Adam glanced out the front window of the studio. If he shifted to the right and pressed his cheek to the glass, he could see Rachel and Mike as they walked toward the Metro station.
“Hey, Black?” Zach yelled from around the corner.
Adam grunted his acknowledgment as Rachel disappeared around the corner.
“Your girlfriend left her shopping bag here.”
Adam straightened. Did she, now? “She’s not my girlfriend, novice.” Adam pivoted and strode toward Zach’s voice. Turning the corner, he spied said bag, resting against the hallway wall.
“What do you want me to do with it?” Zach asked.
“Leave it.”
“You could take it to her,” Zach offered with a smirk. “I’m sure she’d be real appreciative.”
“Enough,” Adam barked. His imagination already running wild about how thankful she could be before Zach had given him that mental image. “Gym. Now.”
Zach huffed. “What’s up your ass today?”
“You not focusing on your duties.”
“Bullshit, Black. I come to work. I go to school. I do the training. What more do you want from me?” Adam made a harrumphing noise. Zach’s irritated tone, turned wheedling, almost sing-song, “Y’know she watches you whenever you aren’t looking, right?”
“No.” She does? “And irrelevant.” Despite his words, Adam’s heart did a little tap-dance in his chest at the news.
Zach sighed. “Whatever man. You and I both know you’re full of shit. You’re ‘fraid to tap that ‘cause Darius’s all up in your bizness.”
“Zach,” Adam growled, tensing at the casual mention of his Stratigos in the same sentence as his unhealthy attraction to Rachel. The relationship was strictly verboten, and he was in enough trouble already.
Raising his hands in a placating manner, Zach backed down the hall toward the gym. “Do what you need to do to get ready and then come kick my ass so I can go home. I have a metric shit-ton of homework to do.”
Adam’s stance softened. It wasn’t Zach’s fault Adam was in such a foul mood. A mood which would be helped if Rachel didn’t smell so delectable or sound so sweet. Not to mention, the kid had a stiff workload, what with his Order duties and school. “Need a ride back to the dorms later?”
“Sure,” Zach said with a shrug. “If you’re offering.”
Adam gave him a curt nod. “I am.” He’d drop Zach off and then return Rachel’s purchase to her. “Gym in five.”
“Yeah, okay,” Zach grumbled, but complied, shedding his shirt as he entered the gym.
Before he followed, Adam grabbed Rachel’s bag and peeked in. The image on the box showed a silhouette of boots with a modest heel and little bows. He wondered what Rachel looked like with them on and nothing else.
He smiled. His resolve to stay away from her wavered. One liaison wouldn’t be that bad, would it? Surely, he could keep it secret from everyone stationed in St. Louis. He kept hundreds of secrets every day, and one little romp with the redhead wouldn’t hurt anyone. Adam sighed. Unless Darius found out. If he did, then Darius would have his ass on a platter for involving himself with a civilian.
Adam glanced toward the front door. He didn’t know what it was about Rachel—aside from the obvious—but he wanted to know more. Did she like the beach? Did she like to travel? Would she like Istanbul? Did she have a big family? Shaking his head, he shrugged off his melancholy and joined Zach in the gym.
Two hours later, Adam found himself showered and shaved and in his car with Zach. Rachel’s shopping bag rested behind him on the backseat.
“Take tomorrow off,” Adam said.
Zach crossed his arms over his chest. “Why? What’s the catch?”
“No catch.”
“Uh, huh.” Turning to Adam, Zach gave him a querying look. “You never let me off on a Friday night. Plan to give me double drills Saturday morning? Wait…” Zach straightened excitement building in him like a storm. “Is something wrong? Did Darius give you a mission?”
“No.”
Zach deflated. “Oh.”
“You’ve been working hard the past few weeks, novice. Thought I’d be nice,” Adam replied.
Zach snorted. “You’re never nice. And quit calling me ‘novice’.”
Adam gritted his teeth but let the remark slide. He was always nice.
Pulling up to the curb, Adam stopped and unlocked the door. “Stay vigilant,” he warned. “They could be around any corner.” It worried him to leave Zach, and Adam would much rather have the teen at his place, parties, late nights, and potential girls aside. It would make keeping an eye on the kid, that much easier. When Adam had checked out Zach’s dorm room this past January, it had felt exposed, insecure, but his objections had been overruled.
Repeatedly.
At that thought, Adam’s lips twisted in a frown which mixed annoyance, disappointment, and a healthy dose of perplexity in equal measure.
“You know I will,” Zach retorted as he clambered out of the car and slammed the door. Hard. “See you Saturday.”
“Eight AM,” Adam reiterated. If he didn’t, there was no telling when Zach would show up.
Zach flipped him off before hiking his backpack high on his back and storming off. Adam sighed. Sometimes they got along fine, but when they didn’t? They didn’t!
Adam threw the Audi in gear and headed toward Rachel’s house over by Forest Park.
He snorted, remembering that night last November. She needed to work on her situational awareness. She’d been oblivious the night of her mugging when he’d trailed her all the way home. He was glad he did. It gave Adam a sense of relief to know her route and that aside from a few spots along her path home, it was decently lit and properly populated.
Pulling up to the curb in front of her house, Adam killed the engine and took a deep breath. He would give her the bag, wish her well, and then go home. He would not—Not!—seduce her. Adam shook his head and hopped out of the car. Grabbing the bag, he squared his shoulders and headed toward the door.
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