Page 31 of Ravage
I sheath my knife. “I’m better off doing this particular job alone.” I join him in the living area and choose one of the chairs to sit in to the right of the coffee table between us.
He nods like that was the answer he expected. “I’m heading out of the country for a few weeks. The person who was following me wasn’t from Gifted Enterprise, but from a contact I have in Europe trying to reach me discreetly. There’s someone he needs help with and asked if I could come out to get it all sorted.”
I nod along with a straight face. I respect him even more for how he literally flies all over the world to help others out, and then I feel guilty that he’s been helping me when he could save others. I’ve been fine on my own so far. I’ve escaped all of my nasty situations alive one hundred percent of the time, so I’d say that’s a good record.
“I don’t want to leave you while you’re in the middle of—well, everything with Gifted Enterprise. If you need me to stay, I will. I have friends who can go out there for me to help until I can get there.”
I blanch and shake my head in earnest. “What? No! Go. I’m fine here. Really.”
Elias smiles. “I knew you would say that, especially since you’ve been avoiding me. Still, my offer stands if you change your mind. I don’t abandon those I’m helping. Our arrangement will remain for as long as you need it. I do have friends in the city if you ever need help. I’ll be out of touch, so you’ll need to go directly to them if something happens. I can leave you with an address of where to go. Someone is always there, just tell them I sent you and they’ll get you what you need.”
The offer is tempting, but I won’t take it. GE may not be following him like we thought, but it was a harsh reminder that I shouldn’t have involved anyone else in my personal vendetta. Elias is too good of a person to get mixed up with me.
The people closest usually wind up dead.
I smile at him anyway, and his brows draw in as he pins me with a look.
“Don’t give me that fake smile. Promise me you will use the help if you need it.”
He reads people way too well. I sigh and roll my eyes. “Fine. I will.” If I’m dying and I have no other choice.
Elias holds my stare for another minute and then pinches the bridge of his nose. “I’ve never had someone so difficult to help before. In any case”—he drops his hand—“I’m also here to ask a favor of you.”
I cock my head to the side, and my hair sways with it behind me. “A favor?” What could he need that he can’t get himself?
“There’s…someone…I’d appreciate you keeping a lookout for while you’re around.”
That piques my attention. “Who?”
He rubs the back of his neck, and it’s the first time I’ve ever seen him look uncomfortable. Or not in complete control of himself. “She works at Hype downstairs. I’m hoping you can just check in every now and then to make sure she’s there and okay. She works every night shift, so it doesn’t matter when.”
I raise my eyebrows, and a smirk tugs at the corner of my lips. “A girlfriend? Or crush?”
Elias clears his throat. “Neither. Just…a friend. I’m looking out for her, and she tends to draw unwanted attention frequently. The security in the club already watches over her there, but she won’t let them escort her home.”
Definitely a crush. My smirk stretches to a full Cheshire grin. “I see. Sure, I can check in on your girl. What does she look like?”
Are his cheeks pink? Ugh, this is too adorable, and my black heart can’t take it.
“Brown hair. Short, around five foot two. Green eyes. You can’t miss her. She always has a smile on her face and lights up whatever room she’s in. Even at the nightclub.”
“Wait. Glitter girl?” I break into a fit of laughter and slap my knee. “The girl who dresses like a rainbow and smiles at everyone like they’re the nicest person?”
His mouth is turned down in a frown, and if I didn’t know better, I might think he’s glaring at me. “Her name is Portia.”
“Right. Portia. Okay, yeah. She’ll be easy to spot and check in on.”
“Thank you. I wouldn’t have asked otherwise, but she knows my friends, and she would notice if they kept showing up at the club while I’m not there.”
I nod, the grin still splitting my face. “Understood. It’s a secret crush.” He’s about to say something, but I cut him off with a more serious tone. “If I can’t contact you, what do I do if I need to report something about her?”
Elias looks torn between defending against my claim and answering me, but finally, he pulls an envelope out of his inner jacket pocket. “Go to this address, and the person there will be able to find me and get in touch.”
I take the plain envelope from his hand and check inside for the slip of paper. There’s an address, apartment number, and the word “Kit” written on it.
“Got it. Anything else?”
“One more time. Are you sure you don’t need me around here for a bit longer? It looks like you’re about to go out to fight GE. Are you questioning that paramedic now? I can stick around in case something happens.”
