Kings of Anarchy (Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #3) - Caroline Peckham Page 0,15

a second," Blake growled back.

"This isn't helping," I insisted, moving forward and pressing a hand to Blake's chest to warn him off before looking to Saint. "Why don't we go for a walk? We can keep to your exercise schedule. But you can't do this."

Saint's eyes moved to me and Blake's gaze seemed to say Saint shouldn't even be doing that. And I had to agree. But this was a compromise we could make.

"Fine," Saint finally gave in, taking my hand and guiding me towards the door, even though he was moving about as fast as an old man in need of a zimmer frame. If we really were going for a walk, he wasn't going to get far. But I supposed we just needed to walk for as long as his normal workout routine would have lasted for him not to lose his mind completely.

I left him in the lounge, hurrying upstairs and putting on the pants and shirt he’d left out for me before tugging my coat on. I kicked on my pumps and grabbed some headphones for Saint at the last minute, setting them up with his phone and hurrying downstairs to him.

"Here," I said, putting the headphones in for him and pressing play so his classical music blared in his ears.

He very almost smiled as I led him to the door and helped him into a warm jacket, guiding one arm into the sleeve and leaving the other one in its sling as I zipped the coat up over it. I glanced down at his sneakers, realising the laces were just hanging out as he’d obviously been unable to bend down and tie them. My heart tugged as I knelt down, doing them up for him and when I glanced up at him, he drew in a deep breath that said he was starting to relax.

I took his hand as I stood, leading him outside into the cold air and walking at his pace as he moved determinedly along the path.

After a while, he seemed to fall into a trance with the music in his ears and our slow but continuous pace along the lakeshore. I made sure we started heading back towards The Temple in time for seven thirty. If we didn’t do this exactly to his schedule he was going to freak.

"You should go ahead and make breakfast," Saint said, taking one earphone out so he could hear my response.

"I'm not leaving you alone out here, you'll probably try running then fall over and break your good arm."

He actually released a small laugh at that, his fingers squeezing mine. "Okay," he agreed and my eyebrows arched in surprise.

"As easy as that?"

"None of this is easy," he muttered.

I nodded, wholeheartedly agreeing as my heart squeezed painfully.

"All of this makes me feel so fucking...mortal," he said with a grimace.

"You know you are mortal, right?" I teased a little, though it was hard to muster a smile. "Just blood, flesh and bone like the rest of us. I was surprised too."

He chuckled softly and the sound was new, warm, inviting. It made me want to lean closer to him, but I didn’t.

"There's something I need to do today," I said after a while, my throat tightening. He remained quiet as he waited for me to explain. "My dad," I cleared my throat as the pain welled up again, moving hurriedly on. "He left me some papers. I need to look through them. He wanted me to get them to your father. I think it will prove his innocence."

Saint stilled and I glanced at him as his features pinched in confusion.

"His innocence?" he rasped.

"He didn't do it, Saint. Like I always said." I lifted my chin, staring up at this man who had punished me for the crimes of my father. But they weren't even his crimes. He'd never intended for the virus to be released and I wasn't going to let him take the blame for that, especially as he wasn't around to speak for himself now. "If you don't believe me, then-"

"I didn't say that," he cut me off, his tone gruff. "I want to see the evidence."

I nodded, my jaw locked as we headed back to The Temple and his face fixed into an expression of contemplation. Would he feel guilty for bullying me if he knew my father was innocent? Was Saint Memphis even capable of feeling guilt?

I released his hand as we stepped inside and turned to him, finding him struggling to get