Hitman on Campus, page 5
Now if only I could follow up on her friend’s obvious encouragement...
Then they disappear and I’m left alone with Alana. Which should be a good thing, I guess - if for no other reason than that it’s far easier to make sure nothing happens to her when we’re one-on-one.
Except I suddenly realize it’s awkward as fuck.
She’s just standing there, looking at me and then around, clearly out of place and unsure about this whole thing, even if she was trying to act enthusiastic earlier. And I’m left with a whole lot of guilt about whether I should be showing her a good time - corrupting her in all those sweet ways I’ve been picturing - or keeping Sullivan’s precious daughter innocent and naive. She’d definitely be safer that way - from stupid college pricks at least, if not hitmen and mafia dogs, and I’m sure this wasn’t what the boss was picturing.
I take another look at her, the slightly puzzled line across her forehead and unsure-but-game expression in her eyes and - fuck it, you’ve got a role to play.
I give her my best cocky grin and step closer, putting an arm around her with the excuse of bending closer to speak into her ear. To my surprise, she doesn’t even step out of it. “You sure you don’t want anything?”
“No, I don’t really drink.” She shrugs as I give an inward sigh.
Of course you don’t.
Instead, my grin sharpens. “Dancing it is, then.”
And before she can react, I’m pulling her towards a group in the middle of the living room - it’s cramped and crowded, but it’s maybe a little lighter in here. Just in case.
The college party guy slash hitman-bodyguard might be a hard thing to balance, but hell, I’m going to at least try.
To her credit, Alana does actually get into it. And dancing with her is fucking hot.
The way her body moves in that shimmering dress, it’s almost as though I can see what she’s hiding underneath and imagine those soft curves shifting under me instead of right there beside me. Waiting to be touched and taken and enjoyed. It’s hard to keep it innocent, and I find myself moving closer, taking her hand and letting her twirl around with a light laugh, then bringing her in, just a bit closer.
I’m getting hard, right here in the middle of the house, but it’s far too dark for anyone to notice so I pretend I’m safe, and focus on trying not to freak her out with all the things I’d normally be doing at this point. This is the most innocent dance I’ve ever had.
She has to be the most unconscious cock-tease I’ve ever known too, and the way she grins up at me - life and happiness shining from her eyes - I can’t decide whether I want to protect that sweet naivety forever, or take her right here as we’re dancing.
Unfortunately, it’s almost immediately obvious that I’m not the only one with that idea, and as I catch guys checking her out and sidling up towards us, every protective instinct starts boiling inside me. And not because I think they’re about to fucking kill her.
I’m not even sure why I care. I never have before. But I’m not entirely sure Alana can take care of herself, and she doesn’t seem to have a clue just how much attention she’s attracting. Plus, usually I get to smirk at them, then casually step it up a level and start making a real move, showing everyone else just how out of my league they are. Which is the one thing I can’t do here.
So I just glare at them - and mostly, it works. I can be pretty intimidating when I want to be. But there are still the couple that come too close, that look too long, and set my body on edge.
It’s enough that I’m about to suggest we take a break, when Mel and Lily come back to find us, looking a little tipsy and happy and relaxed.
“Hey, babe! I’ve got to show you something!” Lily grabs Alana’s arm and before I can react, she starts dragging her away, giggling a little.
I make to go after them, only to have Mel get in my face. Her cheeks are tinged a little pink and she has a slightly high-and-mighty look on her face as she leans into me. Maybe she’s more than a little tipsy.
“Hey, you.” She grabs my arm and I fight the instinct to throw her off and follow Alana, my gut tightening. I don’t have time for this even if she is Alana’s friend. “I know you like her. Aand that’s great…I’m happy…but, listen here. You better treat her right. Don’t…don’t hurt her…”
Seriously?
I stare at her for a moment. I’m really getting the protective-close-friend speech?
Fuck that shit.
“I don’t want anything to happen to her—” Mel’s staring at me like she’s trying to decipher my ulterior motives, and all I can think about is the sharp fear in my stomach at letting her out of my sight, even for a moment.
“Then don’t fucking leave her alone in a party full of drunk college guys.” I snap back, breaking her hold easily and pushing past the people that have re-formed in front of us, ignoring the spluttered protest behind me and trying to find Alana and Lily.
Which is damn hard in a party full of drunk students, even if I’m better than most at elbowing and slipping my way through. It’s too dark in here, even if I feel like I’d recognize Alana in a heartbeat anyway, and there are too many people. The music is too loud. And I can’t think beyond the constant beat of horrific images in my mind.
I finally make my way out of the throng of dancing people and look around, having no idea which room they headed to. I should have asked Mel. But I couldn’t wait for that.
I find myself in full fight-mode as my head swings around and I scan every area, my body tense and alert and ready to act. It’s a ridiculously over-the-top reaction, but I can’t help it. And if it means I find her, I don’t care.
I finally catch a glimpse of them as I push through into the kitchen area - just in time to hear a startled scream and see an overbearing guy grinding himself up against Alana’s back, running his hands down her and copping a feel.
My vision goes red instantly, and despite the endless time it felt like it took to get here, I’m over there in an instant. Alana’s whipped around and I’m pretty sure she’s about to lay into the guy, but I don’t give her a chance.
I pull him back and throw him up against the wall, getting into his face without a moment’s hesitation. I want to punch his lights out, but I’m pretty sure these college kids have never seen my kind of violence, and scaring Alana off would be even worse than letting this dickhead get away unscathed.
So instead I grab the collar of his t-shirt and push him back again, holding him there and letting him see the murder in my gaze. He’s muscled and fit, but obviously not a trained fighter and the wide-eyed way he’s looking at me makes it clear he knows he’s outclassed.
“You fucking asshole. Stay the hell away from her. You got that?” I snarl it at him, leaning forward again and watching as he splutters and coughs from the pressure.
When he nods quickly, I scowl and finally push him away from us, watching as he staggers backwards and then disappears.
I’m still fighting the blood lust and adrenaline surging through me, and I take deep breaths as I try to calm down.
Why the hell am I so wound up?
A distant part of me is dimly aware that I’ve done far worse than he tried - and I was usually successful, too. Fuck it.
A few people are looking over at us uncertainly, but most are either too drunk or simply don’t care, and a quick withering glare at those that do puts an end to the attention.
It’s harder than I would have thought to look back at Alana - part of me wondering what I’ll see in her eyes - but I steel myself and do it anyway. Most of the red-haze has vanished now, and I’m slowly calming down.
She looks slightly shocked - whether at what he tried, or at me, I have no idea and I’m not entirely sure I want to find out.
“You okay?” My voice still comes out rough, but at least the question shows I’m not about to unleash violence on her or Lily.
She relaxes slightly as she nods, taking a breath of her own. “Ugh, yeah. I think so.”
Her voice doesn’t waver, and I’m secretly proud. Maybe she can hold her own better than I thought.
“Do you want to go outside?” I ask, more for myself than for her. I want to get away from the noise and the people and the heat.
She nods again and I lead them both to the back door, slightly relieved at the breeze when we finally get out and I can lean against the walls of the house. Alana seems to relax as well, and we’re silent for a moment as Lily puts an arm around her again. I ignore my own urge to do that, and just try to filter everything out.
Mel bursts out a moment later. “Oh my god! I heard…what happened?!”
She looks between us all, but my eyes are half-closed now, and I just ignore them as Lily and Alana fill her in.
I can feel the uncertain glances in my direction, but there are no overly violent or crazy descriptions of me, so I convince myself I haven’t traumatized anyone. Yet. Though I’m starting to wonder whether that will still be true by the time I leave. I’m obviously not cut out for being around normal kids.
When Mel has finished exclaiming about it, the conversation shifts to other topics, but I filter it out and don’t join in. They don’t try and pull me into it, either - maybe because they get that I’m cooling down, or maybe because they’re not entirely sure they want to talk to me anyway. So long as they don’t try and leave, I don’t care.
I’m too distracted by the reminder of what I’m really doing here. My attention is on the shadows in the garden and anyone who tries to come too near - not that there are many of them.
I guess word got out fast. Good.
After a while, when everyone’s nerves have settled, I can tell Mel wants to go back inside, and to my irritation, she suggests it only a few moments later. The last thing I want right now is Alana back in that house.
“So…you think you’re okay to go back inside? Pretty sure no one’s going to bother you now, anyway.” The last with a quick glance at me, but I don’t sense any animosity. Instead I give her a slow grin, making it clear that I think that’s a good thing.
It is a good thing, even if the way I react to these situations might not be.
Alana shrugs a little. “You go ahead. I need a bit more time, but you don’t have to stay with me.”
“No, that’s fine. We can stay.” Lily responds immediately, and I suddenly realize she wants to go too. For some reason I hadn’t pictured the quiet girl enjoying herself here.
“No, really, go. I can stay here with Caleb for a bit.” Alana insists, then gives me an almost sheepish look. “If you’re okay with that.”
They all look at me, and I shrug with a smile. “Sure thing, hun.”
Score and score. I couldn’t have asked for a better decision.
I have no idea how she knew I had no interest in going back inside - or hell, maybe she just thought I’d be more interested in staying with her. She wouldn’t have been wrong.
Mel and Lily share a look. I can’t work out whether I’m more exasperated or amused by those, but Mel gives a cheery smile and a wave and I can’t really fault her. “Okay, sure. Have fun, you two.”
I scowl at that as they disappear. She’s not wrong about what I’d like to be getting up to, and I’ve never resented the encouragement before - but it’s frustrating as hell not being able to act on the implication.
Alana shakes her head, but she seems more amused than anything as she leans back against the wall beside me. I can’t help looking over at her, seeing the way her blond hair whispers around her shoulders, wanting to touch and comfort as I couldn’t earlier.
“I’m sorry.” I say, though I’m not sure what for.
Maybe for my outburst. Maybe for bringing her here in the first place.
She shrugs as she looks up at me, an unexpected fierceness in her expression. “I can take care of myself, you know. I could’ve handled it.”
“I’m sure you could have, hun.” I smile and finally do put an arm around her shoulder, even as something inside me breaks at her words.
If only she knew what might be coming after her.
The strange thing is, I almost believe her when it comes to drunk college guys. Maybe she isn’t as naive or helpless as I thought.
She relaxes into me, and my arm tightens almost instinctively, wanting her close. Like this, I can catch hints of the vanilla-spice fragrance she wears, and it fucking kills me.
For one brief moment, I’m overtaken by a longing for something I don’t even understand.
Then I push it away and force myself to look up into the garden again, watching shadows. I’m here for one purpose. I need to remember it. The sooner I can get her away from this cursed party, the better.
And the sooner I can get the hell away from this cursed job, the quicker I’ll have my life back on track.
“I was kind of glad for the excuse to get out, to be honest. This isn’t really my kind of fun.” She wrinkles her nose as she looks at me, and I grin because it’s cute and sweet and just her.
Of course this isn’t.
“It’s better when you drink.” I advise her.
The nose wrinkle gets more pronounced, then it clears as she blinks at me suddenly. “How come you didn’t, then?”
I maintain the grin, but only just, as my stomach twists. I’m really not made to be an undercover agent, huh? I don’t think everything through far enough, I’m too obvious, and then too paranoid about discovery.
I go with a half-truth, because aren’t they meant to be the best kind?
“I felt I had a duty of care.” I make my voice sound officious, and hope she takes the self-mocking response without question.
She gives me a not-quite-sure look, but before she can say anything else, I change the subject. “So what’s your idea of fun, then?”
I figure she must like to do something other than studying and reading and lectures and micro-biology. I hope.
She settles back against me with a small smile, and I try not to make my relief too obvious.
“Ohh, I don’t know…I prefer calmer stuff, and smaller groups than this. Walking and finding beautiful places, or having really great conversations with a few people. Helping out at animal shelters and playing with cute puppies. And food. God, I love food. I’d much rather go out to dinner than a party, any day.” She grins at me, even as my incredulity grows with every comment.
I almost feel like we’re on some whacked out dating show.
She likes long, romantic walks along the beach, dinner dates and sweet baby animals, and generally being a good person. He likes parties, sex and drugs, martial arts and violence - oh, and makes a living killing people.
I force that thought out of my mind and struggle to concentrate on what she’s saying. I don’t even know why I’m thinking about dating.
Like, what the hell, brain? Of all the things that are never going to happen…
Then I catch another guy leering at Alana - too drunk to notice my hostile presence beside her - and I feel myself about to lose my cool again.
She’s still looking at me for a response, probably expecting some cocky remark, but instead I seize on the last thing she said. I don’t want her here any longer.
“Okay.” I give her a grin. “Let’s go to dinner then.”
She blinks at me, and that puckered line appears across her forehead as she frowns. “What?”
I get a strange little thrill from the impulsive decision. “You’d rather go to dinner than be at a party - I said okay then. We’ll do that. C’mon.”
I push away from the wall and she hesitates for a moment, then catches up to me quickly. “Just like that?”
“Yeah, just like that, hun.” That’s the kind of person I’ve always been.
“Okay, okay, wait.” She pulls at my arm, and I turn to face her, still smiling. “We can’t just—I need to tell Mel and Lily.”
“Sure. Let’s find them, then.” I reply, and we head inside together.
I feel a small flash of guilt at completely forgetting about them. I’ve never been to clubs in a group before - at least not a group I couldn’t just ditch.
I keep Alana close to me and my arm around her shoulders, quietly grateful she’s not objecting to that, even though no one comes near us. Navigating the maze of people is as irritating as it was before, but we find them quickly - dancing with a group of guys in the living room. I almost don’t recognize them from the two girls I met in the lunch hall, and I’m momentarily impressed by what a little bit of alcohol can do. It makes me remember why I actually like this scene.
Alana pulls them away from the group and yells close to their faces. “We’re going to get food!”
They both nod and I make to leave, before she continues. “Do you want to come?!”
What the hell?
What kind of girl invites her friends out on a date with her?
I mean, it’s not a date. It can’t be a date. But considering everything…I would’ve thought she might have taken it that way. And I can’t help feeling a little offended that she hasn’t.
Her friends are obviously thinking the exact same thing, because I catch the confused glaze on their faces and then Mel pushes her towards me. “No - we’ll stay here!”
Alana hesitates between us, obviously suddenly confronted with something she isn’t sure about. “But—”
“Just go! Have a good time, babe!” Lily adds, grinning and waving before turning back to the guys they left. Mel takes the hint and does the same, leaving Alana standing there looking at me.
I almost want to laugh, but instead I take her hand and pull her along with me.
When we get outside, I finally shoot her an amused look. “Didn’t want to be alone with me?”
She blushes a fierce shade of red, and I just laugh.
“No! It’s not that. I just…thought they might be hungry.” She finishes lamely.
“Ah, of course.” I don’t believe her for a second, and she knows it.
“So where are we going?” She quickly changes the subject, and considering how many times she’s let me get away with that, I let it go easily. At least she agreed to come out with me alone. I’d half-expected to be shot down immediately.
