Elite (Eagle Elite) - By Rachel Van Dyken Page 0,28
earpiece ran to the front door and opened it for me. He looked like he belonged on Air Force One, not here at the school.
I mumbled a thanks and got into the car. “Um, does someone want to tell me why we need so much security?”
Nixon started the ignition. “We’re important.”
“Right.”
Monroe was in the backseat with Tex. I assumed Phoenix and Chase were in one of the other cars. My tension increased as we drove down the long tree-lined pavement and finally reached the gate.
The armed guard waved then spoke into his walkie-talkie and motioned for us to go on through.
Had I thought my little grocery excursion would be this ridiculous I would have snuck out. I mean four cars?
I groaned into my hands.
Nixon stopped at the first light and nudged me. “What’s wrong? Are you sick or something?
“No, I just… is it really that unsafe for you guys out there?”
“You could say that.”
He leaned forward to turn on the heat. Great. Now I was going to sweat to death. The guy was already killing me with his good looks. Heat? Heat I did not need right now.
We drove in silence, and for some reason each time I moved, the necklace in my pocket kept poking me in the thigh. Stupid tight jeans. Exasperated I pulled it out and clasped it around my neck.
“Are we almost there?” I asked, adjusting my cashmere sweater so that the necklace dropped over it prettily.
“Yup, in like ten— Holy shit.” Nixon slammed on his breaks. “What the hell, Trace?”
“What? What’s wrong?” I looked around for the obvious danger, but Nixon wasn’t staring out the window he was staring at my chest.
“Where the hell did you get that?” He reached for my necklace, but I smacked his hand away.
“Stop.” He shook his head and then hit his hand against the steering wheel and then he started cursing in some sort of language that sounded vaguely familiar.
“It’s not worth cursing over,” I snapped. “It’s just a necklace.”
“You understood me?” he asked in whatever language he was speaking. I could only nod because honestly I had no idea how I understood what he was saying.
A vague flicker of a memory entered into my brain. A man with dark hair pushing me on the swing and telling me in that special language how beautiful I was. That I looked just like my mother. And then some strange men came and began cursing, just like Nixon cursed.
Suddenly I couldn’t breathe.
“Crap,” Monroe muttered. “I think she’s having a panic attack.”
I nodded and tried to unbuckle my seatbelt. Nixon’s hand came flying down across mine. “We’re in the middle of traffic. You’re staying here. I don’t care if you think your freaking heart is going to explode. We can’t be vulnerable, and right now, we are.”
I nodded through the swell of tears that began pouring down my face. What was wrong with me? And why was I suddenly having flashbacks? Was that man my dad? Who were those other men?
Nixon continued to curse until we made it to the grocery store. Finally, once we parked, he turned to Monroe and Tex. “Leave, both of you. I’ll deal with this.”
They scattered out of the car faster than was appropriate. Geez, it wasn’t like he was going to shoot them or something.
I waited, my chest still heaving with frustration and a little bit of confusion and fear.
“What’s your last name?” Nixon asked quietly popping his knuckles.
“Rooks,” I answered dumbly. “Why, what’s yours?”
“I’m asking questions. You’re giving answers. You understand?” His eyes blazed hot. I tried to back away, but my seatbelt pinned me in place. “Now, I can ask nicely or I can use force. What is your last name?”
“Rooks!” I all but screamed. “It’s all I know!”
He raised his hand and leaned in. I flinched, afraid he was going to hit me. Instead he reached for the necklace and turned it over. “Damn it!”
“What?” My lips trembled. “Look, Nixon, this was a bad idea, just take me back to the dorms. I don’t need the security detail like you guys do. I’ll just come back in a cab or something. Plus, you’re freaking me out. I’ll just find my own way home.”
“The hell you will!” He reached across and grabbed my hand. “Let's just, let's just get this over with, okay?”
Freaked out, I could only nod. My gaze left his face and that’s when I noticed what was on his hip. “Why are you packing a gun?”