Page 102 of Disobedient Pawn

“Shhh, it’s okay, Snowflake. I promise not to let anything hurt ya,” I said, hating that I would be the one to tell her what happened and why.

I shouldn’t have done it. I should’ve put my foot down as soon as I knew what Nash wanted to do, but he was my King, my boss, and my friend. I was raised to follow orders, not give them. Kicking all that in the face was something I’d never done before. To do so would typically mean a bullet between my eyes, but I’d never let him push me into the likes of that again where she was concerned. He wanted to torture anyone else, I didn’t care, but Snowflake was a different story.

“Myles?”

Ren’s voice was soft and shaking, like she was cold or maybe terrified. I really hoped it was the first.

“Yeah, it’s me, love.”

Sitting up, I grabbed the small blanket she had folded on the bed and felt her eyes on me as I laid it on her. She snuggled into the fuzzy material, and I’d never been jealous of a blanket before, but I was now. Laying down, I wrapped my arm around her and cuddled as close as possible.

“What’s happening? Am I dreaming?”

I smiled. At least she didn’t say nightmare.

“No, I’m actually here.”

“And where is here? The last thing I remember was….” Ren sucked in a sharp breath and pulled on my arm like she would get up and take off.

“Please don’t. Just lay with me. I swear to ya, I’m not going to do anything to hurt ya or that ya don’t want.”

It took a moment, but she finally relaxed into me, and I released the breath I was holding.

“Why should I trust you?”

It was a fair question and yet it hurt that she felt she needed to ask it. “I haven’t done anything to warrant yer trust, not yet, but I’m hoping ya will let me start right now.” When she didn’t move or yell to get out, I continued. “Yer in your dorm room. I’m totally breaking the rules to be in here with ya but I wasn’t leavin’ ya alone,” I said.

“My fingers hurt. I feel bruised.”

My jaw clenched, the muscle twitching at the memory of her clawing at the bookshelf as she slammed back and forth. Burying my head in her hair, I let her sweet scent fill me as I tried to relax. I wanted to stay like this and breathe it in forever.

“What happened? I…I swear I was in the study hall, and then…there were these guys…and,” her voice cracked before a muffled sob escaped her lips, and I didn’t think I could hate myself any more than at that moment.

“Before I tell ya that, I need to start at the beginning. I have ta tell ya things that no one other than a few of us knows. I need to tell ya things that are dangerous and can never be repeated. I want to show you how much I trust ya, Snowflake, but are ya willing to take the risk of knowing? Or would ya like me to leave?”

Ren was quiet for a long time, and I just let her think. She’d proven she was highly intelligent, and whatever she chose, as hard as it may be, I’d respect it. It was the least I could do at this point.

“Okay, tell me, but you better make sure Vicky can’t hear.”

Unable to help myself, I kissed the top of her head and smiled.

“She’s not here.”

“Oh,” she whispered.

“Don’t worry, I promised I wouldn’t do anything ya don’t want, and I keep my promises.”

Ren nodded, her body relaxing, and I molded mine to hers like she was a piece I'd been missing.

I figured I could tell her most of what had happened to get to this point without getting myself into too much shit.

“Alright, I’m not sure why because I really shouldn’t, but I trust you,” Ren said, and I held her tighter, unable to get close enough.

No sweeter words had ever been spoken to me.

“Aye, I’ve been an arse, but I wanna start over and lay all my cards on the table with ya.” She nodded slowly, and if my arms weren’t already a vise around her body, I would’ve held tighter. “As ya know, I wasn’t born here. I was born in Ireland and came over almost two years ago so my father could be closer to the boss or, as we call him, the King.”

“King? Why does everyone like throwing around that word so much? Are we talking like royalty?”