Requiem (20 page)

“
Bex is
downstairs.”

“
Crap,” I said with a
grimace. My hands fell to my sides, and I blew my bangs from my
face in a huff.

Jared left me alone, and I ambled to the
bed. Once my head hit the pillow, I was surprised the yearning for
his warm body beside me, or thoughts of Ryan, or Jack, or the
upcoming day of tedious bombardment of syllabi and introductory
never crossed my mind. Heaviness came upon me, and I gladly
succumbed.

“
Nina!” Beth shouted from
the end of the hall. She rushed to catch up, and then threw her
arms around my neck. “Can you believe we’re back already?” She
looked around, scanning faces of passing students.

“
No,” I said, grinning at
her endearing over-enthusiasm for everything.

I didn’t bother bringing my laptop; every
class would be the same. Beth filled me in on the last few details
she’d taken care of at Titan, and we discussed the monstrosity that
was Sasha and the fact that she would be staying on.

“
How far does she think
she’ll go in that company, now that she’s made an enemy of you?”
she asked, rolling her eyes.

“
You make the mistake of
believing she thinks. She did take on the Christmas party. Makes me
wonder what she has up her sleeve.”

“
Hopefully breath spray,”
Beth said, covering her mouth. “I can’t believe I just said that.”
Beth giggled, and I shook my head.

My attention diverted to a group of boys
that walked through the door. Josh led the group. As Ryan’s best
friend, he wasn’t a fan of mine, and made it quite clear that he’d
rather not be around me. Chad admitted that Josh accused me of
being the reason Ryan left. Beth came to my defense, of course, but
that didn’t make him wrong.

Once Josh caught a glimpse of me, his eyes
became unfocused. He looked right through me before pretending to
be deeply engrossed in whatever his friends were saying.

Beth glared at him as he found his seat. “He
really needs to get over himself.”

“
He’s just being the same
kind of friend to Ryan that you are to me,” I mumbled, fiddling
with my pen.

“
Guess I can’t fault him
for that.”

I found myself fighting the urge to tell her
that Ryan was not only back, but just a few minutes away. Not being
able to see him when he was so close was bad enough; even though I
had thought a several different scenarios where I could happen
across that information, I couldn't tell Beth until Claire gave me
the green-light.

“
Good morning,” the
professor said, passing out the intro packet for the
class.

I sighed when Beth handed me a stack of
papers, and I took my own, passing on the rest. I didn't bother
thumbing through the pages like the other students, but settled
into my seat, making a valid effort to pay attention. The mundane
pieces of my life used to be what I was so desperate to hold on to.
In the last month, it was all I could do to make an active effort
to be a participant. College seemed trivial compared to the other
part of my life.

After classes, I smiled at the sight of
Jared’s Escalade waiting in its usual spot. He had warned me that
morning that I wouldn’t see him at lunch; he said to give me time
to catch up with the girls. Something about ‘holding on to a shred
of normal’…I was too busy being offended to hear.

He quickly opened my door for me, and I
wrapped my arms around his middle.

“
Well, hello,” he said,
amused at my eager affection.

“
Oh, like you didn’t miss
me, too,” I said, smiling up at him.

He raised one eyebrow. “Do you even have to
ask?” He watched me settle into my seat, and then sighed. “I
thought I should tell you. Claire called. Ryan should be released
soon.”

“
Can I see him, yet?” I
said, a bit more enthusiastic than was appropriate.

Jared tried to hide his disappointment at my
words. “He hasn’t told anyone he’s here. How would you explain your
visit?”

The tightness around his eyes gave him away.
He was still worried. Now that Ryan had been wounded, and was home
after such a long time away, I imagined his concern was at a new
level.

“
Ryan and I are different
people, now. Everything has changed,” I said, touching Jared’s
cheek with my fingertips.

“
As long as Ryan is in love
with you, I will always have reason to worry.”

I leaned in to to kiss him. “How can I
convince you?”

Jared pulled away from me, shifting
uncomfortably.

“
What is it?” I said,
frowning.

“
Don’t get mad…,” he
began.

I crossed my arms. “A disclaimer? This
should be good.”

He took a deep breath. “Until we find the
book, and figure out a way to keep you one-hundred percent safe, I
think the intimacy should be kept to a minimum.”

“
Oh, for the love of God,
not this again,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“
It happens all the time,
Nina. We can’t risk it,” he said, covering my hand with
his.

I smirked. “You can’t use your Abra Cadabra
to figure it out?” I leaned in to kiss his neck. “Haven’t you heard
of the rhythm method? We’ll put our own spin on it.”

“
I would consider myself an
intelligent person, but no, can’t say I’ve heard of it.”

“
You just figure out when
I’m ovulating, and we abstain for those few days.
Voilà
! Birth control. We
have the Hybrid edge.”

Jared’s nose wrinkled in disdain. “That
doesn’t seem like a solution to me.” He leaned away from my kisses,
and I crossed my arms in a pout.

“
It’s better than your
proposal,” I frowned. “Are you saying you can’t do it?”

“
What makes you think I
can?”

My eyes narrowed. “Eli said once we were
intimate, your senses would change. You’ve never once mentioned
how, or even if they have.”

“
That discussion is better
left alone,” he said, maneuvering out of my embrace. He faced
forward, clearly unwilling to elaborate.

“
Tell me I’m wrong,” I
said, lifting my chin in defiance.

Jared quickly commandeered the drivers seat,
shoved the gear shift into drive, and pulled into the street.
“Nina, I shouldn’t have to tell you this, but I will: I love you
more than anything on this earth; more than anything in the
universe. I love you more than life, more than my family, and I
love you more than I love being with you in that way. Your safety
is, and will always be my first priority. This isn’t the kind of
risk I took sitting beside you on that bench the night we met, or
telling you what I am. Making a mistake concerning an accidental
pregnancy will mean an all out war, because that is exactly what
will have to happen to keep you alive.”

The smile or wink I was hoping for never
came. He had always been careful to protect me from the truth
without telling a lie, but the seriousness of the situation
warranted a bluntness Jared usually avoided.

It took a long time for me to reply. My
initial reaction was to complain, but Eli's words echoed in my
mind. He had told me it was time to break away from being the
victim. He was very clear that my time to feel sorry for myself was
over.

That gave me an idea.

I attempted a small smile. “I understand you
know better than me what will happen. You know exactly what
consequences to expect when a choice is made—especially if it’s the
wrong one. I’m human, Jared. But that doesn’t make me frail. You
have to give me more credit than that. It’s time you teach me some
of what you know.”

“
Like what?” Jared said,
dubious.

“
How to shoot a gun, for
instance…and basic self-defense wouldn’t hurt.”

Jared pinched the bridge of his nose. “A gun
isn’t going to help you in this particular situation, Sweetheart,
much less a solid knee to the groin.”

“
You don’t think I can do
it.”

“
Why would you need to when
you have me?”

“
What if you’re
busy?”

He raised an eyebrow. “You mean too busy to
do my job? The one that includes protecting the love of my life
from certain death?”

He was trying to scare me, but I stood my
ground, determined to prove my case. “Do I have to remind you of
the night at the restaurant? Claire stayed behind while you took
care of business?”

“
That’s different. I
would’ve never left you if Claire hadn’t been there.”

“
If I had known how to
shoot a gun I could have helped. That’s all I’m saying.”

“
Teaching you just enough
to make you dangerous is not helping. It gives you the impression
that you’re capable of more than you actually are.”

My mouth fell open. “Now that’s just
insulting. Do you really see me as helpless?”

Jared laughed once, amused. “No. Definitely
not, but we’re not dealing with Graham, anymore, Nina. Others are
an enemy you don’t want to piss off by shooting at.”

“
Fine,” I said, a fake
smile tightening my face. “I’ll have Bex or Claire teach me. She’s
offered before.”

Jared clenched his teeth. “Neither of them
will do it without my explicit permission, and if they do, you’re
going to start something you can’t take back.”

“
That’s not
fair
!” I said, fully
recognizing the whine in my tone. I waited until my voice could
sound calmer, and then spoke again, “I happen to know there’s a gun
club in Cranston.”

“
You’re not going to let
this go, are you?” Jared said, slowing as he pulled into the
drive.

“
Probably not, no,” I said.
Jared huffed in frustration. “It’s just that I…it’s suffocating
being in your shadow. According to you, my life is constantly in
danger, and I have to wait for you to save me. It would be nice to
know if for whatever reason I’m alone, I can do something to
protect myself.”

Jared’s eyes met mine, and then he nodded
once. “Okay. We’ll start Saturday.”

Chapter Eleven

Favor

Jared lessons were not easy. Where I caught
a break from him, Bex pushed me further. When I wasn’t at school or
Titan, the three of us were in the field by the Oak Tree, aiming,
punching, blocking, ducking, attacking and subduing. It was
mentioned more than once that I was a fast learner, and Bex said
that I was a natural with any gun they put in my hand.

Jared didn’t agree. He thought I was clumsy,
slow, and impatient.

Sleep came more easily than ever. Every
night, I fell into bed, my muscles screaming for rest. Dreams of
Jack were replaced with calculated moves and steps I would take to
get the upper hand in hand-to-hand combat. Jared would tend to my
sore spots. Regardless of his efforts, the area would inevitably be
a series of purple splotches in the morning.

The weeks passed, and once the trees shed
their leaves, Winter wasted no time covering the debris of Fall
with a blanket of white. Ignoring Cynthia’s protests, the boys
moved the furniture in the Great Room to transform it to a sparring
ring.

The target practice, weight training, and
sparring was nearly a daily ritual. Jared and Bex were always
present. Once Claire caught wind of our new hobby, she came when
she could. I always looked forward to the days she would join
us.

Claire was more than capable to do
everything her brothers could, but I related to her with the
knowledge that she had to work that much harder to prove herself. I
would never be as fast or as strong as the Hybrids, but I earned
their respect with my stubborn refusal to quit or rest. Claire
understood my resolve, and when she looked at me, she assumed
strength when the boys assumed weakness.

The mirror was proof of not only my mistakes
from the bruises, but my hard work. My arms weren’t nearly as tight
as Claire’s, but they were taking on a toned look that I was proud
of.

The day before Thanksgiving, Jared finally
offered his first word of encouragement.

“
Better,” he said with an
emotionless nod.

That single word gave me the determination
to continue. I was only human, but if I could keep up with Jared,
Claire, and Bex, I could hold my own with Donovan, or Shax’s other
human minions. At least I could try.

Thanksgiving Day arrived. Cynthia attended
the Macy’s Day parade in New York with some of her charity chums,
and I helped Claire and Lillian in the kitchen while the boys set
the table and kept the dishes washed.

Every one of my favorite spices and herbs
permeated the air. Laughter was the background music to the busy
atmosphere. Lillian noticed a difference in me right away, and
wanted to discuss my training. She took a keen interest in it,
wishing she had thought of it as well.

Bex set the turkey on the table, and sat
beside his mother. Claire grabbed one of my hands, Jared took the
other.

“
Our Lord in Heaven,”
Lillian began. “Thank you for our many blessings. The wonderful
food on the table, the health and safety of our family, and that we
are all sitting together on this day of thanks.”

“
Amen,” Jared said,
nodding.

“
Aye Men!” Bex said,
digging into the various dishes on the table.

Part-way through dinner, I noticed Claire
was quiet, thoughtfully chewing and smiling at the appropriate
times in conversation. Jared of course noticed when I did, and he
watched his sister.