Page 83 of When Darkness Calls

“Holy shit. I just did that.” She rushes the words in disbelief.

“Yeah, we just did that.” I grin, shaking my head. “Are you okay?”

“More than okay. I needed that. Jesus. Are you?” Dani giggles again, her laugh spreading warmth through my chest.

“I—…I’ve never been better, Dani.”

But shit…Am I? Objectively, yes, that was…the hardest I’ve come in a long, long time and I hadn’t even touched her. But…isn’t it, I don’t know…wrong?

In all the years I have worn that mask, watched from the shadows, carried out whatever insane fucking plan Cade had come up with, beaten, tormented, tortured, killed…none of it has left me feeling like this. Wishing I had never put it on, never taken on that persona, if only so she knew the truth. Knew it’s me.

There’s a faint shout on the line and the sound of rustling.

“I have to go, Shadow. I enjoy talking to you, ya know? Try not to hide from me anymore. But if you do…” She trails off.

I take a deep breath, waiting.

“At least let me know we’re playing that game. Don’t forget, I like the audience.”

And the line goes dead.

And my heart pounds out of my chest.

And my head is a mess.

And all I can think is…she is perfect.

She is mine.

twenty-five

Grayson

The guys always support my terrible ideas.

So, when I told them I needed the day off Dani Watch to look into something around West View, they didn’t question it.

Of course, it was under the guise that I was just doing some minor follow ups with her safety, but in reality, I really wanna know how this fucker has her freaked out to go to school.

Surprisingly, finding this guy was sort of easy thanks to Professor Logan.

He was more than happy to see me when I waltzed into his office today.

“Grayson Williams, do my eyes deceive me? Caroline must have been right. I am going blind if I’m seeing you in this office.”

“Professor Logan, it’s great to see you again. Has your day been going well?” I smile at him, sitting in the chair across from him. He sits back with a joyous look on his face.

He always did like me, and I can honestly say the feeling was mutual. Logan was a great professor, and an even better mentor when I was his assistant in my senior year.

“As good as it ever is, my boy. What brings you here today?”

“I hope I’m not coming at a bad time, sir. I believe I ran into the new assistant you had mentioned the other day. I thought about what you had said with maybe reaching out to offer any advice or guidance as he takes on this role and was hoping you may be able to help me contact him.”

The old man sits back in his high-backed chair, hands folded on his chest.

“That’s good of you, son. You know, I’m very proud of the man you have grown to be. I remember how lost you were in your university days. It’s good to see you grow into a great young man. If you want to speak with him, you might be able to catch him every now and then as he leaves school when you come to get your girl,” he pauses, giving me a knowing look with a sly grin.

That’s…odd.