Read Online Accessory: The Scarab Beetle Series: #4 (The Academy) by C. L. Stone - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: C. L. Stone
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fully to me. His eyes focused on me, capturing my full attention. “From a payphone,” he said. “The one on the main floor of your apartment building.”
My heart did a skip. I frowned. Doyle must have traced it for him.
“Huge mistake on their part,” he said, his voice becoming soft. “I don’t know anyone who can keep Kayli from doing what she wants. Not a force in the world could stop you if you wanted something.”
I shook my head without really meaning to say no, just amazed at his crazy words. I stood up, adjusting the jacket on my shoulders, a little warm now that I’d been inside for a while. “I need to talk to them,” I said.
He stood, moving close to me. He cupped my chin in his fingers and directed my attention to him. “I’m going to go hide out for a bit,” he said. He smoothed his thumb across my jawline. “Come find me. And whatever happens, don’t let them convince you to leave if you don’t want to.”
I looked at him, but didn’t say anything. I couldn’t make any promises, because I didn’t want to admit the boys kept me from doing anything. I really hoped that wasn’t the case.
He winked at me and then stepped away, heading down the hall. He stopped and turned, looking at me. “Kayli,” he said, and he paused.
I stood there, not moving, feeling awkward again as I admired his looks and knowing how much of a slob I appeared to be at that moment. Did I look like an emotional wreck, too?
He shifted his weight on his feet and lowered his gaze, looking at the floor. “I thought I’d pissed you off somehow when they said you didn’t want to talk to me.” He slowly picked his head up, and instead of the fox, there was something stronger, more determined. “I swear, girl, if you want to talk to me, don’t ever hesitate. Don’t ever kowtow to anyone. You drive me crazy, but you shouldn’t be afraid to talk to me. You don’t need to send Avery after me to fetch me. You don’t need to call me from a pay phone. I made some mistakes before, and I can only apologize for that now. But I’m here when you need me.”
“I’m sorry I blew up your house,” I said, surprised at my quick admission even though I’d felt it for a while. It struck me how strongly he felt about this, and I had to speak, or I was going to feel too much and I couldn’t be that shaken up right now. “And your boat. And--”
There were noises in the foyer down below. His attention turned to it. My heartbeat quickened, afraid the boys would spot Blake before I had a chance to talk to them, and they’d want to leave before hearing me out.
He looked back in at me, nodding, and then turned away, disappearing further down the hall. I watched him as long as I could. Some sort of peace had fallen between us. If we were going to help Charleston, we had to do it together. Somehow, it seemed right, even if we usually did a lot of damage when we were together, mostly to him.
Again I heard voices. Marc’s drifted up to me; he was asking questions. I grabbed the drink Blake had poured for me, downing the entire thing in a couple of gulps. It was some sort of sweet strawberry wine. It wasn’t the type of drink I would have chosen, but I wanted the alcohol.
I could use a little liquid courage.
CONVINCING ISN’T EASY
I breathed in the warmed air from the fake fireplace—I believed it was electric with low orange glowing embers and a very low heat. The warmth mixed with the scent of leather and luxury heavy around me. Blake Coaltar. Ethan Murdock. Avery, Fancy, Doyle... It was an interesting team, very capable. They wanted me. Kayli Winchester. A girl who a few months ago was stealing wallets for survival and without much of a future.
I couldn’t blame them for wanting more people on their side; they were just five people against some of the most powerful men around Charleston. Old Mr. Murdock and his CEO cronies had to be major influences around the city. We’d need our own army to help.
I
My heart did a skip. I frowned. Doyle must have traced it for him.
“Huge mistake on their part,” he said, his voice becoming soft. “I don’t know anyone who can keep Kayli from doing what she wants. Not a force in the world could stop you if you wanted something.”
I shook my head without really meaning to say no, just amazed at his crazy words. I stood up, adjusting the jacket on my shoulders, a little warm now that I’d been inside for a while. “I need to talk to them,” I said.
He stood, moving close to me. He cupped my chin in his fingers and directed my attention to him. “I’m going to go hide out for a bit,” he said. He smoothed his thumb across my jawline. “Come find me. And whatever happens, don’t let them convince you to leave if you don’t want to.”
I looked at him, but didn’t say anything. I couldn’t make any promises, because I didn’t want to admit the boys kept me from doing anything. I really hoped that wasn’t the case.
He winked at me and then stepped away, heading down the hall. He stopped and turned, looking at me. “Kayli,” he said, and he paused.
I stood there, not moving, feeling awkward again as I admired his looks and knowing how much of a slob I appeared to be at that moment. Did I look like an emotional wreck, too?
He shifted his weight on his feet and lowered his gaze, looking at the floor. “I thought I’d pissed you off somehow when they said you didn’t want to talk to me.” He slowly picked his head up, and instead of the fox, there was something stronger, more determined. “I swear, girl, if you want to talk to me, don’t ever hesitate. Don’t ever kowtow to anyone. You drive me crazy, but you shouldn’t be afraid to talk to me. You don’t need to send Avery after me to fetch me. You don’t need to call me from a pay phone. I made some mistakes before, and I can only apologize for that now. But I’m here when you need me.”
“I’m sorry I blew up your house,” I said, surprised at my quick admission even though I’d felt it for a while. It struck me how strongly he felt about this, and I had to speak, or I was going to feel too much and I couldn’t be that shaken up right now. “And your boat. And--”
There were noises in the foyer down below. His attention turned to it. My heartbeat quickened, afraid the boys would spot Blake before I had a chance to talk to them, and they’d want to leave before hearing me out.
He looked back in at me, nodding, and then turned away, disappearing further down the hall. I watched him as long as I could. Some sort of peace had fallen between us. If we were going to help Charleston, we had to do it together. Somehow, it seemed right, even if we usually did a lot of damage when we were together, mostly to him.
Again I heard voices. Marc’s drifted up to me; he was asking questions. I grabbed the drink Blake had poured for me, downing the entire thing in a couple of gulps. It was some sort of sweet strawberry wine. It wasn’t the type of drink I would have chosen, but I wanted the alcohol.
I could use a little liquid courage.
CONVINCING ISN’T EASY
I breathed in the warmed air from the fake fireplace—I believed it was electric with low orange glowing embers and a very low heat. The warmth mixed with the scent of leather and luxury heavy around me. Blake Coaltar. Ethan Murdock. Avery, Fancy, Doyle... It was an interesting team, very capable. They wanted me. Kayli Winchester. A girl who a few months ago was stealing wallets for survival and without much of a future.
I couldn’t blame them for wanting more people on their side; they were just five people against some of the most powerful men around Charleston. Old Mr. Murdock and his CEO cronies had to be major influences around the city. We’d need our own army to help.
I
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