“You really want to know?”
Elle swallowed hard. She probably didn’t; however, she needed to. She nodded and looked down at his chest.
“All right.” He shut the closet door then took a step toward her.
“W-what are you d-doing?” With every word she spoke, she took a step back. Nero took one more step toward her until her back hit the door and she was pinned.
“Yesterday, I saw you staring at me and Cassandra, and later, I caught you again in the parking lot with Stephanie.” He took a step closer, closing the small gap she had placed between them. “Usually, people feel too uncomfortable. They won’t even look in my direction.” As Nero leaned down, Elle thought he was going to kiss her for a second; instead, his mouth came close to her ear. “But you couldn’t pull your eyes away.” His words made her ear warm, causing the rest of her flesh to become heated.
He grabbed her chin to make her finally look in his eyes. “There is something dying to come out…” His finger traveled down her neck and stopped right above the swell of her breasts. “And I want to be the one who brings it out, Elle.” Hearing her name brought her out of the trance he had put over her.
He knows my name?
He moved his hand beside her waist and turned the doorknob, backing up to give her room to come forward so the door could be opened. Elle scooted free, her body no longer warmed by his. She didn’t understand why she instantly regretted moving away, though.
When he opened the door all the way so she could exit the closet, Elle grew embarrassed with all the stares she was getting. She was sure Cassandra’s sidekicks were thinking of a thousand ways for her to die by the looks on their faces.
She headed back to her table, but before she could sit, the bell rang. Time to go, thank God.
Elle picked up her bag and darted out the door, flying out so fast she never saw the look on Nero’s face. He was completely dumbfounded.
Elle ran down the halls without being aware if she was running to Chloe or away from Nero.
Definitely to Chloe. Elle thought a second more. Yep, Chloe!
She reached Chloe’s classroom, anxious to get out of there. “You ready?”
“Yeah, you okay?” Chloe looked concerned.
“Uh, yes, why wouldn’t I be? Okay, let’s go!” Elle almost grabbed Chloe’s hand, stopping herself before she made contact. Chloe brought her hand up to her chest and looked down to the floor.
“I’m sorry, Chlo-”
“It’s okay. Let’s go.” Chloe walked past Elle and started heading for the doors.
Elle watched Chloe walk right past her. Shit.
Every now and again, Elle would forget about Chloe’s past and problems, right until she was about an inch away from touching her, and then the memories would all come back. Elle knew they not only showed up for Elle, but for Chloe, as well.
They reached the parking lot and Elle thought she had déjà vu. Times two, apparently.
The two bimbos were leaning against Nero’s car. A sick feeling grew in Elle’s stomach while she walked as fast as she could to Chloe’s car, passing Chloe and reaching her car first. She rested her hand on the door handle, desperate to get in the car.
She looked up, only seeing Nero’s back as he talked to the girls. The girls’ faces she could see, however, and she really wished she couldn’t.
When Chloe unlocked the doors, Elle threw herself in, keeping her face straight forward. There was no way she was turning her head. Elle’s sick feeling started to move up ever so slightly from her stomach.
Chloe turned the car on and started to back up. She turned the wheel and headed out of the parking lot, forcing Elle to look at something she didn’t want to see—a pair of legs in high heels entering Nero’s Cadillac. Elle knew by the shoes the one going home with Nero tonight was Bimbo Number One.
Elle touched her chest; the feeling had found its mark.
Chapter Six
Protect the Family
Elle had to regretfully go to work that night. If she wanted to stay and protect Chloe, she had to keep working. She figured if she quit working the night of the murder, well, then she might as well call the boss herself and tell him she had witnessed the whole ordeal.
All night, Elle viewed the diner and carefully looked at everyone’s faces. She needed to be sure one of the three men weren’t in the diner waiting for her. Subsequently, every time someone walked in, she looked at their faces. She did it over and over and over.
She took the coffee pot over to one of her tables to fill up the cups of the two men there. Elle had seen them before many times in the diner.
As she was filling up the blond one’s cup, he asked, “Did you hear about the someone getting shot behind the diner last night?”