Page 106 of Serpentine
I always park the furthest away from all the other cars, not wanting to draw even more attention to myself by letting them all see what I drive. I round the corner and head to my car, feeling eyes on the back of my neck as an ever-pressing presence.
I’m sure it’s only because I just stole from the building. These files are the property of Montague Inc., and I’m sure what I’ve just done is a felony.
When I hear footsteps behind me, I panic. My heart speeds, and tears prick as I hurry to my car. It’s not yet light out at six in the morning. I wish I wasn’t such an idiot and parked closer to the rest of the girls.
Speeding my feet, I quicken as my car comes into sight.
Half of me wonders if it’s whatever Cobra is watching me that’s behind me, but they’ve never let themselves be seen or heard before. They’ve remained hidden even when I’ve been in the street yelling for them.
My car butts up to a curb, pines, and bushes behind where I’ve backed into the space, and Sully steps out and makes eye contact with me before looking behind me as I rush him.
He tugs me behind him on instinct, looking out into the darkness as if he senses the same thing I did.
“Sully,” I mutter in a whimper, fear radiating from my voice.
He tugs me toward him, signing something I can’t understand.
He growls, the sound more strangled than I’ve heard from anyone before. He’s frustrated, and why shouldn’t he be? He can read my lips but needs to communicate with me, and I don’t know how to understand what he’s signing.
He pulls his phone out of his pocket and types it away in the notepad app. I shift on my feet anxiously. He lifts it, the screen facing me.
“Were you being followed?”
“I don’t know. I felt like it. I could hear footsteps. I thought it might be a Cobra, but I never feel you guys behind me. Even when I know you’re there.”
His grin is smug as he types. “Cobras don’t make themselves known.”
I’m shaking, and Sully sees that and tugs me into him. Even though I don’t know him well, I melt into him. Knowing he won’t harm me. Knowing he’s going to protect me.
Whoever was following me, if they were there, saw him and moved off. Hopefully, they now know I go nowhere on my own.
“Thank you, Sully. I was so scared.”
His brow arches as if he knows there’s more to my fear than I’m letting on.
“I stole something from my Dad’s office—something the boys need to see. I was afraid someone had seen me. That someone knew.”
He nods. Opening my passenger door, he motions towards the seat.
“What about your bike?” I ask.
He eyes me as if to say he’ll handle it later, and I’m thankful I don’t have to drive back to the clubhouse in my state.
He’s about to close the door when I stop him and stare deep into his dark eyes. Sully is scary, don’t get me wrong, but there’s also something soothing about his presence. I know I’m not on the other end of his cunning. I’m standing behind him, under his protection.
“Thank you, Sully,” I tell him again, wanting him to know how truly thankful I am he was here tonight.
He nods once, but his features soften as he closes the door.
Rounding the car’s hood to get inside, he eyes the empty parking lot beyond us, still on high alert in case someone lurks.
My life was unassuming before I met Braxton, but I don’t think it’ll ever be that way again.
Not now that I’m a Cobra.
I hope I’m cut out for it.
THIRTY-THREE