CHAPTER ELEVEN

The nagging feeling in my chest that someone was following me lingered even after I returned to the city. I wanted to drive straight home, search through my things, and confirm if the ring that had fallen from my jacket was what I thought it was. But the idea of unknowingly leading whoever was tailing me to my house made me rethink.

My eyes darted to the rearview mirror for what felt like the fiftieth time. The cars behind me seemed normal, but paranoia clung to me, refusing to let go. My grip on the steering wheel tightened. I briefly considered heading to the academy, but it was Saturday morning, so the place would be deserted. Besides, the thought of Reid waiting there for me to show up was ridiculous—he was probably still shaken from yesterday's ambush 

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake off the growing tension in my chest, like a rope being pulled tighter with each passing second. Missing fragments of memories from what had happened during the ambush still gnawed at me, and now I had a mystery on my hands—how the signet was connected to my father and who had planted it in my jacket. I needed someone to talk to, someone I could trust.

After one last glance at the mirror to make sure I wasn't being followed, I turned off the highway and onto a quieter street. A few minutes later, I pulled into Marcus's driveway. He was the only person I trusted who could help—and if anyone had tailed me, Marcus could handle it.

The moment I rolled up my windows and reached for the door handle, I saw Marcus stomping toward me, shirtless and already yelling.

“Eugene, get your ass out of that car now before I break the glass and cost myself more money!” He shouted, banging his fist on my driver's window.

I quickly locked the door and leaned back, squinting at him through the glass. “Promise you won't yell,” I mouthed, pouting for dramatic effect.

Marcus paused, his lips twitching into what looked like the start of a grin. He leaned closer, his face inches from the glass. “Come out now, and I promise I won't yell.”

Still hesitant, I glanced at him sideways. Keeping my face straight ahead, I pressed the button to unlock the doors.

The door flew open in an instant, and Marcus yanked me out of the car. His hands gripped my shoulders, holding me in place as he towered over me.

“What were the instructions I gave you before you took the job?” He demanded, his voice tight with restrained anger.

I pressed my back against the car, tilting my head with mock innocence. “That…I should be careful and bring souvenirs?” 

Marcus exhaled sharply, his mouth curving upwards despite himself. “Yo, I can't even stay mad at you,” he muttered, breaking into a chuckle.

“And that's why we love you, Marcus,” I teased, batting my lashes.

He straightened, his amusement vanishing. “But seriously, Osborn, I'm pissed. We had an agreement, and you did the exact opposite of what we discussed.”

“I didn't have a choice,” I argued. “And, wait—how do you even know about the ambush? It wasn't on the news.”

He stiffened. “Ambush? What ambush?”

“Ohh…” My brows furrowed. “what were you talking about then?”

“The fact that you went early! I told you the job was the next day, but no—you decided to go the night before and sleep at their place. Do you have any idea how reckless that was? I didn’t want to yell at you over the phone when you called about your car breaking down, but I spent the entire night sleepless, worrying about you staying undercover in their home!”

“Oh,” I cringed, realizing how much worse this was about to get when I told him everything.

“Don't give me one-word answers,” he snapped. “Better start  talking before I pull the information out of you.”

“You're not even going to offer me a seat?” I grumbled. “I haven't had breakfast, and now I have to deal with you yelling and crushing me with all those fancy muscles of yours.”

Marcus blinked, his gaze shifting to where his hands still gripped my shoulders. With a sigh, he let go and stepped back. “Fine. I'll make you breakfast. But you will start talking.”

I nodded solemnly, earning a burst of laughter from him as he turned toward the house.

“Girl, who the hell gave you that disguise?” he said between chuckles, shaking his head. “You look like a clown fish with dreadlocks.” 

I laughed, the unease finally leaving my chest. It was good to be back.

*****

I sat at the dining table, stuffing my mouth with waffles and pancakes while watching Marcus pace the living room. I'd told him everything I could remember yesterday, and now, he looked as though he hadn't slept a wink.

“Aren't you going to scold me or give me some kind of advice?” I asked, pausing mid-bite with a piece of pancake balanced on my fork.

Marcus stopped and looked at me, resting his index finger on his upper lip and his thumb under his chin, like he was trying to decide what to say. He held the pose for what felt like an eternity before finally shaking his head.

“I'm short on words, Osborn.”

I shrugged. “I have that effect on people.”

His glare could've cut through steel.

“Sorry,” I muttered. “But I came to you for a reason. I need you to say something.”

He walked around the couch and toward the dining table. Pulling out a chair, he sat down beside me. 

“Whatever you do, you have to reject Klaus's offer,” he said firmly.

“Why?” I asked, stuffing another bite into my mouth. “It's good pay.”

“Good pay at the cost of almost everything you have.”

“Good thing I have nothing,” I snorted.

Marcus's jaw clenched. “Stop it, Eugene. I need you to take this seriously.”

I sighed. “Sorry. But honestly, Klaus isn't what I'm worried about.”

“You should be,” Marcus said, raising an eyebrow. “Klaus doesn't take rejection well. If you're going to say no, we'll need a rock-solid excuse. I could use academy policies as a shield, but I doubt he'll buy it.”

“Or,” I suggested, “I could just take the job, play bodyguard for a month and get paid. Everyone wins—no lies, no drama.”

Marcus rubbed his temples, exhaling like a man at the end of his rope.

“I can't deal with you. Do you not remember how it went last time? Aren't you scared?”

“Uh, all I remember,” I replied with a shrug, “is that I survived. I mean, Marcus, it's a lot of money. Think about it.”

His palm hit the table with a resounding slam, rattling the plates and silverware. “Dammit, Osborn, this isn't a joke!”

My teeth clenched. “Marcus, I'm taking this more seriously than you think I am—”

“Then why the hell would you even consider working for someone as dangerous and manipulative as Klaus Windsor?” 

“I have my reasons—”

“What fucking reason could possibly be more important than your life—”

“My family!” I snapped, standing so abruptly that my chair scraped against the floor. “My family, Marcus. They were everything to me. And Klaus—he’s the reason it all fell apart. He drove my dad insane, and heaven knows if I get a chance to make him pay for it, I'm taking it.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“This.” I reached into my jacket, pulling out the ring, and tossed it at him. He caught it mid-air before it hit the ground. 

“Whoever slipped this into my jacket knows about my past,” I said. “And they can tell me how to find the man who ruined my dad.”

“But I thought you couldn't remember who the ring belongs to?”

“I can't,” I admitted. “At least, not yet. But I know for a fact the person wearing this ring was there that night. I just can't remember the face. But I'm beginning to guess Klaus had something to do with it, and this ring…” I paused, staring at it. “is my only lead.”

Marcus turned the ring over in his hand, his expression hard to read. After a long pause, he sighed.

“As much as I hate to say this…if you're set on taking the job, I'll back you.”

I smiled faintly. “Thanks, Marcus. But for now, taking the job is the only way I'll get answers about the ring.”

“Or…” Marcus tossed the ring into the air, catching it with ease. A sly smile played on his lips. “Maybe I can make a call or two.”