Page 97 of The Academy
Kill me now, slowly, by Darlia’s hand.
“You know contraband is not allowed in the lower sectors.”
“I didn’t ask for your approval, and my threat still stands.”
“I’ll have to call this in. This is above me, mate,” big boss guard says, and before I can even process his words, Darlia raises her gun and shoots all five of them dead without a care in the world.
“Let’s take their guns and go.”
Chapter 38:
Darlia
My chest heaves with exhaustion as I stand over the five bodies, disarming them and taking their ammo, as much as we can carry. I take a utility belt, placing it on my hips and clicking it into place before taking a pair of their leather gloves for Bella and me before turning to Cayden, who’s watching me with his brows knitted.
He’s judging me.
“We need to go.” His voice is tight. He’s not trying to give anything away as he grabs a gun from the guard’s body before walking out without another word.
I think he’s mad at me? I’m not sure how this works, but I know he’s not happy with me, at least. And for what? Saving us from the guards? Any longer and they would’ve all had their guns pointed at us, and we would’ve lost the element of surprise.
“Cayden, can we talk?”
“Yes, Darlia. Let’s stop for a minute while there are at least a hundred guards looking for you to talk.”
Okay, definitely mad.
“Cayden, I did what I had to. Those guards were going to kill us. I know you said no more killing, but if it’s them or you, I will always choose to protect you.” That stops him. Cayden looks down at me, his face softening before pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.
“I’m not mad, baby. I know you did what’s best for us. Doesn’t mean I like it, but I get it.”
Darlia: 2
Cayden: 0
“Now come on, before someone actually spots us and we have issues.” Cayden takes my hand, running through the last two blocks of housing before we meet up at the car where the others are already waiting.
Bella runs to my side, ignoring the bullet wound on her leg which is now wrapped in cloth, and immediately wraps her arms around me. “I thought you were dead, you idiot! But you’re okay…Right? You’re not hurt? Let me see you, I need to check.”
I don’t argue and let her spin me around checking for a wound. I hear her sigh of relief when she finds none, only other peoples’ blood.
“What happened?” Bella’s face fills with worry as she looks down at me.
“Guard patrol. Cayden tried to sweet talk, and it almost worked, but they saw my knife. We had to kill them, but I grabbed you gloves.” I reach into my pocket, pulling out the leather gloves, and Bella smiles.
“Yay! Thank you! Marcus look, I have gloves and you don’t.” And she’s off again, laughing at the leather in her hands and the worry forgotten.
“Get in the car, Darlia.” Cayden opens the door, not looking at me, and my stomach drops. What did I do now? He said he wasn’t mad, why is he being so cold?
Is this why they wouldn’t tell us where we are going? Either way, I don’t like it.
“Now, please. Before we all die.”
“Yeah, sorry.” I hate the way his coldness is tugging at my heart, it’s an unfamiliar feeling. I’ve never cared about what someone thinks about me. Not even Bella or Lauren. But Cayden? His cold tone and dismissive body language has me wanting to beg for forgiveness, and I don’t even know what I did.
Stepping into the back of the car, Cayden climbs in next to me while Bella and Marcus sit in the front. Weston, Luke, and Caleb get in the car behind us, their loud music blaring behind us without a care in the world.
I want to be in their car. It seems so much more fun, and Cayden can’t be mad at me there.
