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Jared looked to Claire, and then to Lil ian "Does he talk to you?"
His ht Only if it’s important She knows about Kim now?"
"Yes," Jared answered
Lil ian’s mouth pul ed to the side, disappointed "That was a mistake Your main focus should be the book It’s vital y important that you have it in- hand"
"Kim and I made a deal," Jared explained "She wil help us obtain the book if we help her return it to Jeruselum, under the Sepulchre where her ancestor found it She wants to free her family of it"
Lil ian's eyes flitted about as she thought "If she is helping you, ould your father try to keep Nina away from her?"
"Away from Kim?" I asked "She's harmless"
"Is she?" Claire snipped
"Dad is wrong this time We need her," Jared said, clearly uncomfortable Gabe was the foundation of their faht of hi a mistake was a hard pil to s, and even Jared wasn't convinced of his oords
Everyone at the table sat silently, processing the situation Final y, Bex spoke "We’re al here Let’s go get it"
"We need a plan," Jared said "And we can’t leave Nina unprotected"
"So Bex watches Ryan and Nina, and you and I go," Claire said
Jared rubbed the back of his neck "I’ve already tried I’ you, we need a plan"
"You went there and didn’t leave with the book?" Claire said, raising an eyebrow
"He had it in his hands," Bex said, chuckling Jared shot Bex a sharp look, and the boy's s expression i his throat
"I was a little outnuhty or so"
"So?" Claire said, unimpressed
Jared huffed "We’l talk about this later"
The ride ho, and the air in the cab of the Escalade was thick with tension I didn’t dare talk first Jared’s jaas tight, and his knuckles hite as he gripped the steering wheel He drove closer to Bex’s typical speed, ihts and traffic
Jared parked in the drive, and then appeared at the passenger door Without a word, he helped round I wrapped
After a long shower, I set out clothes for Fal classes the next day Jared waited foron the end of the bed
"You’re not staying," I said, more of a statement than a question
He stood "Bex wil be outside I won’t be far" He tightened the belt ofdown just inches fro his waroodbye to be quick, but his lips lingered on mine I ran my hands over the perfection of his chest and stomach, and thenunderneath the fabric to touch his soft, feverish skin
"You could stay," I whispered, sainst his mouth
"I want to," he said, his voice strained
"Just for a little while? I won't keep you long," I began to raise his shirt, but he gently restrained me by the wrists
"Bex is downstairs"
"Crap," I said with a gris from my face in a huff
Jared left me alone, and I ambled to the bed Oncefor his warhts of Ryan, or Jack, or the upco day of tedious bombardment of syl abi and introductory never crossed ladly succumbed
"Nina!" Beth shouted from the end of the halShe rushed to catch up, and then threw her arms around my neck "Can you believe we’re back already?" She looked around, scanning faces of passing students
"No," I said, grinning at her endearing over-enthusias my laptop; every class would be the same Beth fil ed me in on the last few details she’d taken care of at Titan, and we discussed the monstrosity that was Sasha and the fact that she would be staying on
"How far does she think sHe’ll go in that company, now that she’sher eyes
"Youshe thinks She did take on the Christmas party Makes me wonder what she has up her sleeve"
"Hopeful y breath spray," Beth said, covering her led, and I shook roup of boys that walked through the door Josh led the group As Ryan’s best friend, he wasn’t a fan of mine, and made it quite clear that he’d rather not be aroundthe reason Ryan left Beth ca
Once Josh caught a glih rossed in whatever his friends were saying
Beth glared at hiet over hi the same kind of friend to Ryan that you are towith my pen
"Guess I can’t fault hie to tel her that Ryan was not only back, but just a fewable to see hiht a several different scenarios where I could happen across that inforht
"Goodout the intro packet for the class
I sighed when Beth handedon the rest I didn't bother thues like the other students, but settled intoa valid effort to pay attention The mundane pieces of my life used to be what I was so desperate to hold on to In the last month, it was al I could do to e seemed trivial compared to the other part of ht of Jared’s Escalade waiting in its usual spot He had warned iveon to a shred of nor offended to hear
He quickly opened my door for me, and I wrapped my arms around his er affection
"Oh, like you didn’tup at him
He raised one eyebrow "Do you even have to ask?" He watched ht I should tel you Claire call ed
Ryan should be released soon"
"Can I see him, yet?" I said, a bit more enthusiastic than was appropriate
Jared tried to hide his disappointment at my words "He hasn’t told anyone he’s here Hoould you explain your visit?"
The tightness around his eyes gave him away He was stil worried Now that Ryan had been wounded, and was hoined his concern was at a new level
"Ryan and I are different people, now Everything has changed," I said, touching Jared’s cheek withas Ryan is in love with you, I wil always have reason to worry"