulled out a shopping bag from underneath the table and handed it over to Tris.
"What's this?"
"This is a little something that Jaya, Micha, and I have been passing back and forth between us for the last few years. It's brought us a good deal of luck, and this is my turn to have them. I'm passing them off to you to bring you some fun and freedom and a little luck."
Aw hell, tears again. She was not going to be the weepy girl. "I don't know what to say."
"Just say you'll wear them. And when you're done with them, you'll bring them back. That's the only rule."
"Can I open?"
Ricca shook her head. "Take a look when you’re back in the safety of your room. This gift requires proper time to ooh and ahh."
"Okay," she said with a laugh. She gave Ricca one more hug and went to join Sydney and Xia.
By the time the girls made it back to the dorms, they were all frothing at the mouth.
Syd groaned as they all sat on Tris's bed. "Come on and open this already. I want to see before we have to go."
"Patience, Syd. This is Tris's gift. She can take all the time she wants."
Sydney collapsed on the bed dramatically. "Okay, while Tris is taking her time with the damn wrapping, can I just say I'm totally in love with Micha? She's quite possible my most favorite person on the face of the whole earth."
Xia snorted with laughter. "That's probably because she's you in about ten years or so. You are such a narcissist."
"Am not. I mean, did you see her wardrobe? And she's totally take no prisoners, and she's hilarious. And so is Jaya. Tris, your cousin is like the cutest thing I've ever seen in my life. I want to pick her up and put her in my pocket."
Tris laughed. "She gets that a lot." Clapping her hands together, she added, "Okay, let's see what my darling cousin just gave me." She lifted the cover of the box and tossed it at Syd. Peeling back the wrapping, she gasped. Holy hell.
Xia's gasp said it all. Sydney, eloquent as ever, just said "Fuck me."
Although, in this instance it was accurate. These were definitely fuck-me shoes. The gold embossed red Christian Louboutin shoes were stunning.
"I cannot believe she would intend for me to wear these."
Xia peered into the box. "Is there a note?"
Syd rummaged around and pulled one out. "Enjoy. Remember to have some fun," she read. She fingered one of the shoes. "I take it back, I think I love your cousin the most. Me hearts them, my precious."
Tris couldn’t help a snort of laughter. "They are pretty. But I think I'd be too afraid to wear them anywhere."
Syd rolled her eyes. "Nonsense, they were meant to be worn, and Ricca gave them to you specifically because she thinks you need to let loose. Even if that means wearing these to the grocery store, you will wear them, or I will beat you over the head with these and take them for myself."
That was Syd. Always putting things in perspective.
Xia glanced at the clock. "Holy shit, we need to go. We don’t want to be late for our first floor meeting."
Tris laughed. "You are way into this whole college experience thing."
"Don’t tease me. I just don’t want to miss anything."
"That's our Xia for you," Syd said, smiling. "She finds the excitement in everything, even boring meet-your-RA meetings."
Tris carefully reboxed the shoes, and they headed down to the common room. She recognized a few of the kids on the floor now. One girl was in their human sexuality class.
She smiled up amicably, pointing at the three of them. "You guys were in the HS lecture this morning, right?"
Tris nodded. "Yeah, along with apparently half of the student body."
"I know. It was kind of insane. I didn't expect it to be that packed."
Syd laughed. "Come on, a college campus, impressionable young people, teaming hormones, no authorities, and you say you're going to talk about sex? You might as well have rung the dinner bell and yelled 'soouhie’. "
The blond girl laughed. "I'm Jaggar."
"I'm Tris. This is Xia and Sydney."
The four of them chatted some more, and then things quieted down to a hush.
"What's up, guys? Sorry for the late start, there were some logistics to work out. I'm Shane Atkinson, your new Resident Assistant."
From her position, Tris's view was partially obstructed by one guy who was kneeling in front of her. But the deep voice coming from the front of the common room made her hairs stand at attention. She snapped her head up and craned her neck to see around the guy in front of her. Holy fuck me. She squeezed her eyes shut as if she could blink away the image. But when she opened them again, he was still there. Still standing there in all his sexiness.
She turned helplessly to Xia and Sydney and found their mouths hanging open.
Shane was her freaking RA.
TO BE CONTINUED…
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