A/N: I'm trying to release batches of chapters at a time, they may get longer in length as we approach the climax. So as I'm posting Chap 19 I'm working on Chapter 22, so another batch is on the way soon! :) Hope you guys are still enjoying it. Thank you for all the support 3
Chap 19
Anya POV
After Damian asked me to the dance we texted for a while, before I eventually passed out since I was exhausted after the night we had. I'm at my locker first thing in the morning, yawning loudly.
I was so tired I didn't realize Damian was behind me, when I closed the locker and turned right into him stepping on his foot.
He winced, "Oh my gosh, I'm sorry." I apologized to him, but he shrugged it off.
My thoughts go to last night and I can feel the blush coming up my neck. I shake my head, I can't think of that at School.
But then I look around at some people looking at us as we talk. When I make eye contact with a few they turn and walk down the doorway.
"Did you need something?" I ask, feeling like there's a spotlight on us in the hallway, as if everyone knows about us. I turn and we start making our way to our first class.
"I'm not wearing that stupid costume." He says firmly, even though his ears turned red as he said it. I pouted at him, giving my best watery puppy eyes at him, to get him to stop fighting it and embrace it.
He scoffs defeated "I'm going to look ridiculous." murmuring to himself. As we rounded the corner, I took the turn close and said in a low gentle voice. "I won't think so." He looks down covering his face in his hands.
Fuck! Why is she so cute?
I smile up at him knowing I won this battle, which I'm sure he's going to try a few more times before the party next week. But I will continue to use my cuteness to win.
Our phones pinged at the same time and when I opened it, it's the schedule for the university tour, tomorrow.
"What's this about?" He asks, "To tour Berlint University, and sit in on an engineering class. We can try and learn something to give our project an edge." He asks, raising a brow, as I'm clearly trying to sell it to him like a car salesman.
He shrugs "It'll get me out of class, and my training with my brother." He says happily.
"Are you secretly trying to be an Olympian or something?" I say joking and Damian, thoughts flutter at the realization he's said too much.
"Work stuff mostly." He shrugs, simplifying the shit out of his situation. "Didn't realize you needed a job." I say gently pressing a bit deeper as I go to probe his thoughts.
But before I could read anything, we reached our first class, he opened the door and motions me to enter first.
Are they dating?
Why are they always together?
Damian could do so much better.
Ugh not the commoner.
Some of the girls' thoughts were loud at the witness of that small gesture. If only they knew. I know he and I have gotten close, but I don't know how he would feel about people at school knowing about whatever what we…are doing… have.
I ended up being distracted for the remainder of the class but overall so far, the day was a good day.
Damian seemed to be in a far better mood lately. Which made me happy that he was happy. He complained about his costume at least 3 times and I won every time.
At the end of the day, he showed up to my locker. Leaning his back against the one beside mine, as I started organizing what I needed for homework.
"I'm surprised your brother didn't pick you up today." I mention guiltily, trying to gain a little intel without being obvious.
He shrugs looking at his phone, "He must be too busy today." He looks up at the ceiling "I might as well start to pack up my dorm."
"Do you need a hand?" He looked over at me and his eyes looked heated over my form, "I can't, you'd distract me."
"What's that supposed to mea-" I started to say over to him, swapping my workbooks from my bookbag.
When these angry emotions started filtering from behind me, feelings aimed at me specifically. Before I could even turn around a girl approached bumping my shoulder to stand in front of Damian.
"Damian, can we talk?" She says blocking my view of him.
"Actually I-" He says, sounding annoyed already no longer leaning on the locker and facing her but trying to look beyond her over at me. I put the last of my books in my locker.
She straightens her back leaning toward him trying to entice him. "I just wanted to know if you had anyone in mind to go to the dance with."
Just when I was having such a good day. I slammed my locker making her jump. Which Damian noticed, amused at my obvious jealousy.
She turned to face me, both of our annoyance with one another spiking. "Do you mind?" She says with an attitude.
"Actually, I do mind. We were clearly in the middle of a conversation you rudely interrupted. For something that doesn't even matter." I reached across, taking his hand pulling him toward me feeling territorial. "Because he asked me."
She looked at him with clear hurt in her eyes, when he was close to me he slid an arm around my waist until I flush against him. "I'm going to the party with Anya." He says loud enough for the people in the hallway to hear.
Suddenly feeling embarrassed that he's announcing it to the school, she stalks off pissed and I take his hand and head for the door.
After we get out the double doors I pull him behind a pillar at the bus platform, looking for a shred of privacy.
"I shouldn't have done that, I'm-" he pinned me against the nearest corner just barely out of view, capturing my lips. For a moment I felt embarrassed by who might see us. But after that girl made a move on him in front of me, the flip side is I don't care who sees.
The way he tempts me with his tongue asking for me, even here, I can't help but follow his lead. I raise my arms, wrapping them around his neck pulling him closer, deepening it. Loving this feeling of possessiveness from him, in a way it's comforting. That he wants just me, and I've never really cared for the attention of someone else. But knowing I had his undivided attention, just left me with this warm feeling.
When we hear "Get a room!" accompanied by a few wolf whistles. I broke the kiss burying my face in his chest embarrassed, because I was getting carried away here.
Damian takes my hand pulling me away, walking me toward my bus as it pulls up at the platform and students start boarding. I take a step forward to go toward but feel a tug on my hand as he doesn't release it.
Forget it… I won't push my luck.
An image of him giving me a kiss goodbye, crossed his mind. Before he could drop our hands I leaned on my toes and placed a kiss on his lips and said "Call me later." before boarding the bus.
I sit near the front to get a window seat, before we pull off. Waving at him from the window before he turns and starts heading to his dorm. Suddenly I was not able to keep myself from smiling, the whole way home.
Damian POV
Emile and Ewen help me pack my dorm, for a while we just reminisce while we packed since we all always lived at the dorms together. The years we all spent together, even though I'll still see them in school. Dorm life was always different amongst us, since we're all alike where our families aren't around as much. Well obviously my dad only showed up on prestigious nights that fit his agenda. I digress now.
Ewin tapes up another box while Emile writes on the side, 'Books'. Wiping sweat off his brow Emile asks "Anyone want drinks?"
"Water would be great actually, we've been at it for hours." I am thankful to both of them for helping me with this. Emile walks out to the kitchen to grab some drinks. Ewin leans off the bed peering over at me as I sit on the floor exhausted. He asks "Lord Damian, may I confirm if a rumor is true?" I lift my chin curious.
"What ludicrous babble is being spread now." I ask, eyes narrowed slightly.
He looks at me and says in a lower voice as if someone else were here listening in, "That you and Anya are in love." I blush not realizing the rumor mill has taken it that far. All they saw was one maybe two kisses, and were already in love?
"I'm not.. We're not…I mean we are kinda dating but she's not my girlfriend yet or anything." I stumble not realizing how awkward this got really fast.
Trying to voice what me and Anya are, makes me think of her. The way she leans in when she's pointing at my notes in science class, and how she doodles in the corners closer to her when I'm writing out formulas and doing the math. Her mere presence brings me into this aura of calm and peace.
But she also has this fire in her when you mess with someone she loves. She's like a fire that can't be tamed when she has her goals locked on. Even if she fails, you know she gives it her all.
"Some of the sophomores said they saw you both making out at the bus platform." Ewin inquired for clarification.
"We kissed, multiple times. Yes." I said confirming, for some reason I was nervous as if he would judge me. Since he understands the expectations our parents thrust on us, even if a mere second son.
The door opened and Emile strode in with the drinks passing them out to us which we took happily. I was also hoping it was going to be the end of the conversation about Anya, but I was sadly mistaken.
"Did you guys have sex?" Ewin asks, and I choke on my damn water. I inhaled a bit and had a coughing fit. Which Emile used as an opportunity to catch up on where that question came from? And sex with who?
They both waited patiently as I gathered my body and thoughts, "No, we haven't." I said flatly.
Emile says putting a hand on my shoulder reassuringly, "Look we just want you to be happy, we don't want just some commoner using you." I look up at him, "She's not like that at all. She's beautiful, strong, fierce, and smart. She doesn't ask for the lavish things other girls do. She's different."
Ewin says as if it was obvious "So you love her then?" Emile nods in agreement with him on his observation as if it were true. It's not…right? I mean…Maybe… at some point.
Before I can respond my phone rings loudly on the dresser, walking over I see Demetrius calling; as soon as I answer he says "Come outside now." His voice sounds firm, with an edge to it like something is about to happen.
I quickly let the guys know I'm leaving and they offer to pack the rest of my things, which I let them have at it. Pondering on what they said. Do I love her?
Demetrius is in his large black SUV. He's seated in the back, the window down just enough so I can see it's him and make my way over. Before I could say anything as I approached the window, he said "get in." without even glancing up from his phone.
I round the vehicle and slide in the back seat along with him, and the driver takes off, faster than usual.
Demetrius reaches under him and grabs a small bag and hands it to me. "Put that on over your clothes."
I state "That didn't answer my question," peering into the bag and seeing a delivery company jumpsuit "What's going on Demetrius, why do I have to put this on?" I say pulling out the suit to question him.
"It's better to not ask questions." He says, sighing, "This has sketchy writing all over it. Of course I'm going to ask questions." I exclaim.
"Isn't it obvious? We need you to drop off a package." He replies as if my state of confusion amuses him. I put the bag on the seat, "No." and crossed my arms defiantly.
Demetrius no longer looks amused, "Damian put it on." he says, giving me an order, but I don't move a muscle. "It's bad enough you had me tag along every time you had to go have work sex with your non-girlfriend. I'm not about to put a delivery suit on without knowing what I'm delivering, what to who and why. Father said to bring me into the fold, so then do it and let me decide if I want to do it." Demetrius shakes his head, "We don't have time for a history lesson." he looks ahead at the road as we enter a dark field. The driver cuts the lights to the car as we approach what looks like an older model delivery truck.
"No explanation, no deal." I say giving him a stern look, Demetrius stares at me, "You know this was requested by father." a shiver of fear slid up my spine, knowing that which means I know what's to come.
But after what I've seen over the years, I already know what I don't want to have a part in. He continues as he grabs the bag, "If it were up to me you wouldn't even be here, you know that." He takes off his suit jacket and his shoes, so he could slide on the jumpsuit. The driver parked the car, and he got out and changed the license plate of the car we were driving.
I didn't realize there was more in the bag; a hat, temporary tattoo, water, burner cell, glasses, tape. Before my eyes Demetrius practically transformed into a totally different person. By changing the shape of his eyes and face with the tape, he placed an eye tattoo on his forearm and rolled up the sleeves a bit, so it just barely showed and put on the hat and glasses.
"What are you supposed to be? A spy?" he didn't reply, "Stay in the car, keep the windows up. We'll talk when this is done." he says getting out of the car, not allowing me time to even respond to him.
He jogged over to the delivery truck and started it and he went out an exit opposite of us, but we circled around and parked at the corner. He's parked across the street from this large lavish building, outfitted with an all glass entrance outlined in shiny chrome that took up most of the block even just as a corner property.
Demetrius has a fairly large box as he walks it to the building. He hands it to the front desk attendant and lifts the arm he put the tattoo on, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly and turning to leave jogging back to his delivery truck. None the wiser.
Looking at how large the box was makes me think of what could possibly be inside. The car is already moving to try and keep close to Demetrius, as he makes two more deliveries all in close proximity to one another. I realized after we left the last location, that the front entrance had the name Blackbell on top. What could we be delivering to the Blackbells, at this time of night.
Once he finished we both returned to the field through the respective exits we took and returned to the car, while the driver swapped the license plates on the SUV again, and doused the delivery truck in gasoline and torched it so quickly I couldn't understand why it was necessary.
Demetrius wipes the tattoo off with water and his hand, sliding off the jumpsuit and the rest of the gear, until he looks like himself again.
"So are you going to tell me what that was all about." I wonder if I'm ever going to get an answer.
Demetrius starts the conversation "Whose owns those buildings we made deliveries to?" I nod, "They were all Blackbell properties." He smiles small, "Observant as ever I see. All you need to know is the Blackbells agreed to purchase some materials for a project. But when the deal was supposed to happen, neither they nor the buyer showed." I nod my head understanding it a bit more. The driver returns to the car before the flames get too large that draw attention, leaving out one of the other alleys toward a highway.
But I feel like I have to point out the obvious, "If the Blackbell's are quiet about the deal, why are you sending packages to them." Demetrius smiles, "Think of them as an incentive to reach out to us." taking out the burner phone from the bag then placing the call on speakerphone as we merged into the highway.
The phone rang twice and then faint Booms could be heard in the distance, smoke reached the sky in black droves. Demetrius lowered the window and threw the phone out the window smashing it to pieces against the pavement.
"What the fuck! Those were bombs you wanted me to deliver?!" I yelled at him, I had to put my hands by my side since they started to shake, "There were people in there!" I started to feel sick to my stomach.
"This is why they call it war, Damian." Demetrius said stoically, as if he heard my father say that so many times it's drilled into him. But me? I'm not built for this, I just wanted my fathers respect but if it costs me my morals.
"Drop me off at my dorm." I ask, Demetrius sighs "You know I can't do that. Father wants to speak to you." resigned to the idea, but knowing avoiding him is obviously not a good idea, especially if you're a Blackbell.
Thinking over everything in silence as we drive silently to the estate, I start to put pieces together about the Blackbell's and realize Anya acts weird when I ask about Becky. She hasn't really talked to her, and I know she misses her since she tells me so quite often.
Becky's been out of school ever since the weekend of the party she was attacked at. Which I know was my father… I'm realizing something bigger may be going on around me, that I've been blind to.
I try to bring the conversation back up as if I'm interested. "The Blackbell's have always partnered with us on various ventures, why is this one, they're clearly hesitant about." Demetrius doesn't respond right away, which leaves me in suspense, as I clearly caught him off guard with my question.
"Let's just say that it's fathers biggest project to date, and they are concerned about their image." He says as if that's enough, "What about his daughter?" Demetrius turns his head to me slowly after I mentioned her, calculating.
"She'll be proven useful soon, I'm sure." he says carefully, "How so?" I inquire in a general sense to see what other information I could get.
"Isolation does wonders overtime." I nod in understanding, but the hair on the back of my neck stood as I got goosebumps at the realization.
My father…has Becky… in isolation… What am I supposed to tell Anya…
Even if I could, I don't know if she would understand. My father is too powerful, he holds too much influence for anyone to move against him.
I was so engrossed in my thoughts I didn't realize we pulled up to the house. I knew my punishment awaited me within those walls. As I walked toward the front door, I looked around wondering where we could be keeping Becky.
After tomorrow I'll be here most of the time, maybe I can have time to look around. So I can find her to help her, this is wrong I can't let my father win.