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Luis brings a palm to my cheek, running the pad of his thumb over my cheekbone. He doesn’t say a word, but I can read everything he’s trying to say in his deep green eyes.
Wow.
Ever the pragmatist, Bennet doesn’t have any fluffy declarations to make. But even his stiff response manages to add to the butterflies in my stomach. “It’s important to me that you are safe, and that I am the one to keep you safe… That we are the ones to keep you safe.”
I’m afraid to look at Lukas. I try to peek at him through my lashes without being too obvious. He’s staring at Micah, some unrecognizable emotion deepening the blue of his eyes. It’s like he’s been dumbstruck, but I also see love. I definitely see love.
“I’m okay with the plan as long as everyone promises to honor their boundaries. I don’t want anyone risking anything because they feel obligated, or because it’s the ‘right thing to do’…”
The silence is too heavy, and I want to change the subject. I ask the first thing that comes to mind.
“Is there a reason why everyone acted so weird about my false name? Where did it come from?”
Jackson snickers. What’s so funny?
“I, um…” Bennet clears his throat. Is he nervous? “When I was altering your records, I had to give you a name. We never got around to discussing it, and creativity on the fly isn’t my strongest asset. So, I gave you a name and date of birth that was connected to each of us in some way. Mia was the English version of my mother’s first name. Anderson is Lukas’ last name.” He pauses before mumbling, “The date of birth also belongs to Luis’ mother, with an estimated year of birth.”
Luis’ eyebrows hit his hairline.
“Oh. Well… that’s kind of sweet though.” I don’t understand why the atmosphere in the room has gotten so awkward.
“Ask him how he got all that information.” Jackson is practically dancing in his seat, a shit-stirring grin on his face. He seems to be enjoying Bennet's discomfort.
I lift my eyes to Bennet again, who lets out a frustrated breath. “I ran background checks on everyone in this room, except for you of course.”
“Oh.” I don’t know what to say.
Bennet opens his mouth to explain himself, but Luis is having none of it. He silently gets up, grabs my tray table, and leaves the room.
He’s just left my side for the first time, and I don’t know how to feel about it.
Is he going to come back?
“Let me talk to him.” Bennet follows him out the door.
Luis
I didn’t want to leave her like that, but I needed air. I’m afraid of what I might say, or do. I’m fucking pissed.
Dropping the tray table at the nurse’s station, I attempt to walk it off. Grasping my hands behind my head to stretch out my neck, I take long strides towards an open sitting area with huge floor-to-ceiling windows. I rub my eyes roughly.
I’m having a hard time not wanting to hit something.
Maybe I shouldn’t be as pissed as I am, considering how I’ve been following Bennet for the past few days. He’s half the reason I invited myself on this little adventure.
I don’t like that he has all this information on me and all I know about him is he’s a rich pretty boy with a monster for a father. Following him wasn’t even useful, he never came near his father. From what I could tell they barely have a relationship at all, which is only a point in his favor.
But now this asshole knows everything about me? My files from foster care, my hospital records, my criminal record? Is he going to try and use my record against me?
I’m aware that my feelings against Bennet Adley are biased and unfair. Hell, from what I know about his father, possibly our father, I don’t think I’d have wanted him to claim me. But while Bennet Fucking Adley lived his cushy life on top of the world looking down at all the ants, my life was one struggle after another. I grew up hungry and cold and scared every fucking day of my childhood. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to have some silver-spooned motherfucker judge me for anything I had to do to get by.
“Luis,” Bennet calls down the hallway as he walks confidently down the hall. I want to keep moving, not interested in anything he has to say, but I don’t want to look like I’m running from him either. I’m not weak.
“So what, you gonna uninvite me from your little vacation? You can’t keep me from her.” I lash out, not willing to have the conversation I know is coming. It’s the same no matter where I go or how I try to better myself.
“It’s not like that, Luis.”
“What is it like then, Adley? Do you think you’re so much better than me because you haven’t had to struggle? I never hurt anyone, and I didn’t do anything bad enough to deserve time. So why is it that I deserve the judgment of people like you?”
