Chapter 20
Atlas
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“Are you sure this isa good idea?” I shout.
Lucien glowers at the crowd of people as they bump into us. “We need to preserve our new cover and locking her up in the house would just make us all look suspicious. We need to give time for the paperwork to get pushed through before Victor makes his move.”
Cambria’s hair is back to normal, the multicolored strands fitting into this crowd far more than I anticipated. It would actually be very easy to lose sight of her and that shouldn’t send as much anxiety through me as it does.
For fuck’s sake, she’s been on her own for how long? She doesn’t need us to hover over her, but I can’t help but feel overprotective. She went through so much shit alone, suffering in silence, and I just want to lock her in the house so nothing can hurt her anymore.
I’ve gotten so used to one of us being with her at all times because of the marks that I’ve taken it for granted. That first day she called Lucien when he was a five minute drive away, but what if he’d kept going? Was she in pain even then? How did she know? I never asked her, but I should have. If we do get separated, how long until something happens to her or us?
“You look ready to hit someone,” Lucien points out casually, giving me the opportunity to talk if I want.
So much has changed between us over the last month, blurring the lines we didn’t cross before. He and I will never be as close as he is with Dorian, but it feels less like an employee/employer relationship and more like actual friends now.
“Just running through hypotheticals in my head,” I admit.
Dorian is sticking close to Cambria as they race ahead into the street fair that’s taken over several city blocks. We decided to walk because parking was a nightmare and it wasn’t far from the house.
Lucien huffs. “Can’t say I blame you. I haven’t been sleeping well for the same reason.”
We work through the crowd to catch up to them browsing through the many stalls selling everything under the sun. Lucien beats me to it, making his way towards her and slipping the pocket knife out of her shorts, putting it back on the table before anyone notices.
“Why can’t you behave?” he chastises. “You have money, I just paid you.”
I snicker as a few people turn to blatantly eavesdrop, Luce not even realizing how terrible he’s making this sound.
Cambria bites her lip, warring with herself because he’s making it so easy, but has already caused enough of a headache with her games. “It’s like I’m just asking to be punished or something.”
Lucien narrows his eyes in warning while Dorian tugs her hand and leads them away from the crowd salivating over the drama and off into a different section before any more fuel is added to the fire.
“Seriously though, he has a point. I get stealing stuff when you’re desperate, but you’re not anymore.”
She shrugs. “Old habits die hard? Maybe I’m just a kleptomaniac.” She starts towards some of the game stalls, but I gently catch her elbow.
“It’s something more than that, isn’t it? Just spit it out, no judgment.”
