Page 70 of Precious Legacy
Sav: On my way. See you in 15.
Shit.
I’ve been so lost in Roman this morning that I’m running behind. Since Savannah only lives five blocks over, we’ve been sharing rides for the better part of three weeks. We’ve established a friendship I didn’t think was possible, at least not with the family I have. She still doesn’t know about my link to The Five, and I don’t intend on divulging that the last name I was born with isn’t Caruthers.
Rushing out of bed, I bypass Roman taking a piss and dive under the shower he was warming up for himself. The cold water douses the anxious heat slithering through my body, and it’s a brief reprieve before the warmth soothes the chill. I soak my hair, not bothering with washing it because I really don’t have time. Even when Roman steps in with me, I have to force myself to keep at least three feet away because apparently my self-control is non-existent when it comes to him.
I run through the motions of a quick wash, toweling off and getting dressed in record time. My apartment buzzer sounds just as I’m shoving my feet into my shoes and my heart rate kicks up a notch as I glance at the time. I spin around to find an amused Roman leaning against the wall in the hallway with just a towel wrapped around his waist.
He knows what he’s doing with his taut, slick abs on show, his chest muscles bunching beneath his toned biceps. He knows I’d crawl straight back into bed with him given half the chance.
“What?” I snap.
A brow lifts at the same time he offers me a lop-sided smile. “What are you trying to hide, Presh?”
You,I want to say, but I keep my mouth shut as my phone rings in my pocket.Savannah.
“Nothing,” I scowl. “I’m just late.”
“Uh huh,” he muses. “Nothing to do with your new friend, then?”
Ugh,I hate how well he can read me. I don’t admit a thing to him, though. There’s nothing more annoying than feeding his ego, so I give him the finger and slip out the door before he can say another word.
Downstairs, Savannah leans against the door of our rideshare, her arms folded as she glares at me.
“What?” I huff as I swing my bag over my shoulder.
She’s surveying me, silently judging me. I can tell because over the past few weeks I’ve gotten to know her, there’s one thing she can’t hide; her suspicion.
“Late night?” she smirks.
“Something like that.”
I’m breathless as I slip into the backseat. I don’t think I’ve ever rushed around as much as I have this morning. Though I can’t say the wake up wasn’t a nice alarm, it’s left me feeling like I’ve forgotten something. I know I haven’t because I always pack my bag the night before, but the unease I feel is unavoidable.
After half an hour of Savannah pinning me with a glare, I finally look her in the eyes. “What?” I snap.
“So you’re not going to tell me who he is?” she accuses.
Shock freezes in my veins and I suddenly don’t know where to look anymore.
“Oh, come on,” she scoffs. “You really think I’m going to believe that the glow on your face isn’t from being fucked magnificently?”
I don’t know why, but I feel the heat of my embarrassment paint my cheeks. Sex isn’t something I’m ever ashamed to talk about, but sex with Roman might just be up there on the list ofthings I want to avoid when talking to a potential officer of the law.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, ignoring the pang of guilt that settles in the pit of my stomach.
“Sure,” she replies sarcastically, though she doesn’t get to finish her retort because our cab stops in front of the academy and I’m rushing out before she can interrogate me further.
Only eight hours to go.
Exhausted—that’s how I feel as I step outside the academy gates with Savannah in tow. It’s not just the fact that today we had the most grueling physical training session where I had to suffer through Prescott’s presence, but I’ve spent most of the day actively trying to avoid Savannah’s questions about my ‘mystery’ boyfriend.
It’d be laughable if I wasn’t so afraid of her knowing about Roman, or Haldon, or my brother. They’re my family, and it’s really hard to avoid talking about them in social situations, especially when your fellow trainees are sharing nostalgic stories about the tire swing their old man built in their backyard at eight years old.
I can’t relate to those stories because my childhood wasn’t their kind of normal. My childhood consisted of having my dad’s soldiers driving us around, watching our every move. Alvaro had a gun by the age of twelve—much to mom’s disapproval—whereas I just earned more protection because god forbid I was able to protect myself. I always wondered about that part of my life; why our dad trusted my brother to hold a gun but not me?Why he entrusted my safety with others instead of allowing me to learn to protect myself, despite the role he clearly wants me to have in the family. At least Roman was willing to help me out with that, giving me tips on fighting until Lexie taught me how to really defend myself.
Distracting me from my running thoughts, I glance down at my vibrating phone. My hand shakes as I turn it over, praying it isn’t Roman. The last thing I want Savannah to see is his name on my screen, because it won’t take long for her to put the pieces together. She’s a smart girl, more than capable of becoming a detective. Which is why I hold my breath as I glance at the screen, long enough to see Haven’s name light it up.
