Page 61 of Havenfall Harbor
After a long drag of water, she spins, her eyes scanning the counter before landing on me. “Sorry, I should have just used the faucet.” She’s worried about invading my privacy.
“Why? As long as it doesn’t bother you seeing it. Anything you like is yours.” I’m offering way more than what’s in my kitchen.
“It doesn’t bother me.” Her soft words fall over me louder than a shout could. I force myself to leave her in the kitchen before I have her shoved up against the counter—again.
“Everything okay in there?” Evan tips a dark bottle to his lips.
“She’s making you popcorn,” I reply almost in a daze. Why do I find her so fascinating? I can’t count how many women have tried to pull me in with their charms or brutality, but not Quinn. She’s completely unassuming, and it’s beguiling. “She got the water from the fridge.”
Evan sucks in a hissing breath between his teeth. “Did she freak about the blood?”
“I think she almost did, but then she just reached past it and grabbed a bottle.” I look over at my friend. “Do you find it strange she’s so accepting?”
“Human acceptance has been building for a long time, you wouldn’t know that though.” Evan gives me the side-eye.
Before I can say anything else, there’s a knock at the door. Quinn calls, “I’ll get it.”
I’m up and next to her before she can make it to the door. She’s so distracting, I didn’t even realize someone was coming. There are several reasons I don’t want her answering the door, not wanting everyone knowing she’s here with me is the biggest. Thankfully, I just tell her, “I got it,” and don’t say something stupid like tell her I don’t want anyone knowing she’s here. Because it wouldn’t be for the reason she would assume. I don’t want to do anything that would jeopardize her safety.
“Yeah, sorry. I wasn’t thinking.” Quinn scrunches up her face into a half smile. Three more steps and I’m at the door, but I already know who it is. Letty, again.
That bullshit with her showing up here last night was ridiculous, and the excuse she gave for being here was even more absurd. She caught me off guard last night. Quinn’s scent overrode hers, so I thought it was Quinn knocking on my door.
“Yeah?” I make it clear from my tone I don’t appreciate the interruption.
Letty gives me a quick once over, then her gaze is drawn to the space around me, trying in vain to see into my room. “You busy?” Her eyes come back to me. She more than likely heard Quinn when she announced she would get the door.
I don’t bother answering her. Other than discussing Havenfall matters, we’ve barely spoken. I’ve knownofher for years. Hell, I think she was a student here once upon a time, most of the employees were. She’s worked her way up the security ranks rather quickly, but I leave those matters to Evan and trust his judgment implicitly. Why she decided now was a good time to show her interest is a mystery to me.
“Evan here?” She tries to look around me again. Ah, maybe her interests lie elsewhere. I look over my shoulder, knowing Evan would have heard his name. Sure enough, I see his hulking form making its way over from the living room. The scowl on his face leads me to believe he doesn’t appreciate the interruption any more than I did.
“What’s the issue?” Evan manages to move in next to me without allowing Letty to see into my space. I take a moment to check her appearance. She’s still in her uniform, which is more than I can say about her last night. Maybe she realized the effort was wasted.
“Someone mentioned there was an issue with the human’s room. I was doing a floor check and noticed her doorknob is broken.”
Evan crosses his arms over his chest and leans against the door. “Who told you there was an issue?” He keeps his voice casual, but I can hear his interest.
“I don’t know, just talk.” Letty shrugs easily. If I wasn’t as old as dirt, I might believe her, but I’ve been misled by more experienced deceivers. She’s hiding something.
“Knob’s broken, huh?” Evan pushes off the doorjamb and takes a step forward to exit my room.
“I just noticed it was open a little. I knocked, but no one answered,” Letty informs him.
I follow Evan out, but just watch from the alcove of my door. Evan examines the knob as if he didn’t already know it was broken. “Wonder how that happened. You hear anything else?” He rises to his full height and peers down at Letty.
“Nah, thought it might have just been someone talking shit, or something that got blown out of proportion until I noticed the door,” Letty answers smoothly.
“Well, good catch, Letty.” She preens under Evan’s praise. “Come to me if you hear anything else.” He leans in a little closer. “We think it’s just kids trying to freak her out. Get her to leave.” He twists his lips in a wry grin. “Humans.” The way he says it makes it sound like Quinn is the problem. That even if the crap she’s dealing with did scare her, it would be because she’s human and can’t handle supernaturals. Letty runs the tips of her fingers over the side of her pants, fidgeting.
Evan’s eyes don’t miss the movement either. “That’s is probably why she asked to meet with Stone and me just now.” Evan dips his chin in the direction of my room. Letty’s eyes are drawn back to where I’m still standing. “Shaw knocked on the door a few minutes before you,” Evan adds, using Quinn’s last name to keep the appearance of unfamiliarity.
“Let me know if you need anything. I’m still pretty friendly with some of the older students. They might talk to me,” Letty offers.
Evan shrugs and lets out a sigh. “Kids have been trying to sneak over here long before Shaw showed up. I better go talk to her.” Evan manages to make it sound like he cares on a professional level, but not too much. “I almost forgot, can you get someone on shift to change the knob. I have a feeling my night will go much smoother if that’s already managed while we handle this.”
“Sure, I’ll take care of it myself.” Letty hooks her thumbs in her front pockets. “You don’t think she did this herself though, right?”
“It’s a doorknob, most of us don’t even bother with locking our doors.” Evan plays it up like he can’t image why anyone would bother Quinn, or her door.
