Page 281 of Knox Academy Omnibus
His head turns briefly to look at me and he smiles before turning back to look at the road. “A gentleman never kisses and tells.”
“Fine, but if you hurt my friend I may have to kick your ass.”
That makes him laugh. “I’d like to see you try.”
“Since you’re still on my security detail, I’m sure we can make it happen.”
We continue our mindless banter until he pulls into a rundown driveway. I double check the address on the packet Sawyer gave me this morning, and it’s correct.
“I have to walk you up, so please don’t cause a scene.”
“Me, cause a scene? I would never do such a thing.” I bat my eyelashes at him and Jasper gives me a pointed glare. I chuckle.
We both exit the car, Jasper with a bag of pastries we picked up when he stopped to get me a second coffee. God knows why he’s bringing them with us.
We walk up the dilapidated wooden stairs, where the paint is non-existent and termites have had a nice meal on them. I carefully make my way to the front door and knock.
The door is pulled open, and the girl from the dossier stands before us in threadbare pajamas. She must be cold, but the sleepy look on her face quickly disappears when she takes us in. She looks to her left and she panics.
“Hi, I’m Amelie and we need to talk.”
“I have nothing to say.”
She guards the doorway with her body. She isn’t small, she’s my height with boots on and has a solid build.
“I think you’ll want to hear me out. I’ve come here today out of respect and hope we can start this on good terms.”
“You can’t take him.” Her tone softens slightly but her stance doesn’t change.
“I’m not here to take him, I’m here to make sure you keep him. Can I come inside so we can talk? I’m still not climatized to this place and I’m freezing my ass off.”
She looks torn, she doesn’t trust easily. “You can, but he stays outside.”
“No,” Jasper states. “I’m her security and I follow her everywhere. Bosses’ orders.”
I sigh and turn slightly to face him. “I’m going in and you can wait in the car. You seem to be forgetting thatIam the boss now.”
Jasper mutters under his breath but hesitantly hands over the bag of food. He heads back down the stairs tentatively like they might give way under his weight – which I think is a little dramatic – and gets into the car, no doubt calling the others to rat me out.
She steps aside and lets me pass her by. I take in the barely-there furniture and the smell of cleaning products, which is so strong it makes my nose tickle and my eyes water.
I find the kitchen easily and she moves around me and flicks on the light, holding out her hand towards the two mismatched chairs and a small table.
“So, who are you?”
“I can’t tell you exactly who I am, but I can tell you what I can do for you.”
“Bullshit. People don’t do anything for nothing. I want a name at the very least.”
“I could lie and give you a false name, but I won’t. It’s Amelie, and you’re smart. But I never said that it would be free.”
“Well, you’re here now, so you may as well spit it out.”
A girl that’s straight to the point, I like her.
“I have an offer that could benefit both of us. I work for a…company that wants to offer you a job.”
She snorts. “I’m not going to be a prostitute.”
