Chapter Four

*Knox*

A scrawny little kid approaches Tessa with something that could make a measly pass for anger etched on his face. He looks pathetic and desperate. Maybe that is what girls like Tessa like, because her face breaks into one of worry, like she is about to hand him a five-page essay on apology.

“Wes,” she says in a high-pitched tone. “Oh my God! I am so sorry. I totally forgot.”

“You forgot?”

Marin slips away from view, refusing to be caught in the crossfire. Watching her is hilarious.

“I know how this sounds, Wes, but a lot happened yesterday, okay? I tried running away from my security, and I would have joined you if some lousy bastards hadn’t delayed me. He tried harassing me, and it got the attention of the very people I was trying to run away from.”

Any other man will be immediately concerned for her safety. They will ask her if she was hurt in any way. Tessa just mentioned she was harassed, but Wes doesn't even bother with that.

“This is why it stresses me out being with you.”

“Wes!”

He sighs, pressing two fingers against his temples. "I'm sorry," he sighs. "I didn't mean it that way. It's just that I actually spent a lot getting us VIP tickets into that party at the club yesterday. They were non-refundable, and I spent the night all alone. It was worse that you didn't pick up my calls and didn't even try to call me back."

And then, the scrawny kid decides it is the right time to play the worry card. “You don’t know how worried I was, Tessa. I thought something bad had happened to you.”

I roll my eyes. It is in this moment that Wes notices me. He looks at me longer than necessary, from where I sit behind them.

“Do we have a new student?” Wes whispers to Tessa. What a dumb question. What kind of guys does Tessa like?

Dumb dudes?

“New student?” she turns to look at me and then sighs, returning her gaze to her boyfriend.

“He’s my new bodyguard from the security company. Knox Pierce.”

"New security?" The surprise in his voice is evident, and almost borders on panic. "Along with all the others?"

Tessa shakes her head. “The deal was that I get to keep him and let go of all the others. So, I am stuck with Mr. broody until my brother decides we have both had enough of him. And to be honest, I don’t think that is happening anytime soon.”

“Damn!” He sighs, leaning further into the seat. “I never get you alone, do I?”

Prick. He doesn’t even care for her safety. I lift myself out of the seat and stride out of the classroom just as the Professor gets in. Picking a spot by the window that gives me a large view of everything happening inside, I hit my headphones and connect with Kara.

She picks up the first ring.

"How is your first official day as a bodyguard, K?"

"The child is an ass," I reply, my eyes still on her. Now, she has given up on the lectures altogether, getting into an animated conversation with Wes, who, like her, doesn't seem keen on the whole idea of education.

This is the kind of people the Lane family is made of, yet they think they are better than others, working so hard to make an honest living.

“She is rich and spoiled,” Kara laughs. “What else did you expect?”’

“Some level of intelligence, but I guess that is asking for too much.”

“Any information so far?”

"Everything inside the house is encrypted. My key card only gives me access to a few rooms, where I have business. That means I have to find some other way to gain access to his study."

“What about the kid?”

I look back at her again. She is no longer talking to Wes. Our eyes meet for a brief moment. She frowns and looks in the other direction.

“What about her, Kara?”

“She has to have access to the study. She is Marcus’ only sister.”

“She is just a kid.”

“That did not stop her brother from throwing you under the bus, and neither should it stop you.” Kara has always been with me from the beginning of this journey, and sometimes, I think her anger runs deeper than mine.

"I need you to look into something for me," I murmur, changing the topic. "There's a kid who attaches himself to Tessa. His name is Wes.

Surname unknown. I need to know what he is on about. His family, his motivations, everything."

Kara pauses. "K, don't you think you are taking the bodyguard role a little too seriously? Back at the company, you have a million and one men at your beck and call, doing the very thing you are doing right now. This is cosplay. It isn't real."

“Do the task, Kara, and report back to me.”

She knows when I am serious with business, because despite the fact that I give her liberty to joke around with me, she understands that I am still her boss. She still owes me her life from years ago, when she was kidnapped by a bunch of drug dealers and was on the verge of getting raped and killed.

I enlisted her from that day, and she has been my most trusted personnel.

“Okay, K. You’ll get the report before the end of the day.”

The professor must have rounded the class up earlier than he planned, as the kids get up and walk out. I move too, intercepting Tessa on her way out.

“Going somewhere?”

She groans. “Why are you always everywhere?”

“That’s sort of my job.” My eyes flicker to my watch. “Your next class is in three hours. What do you want to do till then?”

“Stay away from you?”

“Funny, but you can’t have that. But if you could, I would happily grant it to you since I have no desire to be with you ….”

The rest of my words trail off when I hear the unmistakable cock of a gun.

“Tessa! Down now!”