CHAPTER TWELVE

"...mhmm...bet. Aight, you know how messy them joints get, so I'd 'preciate it if you could...you know how it goes, man." Marcus chuckled, shaking his head. "Gotchu. Yeah, for real, I know you got me, just slide me that piece I'm asking for, and I'll take care of the rest. Mmm...Good lookin' out. Bet."

I stared at him blankly as he hung up the phone. This was the first time I'd ever heard Marcus talk like the black American that he was. It was…kind of attractive.

Ew. No.

“So?” I asked, lifting my hands in a questioning gesture. I had no idea what he'd discussed, especially with how thick his accent had gotten.

“Well, good news and bad news.” He stuffed his phone into his pocket. His expression neutral.

“Okay, start me with the bad news,” I said, folding my arms to brace myself.

“We still don't have a lead on the ring….yet.”

I nodded, though my mood sank a little. “And the good news?”

“Apparently, the ring has nothing to do with Klaus. My guy says, based on the description I gave him, it likely belongs to one of the three notorious crime lords in Seattle. He needs to confirm before spilling, so he'll come check it out on Monday. He's out of town for now.”

“Oh, wow.” I sank into the nearest seat, my hand pressing softly against my chest.

I couldn't explain it to Marcus, but I felt a wave of relief knowing we didn't have to deal with Reid’s father.

“Yeah,” Marcus said, sitting down on the couch opposite me. “Till then, do you think you can hold off on accepting Klaus's offer?”

I nodded. “I guess I can manage that. Thanks, Marcus.”

“Anything for you, Osborn.”

He began filling me in on everything that had happened at the academy while I was away. We were mid-conversation when there was a knock on the door. Marcus stood immediately to answer it.

“Marcus, we might have a problem,” a familiar voice said, now edged with anger. “There were a few minor complications during the mission, and now Leah…Leah’s in the hospital. I swear to God, Marcus, I'm going to make that bastard pay.”

Leah. The name tugged at my memory. I gasped as it clicked—she was one of the people I'd met at Marcus's office that morning. Just as I was about to ask for clarification, Marcus turned toward me, not even inviting the man in first.

“Osborn, I think we're done here. I'll hit you up if something useful turns up,” he said, standing in the doorway.

“Oh, um, yeah. See you on Monday,” I replied, forcing a tight smile. I gave the man a quick wave as I brushed past them and headed toward my car.

Before pulling out of the driveway, I noticed Marcus still watching me from his door, even after letting the man inside. He didn't move until I was almost out of sight. Only then did he step inside and shut the door behind him.

The drive home was uneasy. My mind ran wild with dark theories about what had gone wrong on their mission, each one more troubling than the last. The unsettling feeling slowly crept back, a heavy reminder that I was only driving again thanks to sheer luck—or maybe my guardian angel.

I hated not knowing. More than anything I wanted to know what had happened during that ambush. Parking in front of my building, I locked the car and headed straight for my apartment.

The suffocating space I called home was the last place I wanted to be most nights, but tonight, all I could think about was crawling into bed and shutting the world out.

Half-way up the stairs, I peeled off my jacket and wig, the weight of the disguise almost as heavy as my thoughts. By the time I reached my door, my jacket was slung over my arm, and I was ready to collapse.

I shoved the key into the lock and pushed the door open, my free hand fumbling for the light switch. Tossing the disguise onto the bed in the corner, my fingers finally found the cold plastic box, and I flipped the lights on.

“Look who's home at last,” a deep, gravelly voice drawled. “if it isn't my sexy, personal bodyguard.”

My heart leapt into my throat as my eyes adjusted to the light. There he was—Reid. He sat on the only chair in the middle of the room, his broad shoulders tense, his jaw clenched. His eyes, dark and unreadable, bore into me like he could see straight through my soul.

“R-Reid,” I stammered, panic clawing its way to the surface. “I..I can explain.”

He leaned back in the chair, one hand propping up his face, the other drumming impatiently on the armrest. “This better be good,” he said, his tone sharp enough to cut glass. “Go on.”

I swallowed hard, my mind scrambling for the right words. There was no use in trying to come up with an excuse—it would only make things worse. If I was going to salvage this, I had to tell the truth.

“Okay,” I began, my voice shaky. “So…I'm in need of some cash right now, and the only job available was—well—being your personal bodyguard. I swear I didn't mean to lie to you.

His jaw ticked, the silence stretching thin between us.

“But you did.”

“I know,” I said, my shoulders slumping as guilt weighed me down. “I'm sorry. I really am.”

“You should know,” he said, his voice low, deliberate. “I don't appreciate being lied to. And worse still, being lied to by someone I actually hold in high regard.”

The confession hit me like a punch to the gut. I didn't realize he thought so highly of me since he's known me for only two days. My chest tightened with regret, the weight of his disappointment settling over me like a lead blanket.

“Reid,” I tried again, desperate to fix this. “I tried to tell you—”

“Don't,” he cut in sharply, holding up a hand to silence me. His tone softened, but the edge in his voice remained. “It's worse when people try to cover it up with excuses.” He stood, his movement fluid yet commanding, making me instinctively step back. “To be honest, I don't know if I'm more angry or…relieved.”

“Relieved?” I asked, confusion flickering across my face.

He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah. Relieved that my suspicions were right—that you're not some random weird guy hired to watch my back. It's you.” His gaze locked onto mine, pinning me in place. “And honestly, I don't know if that makes this better or worse.”

“Why?” The question slipped out before I could stop myself.

A faint, almost undetectable smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Because now… I finally get to do this.”

Before I could process his words, he closed the distance between us in two strides. His hands found my waist, pulling me close as he leaned in and kissed me.