She clutched to me as my mouth sealed over hers.
I could kiss her forever.
I would kiss, and taste, and savor every touch like this. I didn’t want to go to this event. There’d be civilians there. My former enemies. Academic types. Blake said her professor would be there as well.
“Are we ready?” Heath called from the door.
Levi and Palma moved to follow.
Blake held me back. “You’ll behave tonight?”
“That means no killing? Walden will be there.”
She pushed a finger into my chest. “No maiming. No killing. No slicing. My professor will be there. People from the center. Malik said Cap is even coming. Satya, too, with her sister.”
I’d recently met Blake’s favorite four that utilized the center.
“I’d never harm them.” I took her hand and began leading her out of their townhouse, stopping only to grab our jackets. They’d be needed since Blake insisted we be “normal” for this event. That meant traveling to Rockefeller Center by train.
She laced our fingers together. “You know that’s not who I meant. Just, be fake tonight. You know. Be civil. Normal people world.”
“Normal people world is overrated.”
She laughed shortly, squeezing my hand. “True, but wear the fake persona mask tonight. Don’t scare my kids.”
Her kids? That’s how she considered the kids who utilized the shelter? I searched her face to see if there were any hints of resentment, but I found none. Just warmth. She was happy. I don’t know if the shelter was perfect for Blake, butshewas perfect for the shelter. I wasn’t surprised.
I remarked, “Never. However, I will do no such thing when it comes to Walden.”
I was fully aware she was doing some of this because of me, going into her studies and continuing her work with the center because she hoped to help me learn how to have more empathy. It was about her, but about me too. Maybe one day that would happen. It would make her happy. Myself? I didn’t care. I followed her rules, and I began to feel other sensations inside of me, so maybe she was correct. Maybe there was a way to help people like me grow as a person? All I knew was that I’d begun to change for her and I’d continue except I would never let another rule over me. Or rule over Blake.
I would always ensure her safety. Even if that meant I would sacrifice myself.
I didn’t think other psychopaths would make the same decision.
Her smile softened, knowing that I meant what I said. She rested her head against my arm for a moment. “Thank you.”
I pressed a kiss to the side of her temple.
Once we got onto the subway, silence came over the train.
Blake didn’t want to attend this Christmas event pulling up in a slew of private vehicles. Said that wasn’t “normal poor college student behavior.”
I already knew I had men working on this train. They hadn’t been notified ahead of time. The group settled at the end of the car, and I leaned back, holding a post with one hand. My other curved around Blake, keeping her anchored to my side.
Conversation began to pick up, but quieted among our group as one of my men approached. He had eyes only for me. “Sir?”
I lifted my chin behind him. “We’ll be going to the Rockefeller. Move to the next car.”
He clipped his head in a nod at my command, and soon the rest of my men all went to the other subway cars. Instead of continuing to work, they stood guard at the doors so no one else could come onto our individual car. This was routine for wherever I went, and for the most part, Blake’s housemates had grown accustomed to this treatment. They continued their conversations.
The other civilians noted how I was treated. They watched me. One raised her camera to record me, but I looked at her. She squeaked, her eyes bulging out, and she fumbled her phone, dropping it to the floor. It rolled all the way until Levi stopped it. When she came over to take it, he said something to her.
Her eyes went past him to me, and she nodded quickly before returning to her seat.
She didn’t try to record again.
Blake sank into me. “Some things will never change.”
